The headline fixture of the round of 16 of the 2025 President Federation Cup is between traditional heavyweights Bendel Insurance and Enugu Rangers, the Nigeria Football Federation has announced.
The fixtures were released on Thursday, pitting the two 2023 finalists against each other, while Enyimba will be up against Abakaliki FC of neighbouring Ebonyi State.
In that 2023 final, Bendel Insurance saw off Enugu Rangers 1-0 to secure their first FA Cup triumph since 1980.
Incidentally, Rangers defeated Insurance 2-0 in the 1981 final to avenge a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of the Benin Arsenal in the 1978 decider.
To reach this year’s round of 16, Bendel Insurance defeated Adamawa United 3-0 in Lafia courtesy of a hat-trick from Kayode Oke.
On their part, Rangers squeezed past Heartland 5-3 on penalties after their round of 32 duel ended 1-1.
Some of the other round of 16 fixtures involving Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club’s include Ikorodu City taking on Beyond Limits, Wikki Tourists battling Warri Wolves and Plateau United facing Osun United.
ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES
Enyimba FC (Abia) Vs Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi)
Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa)
Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi)
Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Beyond Limits (Ogun)
Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos)/Jr. Danburam (Katsina)
Solution FC (Anambra) Vs Kwara United (Kwara)
Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Osun United (Osun)
Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
ROUND OF 32 RESULTS
El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) 0-1 Enyimba FC (Abia)
Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) 0-0 Katsina United (Katsina) – Abakaliki win 3-2 on penalties
Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) 5-0 Ijele FC (Enugu)
Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) 2-0
Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Shooting Stars (Oyo) – Warri Wolves go through following Shooting Stars’ disqualification
Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) 1-0 Rovers FC (Cross River)
Ikorodu City (Lagos) 3-1 Crown FC (Oyo)
Beyond Limits (Ogun) 2-1 Rivers United (Rivers)
Mighty Jets Feeders (Plateau) 0-2 Akwa United (Akwa Ibom)
Inter Lagos (Lagos) Vs Jr. Danburan (Katsina) – Anyigba – 03/04/25 – 4pm
Lobi Stars (Benue) 1-2 Solution FC (Anambra)
Kwara United (Kwara) 1-0 Gombe United (Gombe)
Sunshine Stars (Ondo) 0-1 Plateau United (Plateau)
Osun United (Osun) 1-1 E-World FC (Cross River) – Osun United win 4-2 on penalties
Bendel Insurance (Edo) 3-0 Adamawa United (Adamawa)
Heartland FC (Imo) 1-1 Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – Rangers Int’l win 5-3 on penalties