Rafael Everton is on his way to setting an unprecedented record as the 2017 Aiteo Cup Champions, Akwa United are battling to avoid exiting the 2019 State Aiteo/FA cup tourney.
Akwa United have resorted to protest after suffering a shocking 3-1 loss to ALGON FC after remaining minutes of the encounter was played behind closed doors today Friday at the main bowl of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
The game which should have ended on Wednesday was abandoned due to pitch encroachment in the 86th minute as the Promise Keepers trailed by 3 goals to the barely one-month-old team made of players picked from the different local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
According to reports, thugs were responsible for the invasion and at a press conference convened yesterday by the State’s FA to address the issue, Chairman of the FA Emmanuel Ibah revealed the suspects had been identified and banned from football activities for a period of two years.
He went further to promise no compromise after fixing the remaining minutes to be played at 10 am earlier today in the presence of only pressmen.
Akwa United could only secure a single goal to put the fixture at 3-1 in favour of the FA cup newbies.
But Akwa United won’t just chicken out as management of the team protested on the grounds that their opponent had fielded a player already on its payroll.
According to the two-time FA Cup winners, the second choice goalie of ALGON Boys was their player and shouldn’t have been fielded by the opponents.
At the other end, the management of ALGON Boys FC stated Emmanuel was a registered player of theirs as he was registered with the club and not Akwa United.
The state FA later made a decision to uphold Akwa United’s claim and reinstate them into the competition and ALGON Boys FC kicked out. However, the next course of action is yet to be decided against ALGON Boys for fielding an ineligible player.
The Promise Keepers will face Confine FC on Sunday in the State FA Cup Final to determine it’s representatives in the 2019 Aiteo Cup.
