FA Cup: Enyimba edge Rivers on penalties

Four-time champions Enyimba are through to the next round of this year’s Federation Cup after dumping out Rivers United 5-4 on penalties in their rescheduled round of 64 encounter in Uyo on Thursday.

The game went straight into penalties after regulation time ended goalless and while Enyimba converted all their spot kicks, Farouk Mohammed missed the third for Rivers United as the remaining kicks were played out without mistakes.

Enyimba coach, Finidi George made 10 changes to the team that beat El-Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri on Sunday for the clash with only attacker Chijioke Mbaoma in the starting lineup.

Rivers United who were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday paraded a strong squad but couldn’t manage to avoid another cup elimination in the space of five days.

Enyimba will now face another high-profile opponent in Plateau United in round 32 on Wednesday, May 10.

In the meantime, Rivers United’s elimination might come as a relief for their already congested fixtures in the NPFL, as they already have a rescheduled match-day 14 encounter against Wikki Tourists slated for Wednesday, May 10, the same day as the round of 32 in the FA Cup.