BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Organisers of the ongoing 1XBET Community Cup on Wednesday in Lagos held draw ceremony for 20 teams that qualified from the playoffs to the group stage.
A total of 160 teams started the race some weeks ago and only 20 teams qualified for the group stage.
The draws, which held in Radisson Blu Hotel, GRA, Ikeja in Lagos, southwest, saw 20 teams grouped into four groups and a winner in each group automatically qualify for the quarter final stage.
Each group comprises of five teams.
Group A is made up of FC Bethel, G12 FA, 11 FA, Gunners Link FC and Wasola FC. In Group B are the defending champions, Somolu/Bariga FC, Collins Edwin FC, Team360 FC, Dosu FA and Ilupeju Pillars from Ekiti State.
Group C consists of Odion Ighalo FC, Young Strikers, Emiloju FC, Emajus FC and Ikorodu Eagles FA, while Group D is made up of 36 Lion FA, Dominion Hotspur FC, Diadem Stallion FC, Royalty FC and China Sunstars FC.
Speaking after the draws, the Tournament Director, Waheed Akanni explained that the competition will start on August 5, 2024, at the legacy pitch of National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Commenting on how the teams will qualify for the quarter final stage, Akanni disclosed that winners in each group are automatically qualified for the quarter final stage, adding that the second and third position in each group will play each other to decide the four teams that will join others in the quarter final stage.
“We are going straight to the quarter final stage after the group stage. The champions in each group are automatically qualified for the quarter final stage.
“We are going to do another fresh draws for the teams that will occupy second and third positions in each group and play one another in a form of knockout stage and winners among them will qualify for the quarter final, making a total of eight teams in the quarter finals”h,e said.
Akanni commended members of the organising committee for their unrelenting efforts in the playoffs.
He also commended the match officials for the job well done and urged them to continue give their best as the tournament gets to group stage where it would be more tougher for all the teams.
Meanwhile, some of the club owners and representatives who were present at the draws expressed satisfaction with the way organisers conducted the draws and urged them to give all the teams level playground in all matches.
