Federation Cup in Ilorin: Heartland Battle Prime FC In Semi Final

Nigeria Federation Cup holders, Heartland will face a stiff challenge today from giant killers Prime FC in a semi-final clash at the Ilorin Township Stadium.

Despite their struggles in the league, ‘The Naze Millionaires’, cup winners in 1998 and 2011, have soldered on and are again just a game away from the final.

Giant killers Prime FC of Oshogbo, on the other hand, are set to extend their fairy tale run in the Federation Cup, by taking another mighty scalp in Ilorin after they stopped Enugu Rangers and Enyimba in previous rounds of the tournament.

Heartland will miss Chibuzor Okonkwo in today’s tie because he was not register for the competition, as he was away on trials overseas.

“He will not feature for us because he was not registered for the competition,” Heartland defender Chinedu Efugh told MTNFootball.com. “We will miss him, but we are determined to defend the trophy we won last year.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman Osun State Football Association, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, has affirmed that the players and officials of Prime Football Club of Oshogbo are well motivated and prepared to cause another upset by defeating the defending champions, Heartland Football Club of Owerri.

Ogunjobi reiterated that Prime will do everything possible to clinch victory against Heartland due to their level of preparedness ahead of the all-important match and believes the presence of Aregbesola and his cabinet will inspire the team and its technical crew.

“I told you we have launched ‘Operation Total Victory’ for Prime, the players know what is at stake and we have told them to go all out and beat Heartland, we will try our best to see that we win the match.”