AITEO Cup first round draw holds on Friday

The draw for the first round matches of this year’s AITEO Cup competition will hold in Lagos on Friday.

Thenff.com gathered that the first round matches, which will involve the 64 surviving teams following the Preliminary Round played last week, will hold on Wednesday, 16^th August 2017. 

The draw for the second round matches will take place on Friday, 18^th August while the matches will come up on 30^th August. The draw for the third round matches will be conducted on 31^stAugust, while the matches will be played on 13^th and 16^th September.

The draw for the quarter –finals and semi –final matches will hold on 14^th September, with the quarter –final matches to come up on 20^th and 23^rd September.  The semi –final matches are scheduled for 27^th September and 4^th October.

The grand final for the men’s event will take place on Sunday, 8^th October, while the grand final for the women’s event has been scheduled for 2^nd October.

As part of innovations to restore the glamour of the oldest football competition in the land, now bankrolled by Nigeria’s leading energy solutions company, AITEO, matches that end in a draw, from the first round, would not go into penalties as has been the case over the years.

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who is also secretary of the Organizing Committee, explained to thenff.com: “From the first round stage, teams would be designated A and B. Team A will have the prerogative to choose the centre for the match against Team B, from the pool of designated centres. If the match ends in a draw, Team B will now have the prerogative to pick a venue from the designated centres as its ‘home’ for the replay.

“This will apply to all matches from the first round stage.”

AITEO CUP 2017 SCHEDULE

Draw for 1^st Round Matches: 11^th August

1^st Round Matches: 16^th August

Draw for 2^nd Round Matches: 18^th August

2^nd Round Matches: 30^th August

Draw for 3^rd Round Matches: 31^st August

3^rd Round Matches: 13^th & 16^th September

Draw for Quarter Final & Semi Final Matches: 14^th September

Quarter Final Matches: 20^th & 23^rd September

Semi Final Matches: 27^th September & 4^th October

Women’s Final: Monday 2^nd October

Men’s Final: Sunday, 8^th October