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Rangers were one of 16 teams to book their places to the Round of 16 of the 2023 Federation Cup, doing it at the expense of Kano Pillars on Wednesday.
Kano Pillars head coach Evans Ogenyi has claimed that his side were unlucky in their 2023 Federation Cup Round of 32 fixture with Enugu State's Rangers.
The two-time Nigerian cup champions were knocked out of the 2023 competition following a first-half brace from Godwin Obaje at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja, on Wednesday.
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18:31 - 11.05.2023
All results from Wednesday, Thursday's Federation Cup Round of 32 matches
The Round of 16 matches are scheduled to hold on Wednesday, May 17.
Ogenyi says Kano Pillars to fully focus on NPFL promotion
Reacting to his side's ouster, Ogenyi admitted that his team lived to rue their missed chances, adding that it was time to turn their attention back to attempting to gain promotion back to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
“I have to congratulate the team that knocked us out. They have done it extremely well; they defended well and I felt that their goalkeeper kept them in the game," the Kano Pillars boss said.
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“We played the game we wanted but did not take our chances. Even though we went for an early goal it was quite obvious that we were in the driving seat for 90 minutes. We were, however, punished for not taking our chances. We have to be strong enough to take the defeat,” he insisted.
“We are on a mission to make a return to the NPFL; that is my mandate. The players know what is at stake for us this season. Winning promotion back to the NPFL is the mission. All the remaining fixtures in the NNL is like a final for us and we can’t afford to make any mistake,” Ogenyi added.
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16:21 - 11.05.2023
Fans banned for 1 year, 3 points, 3 goals deducted as NNL sanction Yobe Desert Stars
They become the second side in Nigeria's second division, after Smart City, to suffer a points/goals deduction following an assault on match officials.
Kano Pillars in pole position for promotion playoff
After six game weeks in the Nigeria National League (NNL) Nothern Conference Group A3, Kano Pillars currently sit top of their group, having garnered 12 points so far, but from five matches.
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Should they get the necessary points from their final three matches of the season against Kebbi United, Malumfashi and Sokoto United, they would join seven other sides in the NNL Super 8 playoff to vie for promotion to the NPFL where they got relegated from at the end of the 2021/22 season.
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