The Naija Super Eight zonal playoffs concluded on Sunday at the newly refurbished Akwa Ibom Stadium in Eket, with three teams securing their spots to represent Nigeria in the upcoming CAF inter-club championships.
Read Also: Katsina United and Rivers United Triumph in Zonal Battles, Secure Spots in Naija Super Eight Finals
Surprisingly, two lower-tier Nigeria National League (NNL) teams emerged victorious in Lagos, defying the predictions of experts.
Yobe Desert Stars and Katsina United stunned their opponents, Gombe United and Kano Pillars respectively, to secure their tickets for the highly anticipated Naija Super Eight tournament, which will take place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos.
On Saturday, Enyimba, the reigning champions of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), claimed the Southeast zonal ticket by defeating Heartland of Owerri in a thrilling Oriental derby, ending with a 1-0 victory. They joined Remo Stars (Southwest) and Lobi Stars of Makurdi (North Central), who had secured their spots on Friday.
Rivers United of Port Harcourt, the 2022 NPFL champions, clinched the Southsouth ticket by defeating Bendel Insurance of Benin in a hard-fought match on Sunday.
Following the intense battles in Eket, Yobe Desert Stars, who shocked Gombe United with a 2-1 victory, and Katsina United, who triumphed over their archrivals Kano Pillars with a narrow 1-0 win in the Arewa derby, expressed their determination to continue causing upsets in the lucrative Naija Super Eight contest.
Samson Olasofo, the goal scorer for Katsina United against Kano Pillars, revealed his ambition to contribute more goals to his team’s success in the upcoming competition in Lagos. He emphasized the significance of the tournament for Nigerian club football and urged fans to watch out for their team’s impressive performance.
An official from Yobe Stars echoed a similar sentiment, stating their determination to create further surprises in Lagos after their impressive victory over Gombe United.
With six teams confirmed for the Naija Super Eight tournament, the organizers, Flykite Productions, are set to announce the two wild-card entries to complete the lineup. The highly anticipated tournament is scheduled to kick off in Lagos on July 7, promising thrilling matches and intense competition among the country’s top clubs
