Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Lobi Stars of Makurdi, was sent parking of the Round of 64 stage of the 2018 AITEO Federation Cup on Monday.
Lobi is set to represent Nigeria in next season’s CAF Champions League after being declared winners of the 2017/18 season with over a dozen matches left to play.
Amateur club, Standard FC stopped the Makkurdi-based side from a potential double, winning 3-2 on penalties after finishing 1-1 result in regulation time.
Interestingly, it was Standard that took the lead in the first half before the NPFL champions rallied to even score in the second stanza.
The drama of topflight teams crashing did not stop with Lobi.
MFM FC also exited the competition in a shootout.
Second-tier Bet9ja Nigeria National League team, Sokoto United defeated Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu and his NPFL campaigners 4-3 in the ensuing penalty kicks after regulation time ended scoreless.
This came on the back of shock exits for Shooting Stars, Heartland and Bendel Insurance – all traditional sides.
Shooting lost to Supreme Court while the Naze Millionaires were outdone by Confine FC. Insurance, meanwhile, fell to Remo Stars Feeder team.
However, it was not all bad news for NPFL teams as Rivers United crushed a hapless Gusau XI 6-0 to progress to the Round of 32 at the Lafia City Stadium in Nasarawa State capital.
However, Cup holders Akwa United moved into next round of the competition with a comprehensive 7-0 drubbing of the amateur club, Hope of Glory in their round of 64 tie.
