Following AAUA Luminaries’ historic outing in the 2021 edition of the Higher Institutions Football League(HIFL), subduing giants including the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Obafemi Awolowo University, and University of Lagos to become the first state-owned university to qualify for the semifinals of the competition, Luminaries made it to the final but were defeated by the UNIMAID Deserts Warriors from University of Maiduguri by a lone goal.
The darling team of the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba students may have lost the prestigious trophy but won the hearts of many football lovers across the nation for achieving what seemed to be impossible, placing the institution’s name as one of the forces to be reckoned with, in football.
Having been exempted from playing in the preliminary stage of the competition, AAUA Luminaries and three other teams that made it to the SUPER 4 at the last edition joined the twelve teams that qualified for the last 16 from the group stage.
The draws for the rounds of 16 matches of the 2022 edition of the competition were made in an event that was held at the Protea Hotel By Marriott, Ikeja this morning will see last year’s finalists, Luminaries slug it out against LASU Blazers for a place in the quarterfinals.
AAUA Luminaries will host LASU Blazers from Lagos State University on Wednesday 27th, July 2022, in the first leg of the round of 16 before traveling to Lagos for the return leg.
LASU Blazers competed twice in the tournament in 2019 and 2021 but have only managed to make it farthest to the round of 16 stages of the annual football showpiece.
In other fixtures for the rounds of 16, EKSU Mountaineers and FUOYE Dazzlers set out an All-Ekiti derby, FUTMINNA Transformers will slug it out with KSU Steelers, DELSU Titans will tackle Debutant, IAEU Minders, and ABTU Bravehearts will lock horns against Round of 16 Debutant, KASU Crocs.
Meanwhile, Reigning champions, UNIMAID Deserts Warriors will begin the title defense quest against BUK Stallions, UNN Lions will face UNIPORT Sharks while UNILORIN Warriors will tackle the Inaugural edition winners and 2019 finalists UAM Tillers.
The round of 16 ties is scheduled to be played between Wednesday 27th, July 2022, and Wednesday 3rd, August 2022.
Author
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Olorunfemi Victor Temitope is a freelance journalist with keen interest in sports especially football. He began his career as a Content Creator at Opera News Hub before joining AAUA Insider as a Sports Editor where he works till now, he is also part time News Writer at 3rdHub Entertainment and a Sports Influencer on Boomplay’s Boombuzz.Victor is also a Researcher and a Sports Analyst.