The Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba will be the centre of attraction on Wednesday when Enugu Rangers and Kano Pillars clash in the final of the 2018 Aiteo Federation Cup,
Rangers will be gunning for their sixth title, while Kano Pillars will be targeting a second title.
It’s the 13th time Rangers are appearing in the final of the competition. The Flying Antelopes last won the title in 1983.
The Coal City club have appeared in the Cup final five times since 1983, and lost all. The most recent was in 2007 when they lost 3-2 on penalties to the defunct Dolphins Football Club of Port Harcourt after both sides battled to a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Kano Pillars camped in Benin to strategize
Kano Pillars have won the trophy once, edging out Lagos Dynamos 2-1 in the Cup final in 1953. The Sai Masu Gida fell to 3-0 defeat in the final a year later.
The Pyramid City side last appeared in the final in 1991 when they lost 3-2 to northern rivals, El-Kanemi Warriors at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
For Rangers, winning the Cup title this year will be a befitting climax to the competition after edging out defending champions, Akwa United 4-2 on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Gbenga Ogunbote’s men rallied back from a goal down to win the tightly contested encounter with Femi Thomas saving spot kicks.
They produced similar heroics in the semi-final, coming back from two- goal down to beat Nasarawa United 4-2.
Kano Pillars proved their class dispatching Enyimba 4-2 in the quarter-final and secured a 4-1 penalty shoot-out win against Katsina United in the last four after regulation time ended in a 2-2 draw.
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