UNIMAID Desert Warriors reach HiFL quarterfinals as OAU, BUK fall

Unimaid Desert Warriors have qualified for the quarterfinal of the ongoing Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL), joining UNIBEN Royals and FUTMINNA Transformers in the round.

The Desert Warriors led by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Prof. Aliyu Shugaba, and Borno State Commissioner of Youth and Sports Development, Saina Baba, showed class as they defeated BUK Stallions 3-2 to qualify at home.

Suleiman Ali, Uche Francis, and Bukar David scored in the 21st, 29th, and 77th minutes respectively for the Maiduguri warlords, while Huzafia Mohammed and Mustapha Mustapha scored in the 19th and 37th minutes for the Bayero boys. So far, the Desert Warriors remain the only team that has won both legs of their games in the Round of 16 to qualify on a 5-3 goals aggregate. Uche Francis of the Desert Warriors won the StanbicIBTCMan-of-the-Match award. 

Meanwhile, Super Four finalist at the 2019 edition of the Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL), OAU Giants have been knocked out of this year’s league after playing a 1-1 draw in the second leg. Despite the loss, the home fans led by the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede expressed their appreciation for the fighting spirit of the Giants. 

In an electrifying game played at the sports complex of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, the Giants were forced into a 1-1 draw by new entrant AAUA Luminaries. The Luminaries qualified for the quarterfinals on the way goals rule since the first leg in Akungba ended 0-0. StanbicIBTC Man-of-the-Match Olaniyi Mayowa of the OAU Giants scored in the 55th minute while Olawale Oluwabukunmi equalised for the Luminariesto to silence the crowd in Ile Ife. 

OAU Giants and BUK Stallions join UNICAL Malabites and LAUTECH Hunters who were earlier dumped out of the tournament. Reigning champions UNICAL Malabites were ousted by the UNIBEN Royals on 4-3 goals aggregate despite winning the second leg 1-0 at the Abraham Ordia Stadium at the University of Calabar. The LAUTECH Hunters lost to the FUTMINNA Transformers in Minna after playing a nerve-wracking game that ended 3-2 in favour of the Transformers. 

The HiFL organized by PACE Sports and Entertainment Marketing Limited commenced in 2018 in partnership with the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA). UAM Tillers won the maiden edition at theSuper Four played at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.