Sunshine Stars showed class from the get-go, nevertheless the first chance of Wednesday’s game fell to Rovers who were denied at goal mouth by David Ariyo after 10 minutes of play.

Five minutes later Leonard Ugochukwu was at the end of a sweeping team move, but could not troubled the goalkeeper with a tame effort at point blank.

Chilekwu grabbed the opener from the spot 25 minutes into the game, after the Calabar based side got penalised for a handball in the area.

Three minutes later Ikenna Cooper made it 2-0 for the Owena Whales, finishing off from Leonard Ugochukwu’s pass, however Rovers halve the deficit against the run of play at the stroke of half-time through Zuzu Benjamin.

11 minutes into the second half, substitute, Samson Olasuopo pounced on Michael Olalusi’s through ball to restore Sunshine Stars’ two-goal cushion.

Then Ariyo was on hand to deny the NNL campaigners a route back in the 58th minute, before Chilekwu completed his brace and extended the lead with a close range finish from Chinedu Ozor’s free kick four minutes later.

Chilekwu turned provider in the 90th minute by setting up Ozor who rounded up scoring for the Emmanuel Deutcsh tinkered boys with a smashing goal to close the game 5-1 for the Akure landlords.

Sunshine Stars will battle Katsina United at the Area Three Old Parade Ground, Abuja on Saturday for a place in the quarterfinals.

Sunshine XI | Ariyo; Ozor, Anioke, Adeyemi, Dauda; Nwaiwu (46′ Yakub), Abe (46′ Olalusi), Cooper; Chilekwu, Ugochukwu (75′ Olasupo), Vincent (75′ Jimoh) 

Unused Subs | Lawal, Opubo;  Bello, Uzoechi, Nwogbaga

Cautions | Ozor 31′  Chilekwu 59′

Chris Okunnuwa 
Media Head; SSFC
IG, FB & Twitter: @SunshineFCAkure 
Youtube: Sunshine Stars TV 

Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship side, Naija Ratels and Lobi Stars FC have emerged as representatives of Benue State for the upcoming Federation Cup also known as the AITEO Cup.

This was made known through a letter issued by the Benue State Football Association Secretary-General, Mr Lorngulum Malu to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday evening. The F.A scribe also noted that Naija Ratels FC were the only women football side in the state, that registered for the 2021 State F.A Cup.

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi are the state’s defending Champions while Naija Ratels will be participating in the AITEO Cup for the first time ever.

Meanwhile, Naija Ratels FC have intensified training ahead of the NWFL Championship season, which will kick start on the 22nd of June in Abuja. The ‘Ratels’ will battle Gallant Queens, Adamawa Queens, Heartland Queens, Kwara Ladies and Kaduna Queens for a Premiership slot.

The Benue State Football Association Secretary on behalf of the body tasked both teams to go all out and make the State proud at the National stages of the 2021 AITEO Cup.

Gabriel Okechukwu, former Akwa United striker has completed a four year deal move to top Japanese club, Consadole Sapporo worth Two Million Dollars.

Okechukwu who last played for Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca will now be playing in the J-League.

The 26 year old striker is a product of Water FC of Abuja who made himself known to soccer scene with his moved to Akwa United in 2017.

The lanky forward helped the Promise Keepers win the 2017 Aiteo Cup scoring the winning penalty that saw them beaten Niger Tornadoes in the final.

The Super Eagles striker also played on loan for Moroccan side, SC Chabab before returning to Wydad Casablanca where he was a free agent before signing for Sapporo in Japan.

He also played in the Ukrainian league at some point where he scored a goal in four appearances.

Okechukwu was also instrumental for Nigeria Home Based Super Eagles feat in CHAN held in Morocco in 2018 where they reached the final and to the host country.

Consadole finished 10th in the Japanese top division last season, Gabriel Okechukwu is tipped to help the Japanese side go further by winning the league or at least getting a continental ticket and a domestic cup this season.

Super Eagles and Mashal Mubarak of Uzbekistan Midfielder Ifeanyi Ifeanyi have made a shocking claim of his team not receiving the 70milion promised to them for lifting the Aiteo Cup in 2017.

The Akwa ibom state based football club Akwa United were Crowd champions of the maiden AITEO Cup after claiming a 3-2 penalty win over Niger Tornadoes in the final played at the Agege Stadium after which were promised a huge sum of seventy million by the state Governor Mr,Udom Emmanuel as appreciation.

The former MFM and Akwa United midfielder revealed that tho the money has been realeased by the Governor as promised but they are yet to receive it.

“Except for Awka United who are owing us the money for the Aiteo Cup, the Seventy million the Governor promised and he realeased’, we’ve not gotten we’ve not heard anything about the money since the Governor realeased the money, apart from that money no club is owing me”, he said.