Five teams confirmed for 2024 Akwa Ibom State FA Cup

Five teams have been confirmed and drawn for the 2024 Akwa Ibom State FA Cup competition. SportsRation reports with information provided by the AKFA media unit.

Akwa United FC headlines the list of participating teams which includes, Dakkada FC, FC ONE Rocket, Vandrezzer FC and debutants, Blackpool Academy.

On Monday , March 11, 2024, the Akwa Ibom State Football Normalization Committee conducted draws for the 2024 State FA Cup competition which will commence from the 19th to the 31st of March.

According to the AKFA media unit, the draws ceremony was attended by representatives of the five registered teams at the conference room of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, defending champions and record winners Akwa United FC were drawn bye, new boys, Blackpool Academy of Uyo will face Nigeria National League side, FC One Rocket, while an all-NNL clash will see Dakkada FC take on Vandrezzer FC both matches will be played at Uyo township stadium.

Addressing the teams, the Chairman of the State Football Association, Otuekong Bonny Nyong stated that the winners of the two games and the best loser will join Akwa United in the semi finals draw of the competition, while the two finalists will qualify to represent Akwa Ibom State at the national Federation Cup competition.

He thanked the teams for indicating interest to be part of the FA Cup competition, adding that more needed to be done to encourage other football teams in the state to participate in the competition which helps in the discovery of players as well as exposure.

Otuekong Nyong used the opportunity to call on the State Referees Council to select their best officials for the competition, assuring that the state football normalization committee will do everything within its powers to ensure the matches are handled with fairness to all teams.

He reminded football clubs in the NPFL, NNL, NWPL, NLO and Academics in the state to renew their affiliation with the State Football Association for the 2023/24 football season.

Speaking on behalf of the participating teams, the Chairman of Dakkada FC, Coach Aniedi Dickson thanked the State Football Normalization Committee for a job well done, assuring that the teams will play by the rules while also calling for fair officiating to help the state produce the best representatives at the national level.

Dakkada FC will play Vandrezzer FC on Tuesday, March 19 by 2pm, while Blackpool will take on FC One Rocket by 4pm at the Uyo Township Stadium.