All four teams for the Semi finals of the 2022 Neros Pharmaceuticals Limited powered Anambra FA Cup have emerged, ANAMBRA PEOPLE reports.
They are titleholders, Aspire FC, Adazi-Ani, Nnewi United, All Stars FC and Peace FC.
On Tuesday, May 31, all quarter-final fixtures were concluded with six goals recorded in the four games.
At the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, Awka Road, in the heart of the ever-busy commercial city of Onitsha, Nnewi United, a second-tier domestic league (NNL) side, put their experience on display to end the title ambition of Emmyking FC with a 2-0 spanking.
All two goals arrived in the first half of the thrilling contest.
At the Neros Stadium, Nanka, the home town of the sponsor, Chief P. Emenike, Aspire FC made no pretence about their desire and appetite to keep hold of their trophy with a 2-0 triumph over Global FC.
Dosad FC failed to replicate the form that saw them peg Ozalla FC 3-1 in their Round of 16 clashes, fell to the superior firepower of Peace FC while All Stars FC grounded the rolling stones of Gallaxy FC at the Tansi Int’l School pitch, Okpuno Awka to seal their Semifinal berth.
Interestingly Dosad FC Director, Rev Father Obinna Dike, displayed a tremendous spirit of sportsmanship by congratulating his team’s conquerors and wishing them the best in their journey to annex the 2022 Cup
Dike’s rare demonstration of accepting defeat the same way he enjoys victory highlights his sermons on the pulpit and brings to the fore why he has successfully kept the Anambra Independent Football League, AIFL, alive and kicking for several years now.
Organisers have revealed the semi-final pairings, stating that all the two last four games will hold inside the Neros Stadium, Nanka, on June 7.
Aspire FC will roll out their tanks against Peace FC with Nnewi United slugging it out with the ‘Yellow Sub Marines’, All Stars FC.
Azubuike Ekemezie, Proprietor and coach of All-Stars FC insist his charges won’t be intimidated by the tall profile of the Nigeria National League side, NNL, Nnewi United.
“We respect them because of the fact that they are in the Pro League, NNL.
“But that does not mean we will lie down for them to roll over us.
“This is FA Cup. We are determined, we are prepared. Once we get our fitness level up, then we will give them a fight. Upset is not impossible because it is what makes the FA Cup interesting”, Ekemezie said.
His counterpart, Fancy Ewulu, stated that it would be suicidal underrating opponents in the cup race.
The former junior international goalkeeper reckons that there are no more minnows in football and that any moment of loss of concentration can cost you a game.
“You saw it in our first game (against Sanky FC).
“The moment our backing switched off, we conceded (a goal).
“The FA Cup is an interesting but difficult competition. I was part of it as a player.
“So, we are going to give it our best”, the former U20 National Team goalkeeper said.
Overall winners of the Neros/Anambra FA Cup will receive N2m cash, runners-up go home with N1m and N500, 000 for the third-place team.
Neros Pharmaceutical Company Limited is the longest State FA Cup sponsoring firm in the country with the title sponsorship in its 16th edition this term.
Similarly, in terms of cash reward, it remains the most rewarding in the country
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