The pre-season football competition, the Eko International Cup, has entered full swing despite the late withdrawal of two teams originally scheduled to participate in the ongoing tournament.
According to the organisers of the competition taking place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, both Enyimba of Aba and FC Kallon of Sierra Leone withdrew from the tournament only after the draw was made last week.
Onome Obruthe, executive director of Publicity and Strategy for the local organising committee, stated that the late withdrawals would not adversely affect the tournament, as there were strategic plans in place to address such situations. “We had teams on standby, and two of them have now stepped in, so we are already having an exciting time in Lagos.
“We have Remo Stars and Rivers United in the competition, having finished first and second in the Nigeria Professional Football League.
There are also two other top-flight teams – Ikorodu City and Shooting Stars. The opening match between these two teams was a thrilling spectacle, and we are on course.”
On Sunday, the host team, Ikorodu City, and Shooting Stars settled for a 2-2 draw in the opener, which kept many spectators on the edge of their seats for the full 90 minutes. The two new entrants, Smart City and 36 Lions, were scheduled to compete in a late match, with results pending at press time.
According to the revised fixtures released on Monday, Shooting Stars will face Rivers United in a crucial encounter today (Tuesday, July 15). Rivers United coach, George Finidi, remarked that the Garden City Boys would approach the competition with the seriousness it deserves. As noted by InsideRiversUnitedFC, the former international stated that the EIC is a good opportunity to assess the players’ fitness and overall readiness for the new season.
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