The group stage draw for the 2021 Higher Institutions Football League(HIFL) tournament has been conducted at an event held in Lagos.
In table released by Pace Sports and Entertainment Marketing Limited, the organisers of the Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL), AAUA Luminaries is drawn in the same group which many Aauaites refer to as the “group of death” with OAU Giants, FUTA Tigers and UNILAG Marines.
Teams will play each other in a home and away format until we get to the super 4 stage.
According to completesports.com, in week 1, AAUA Luminaries will play OAU Giants in Ondo, FUTA Tigers will take on UNILAG Marines in Akure, LAUTECH Hunters will face FUTMINNA Transformers in Ogbomoso while KSU Steelers battles UNILORIN Warriors.
For the HiFL week 2 games, UNIBEN Royals will play defending champion UNICAL Malabites, IAUE Minders will play UNN Lions in Port Harcourt, ABU Nobles will confront UAM Tillers in Zaria while BUK Stallions slugs it out with UNIMAID Desert Warriors in Kano.
For week 3 matches, OAU Giants will play AAUA Luminaries at home, FUTA Tigers will travel to Lagos to face UNILAG Marines, FUTMINNA Transformers will host LAUTECH Hunters at home while KSU Steelers will play UNILORIN Warriors from away.
HIFL 2021 ROUND OF 16 DRAW
16 TEAMS GROUPED INTO 4 WITH 2 TEAMS QUALIFYING TO THE QUARTER FINAL
GROUP A
AAUA LUMINARIES
OAU GIANTS
FUTA TIGERS
UNILAG MARINES
GROUP B
UNIBEN ROYALS
IUAE MINDERS
UNICAL MALABITES
UNN LIONS
GROUP C
BUK STALLIONS
UNIMAID WARRIORS
UAM TILLERS
ABU NOBLE
GROUP D
UNILORIN WARRIORS
KSU STEELERS
FUTMINNA TRANSFORMER
LAUTECH HUNTERS
Speaking at the draws, Director, PACE Sports and Entertainment Marketing Limited, Sola Fijab lauded the competing institutions and encouraged them to behave in the sportsmanlike manner in which they conducted themselves during the qualifiers.
“We are now at a very exciting stage of the league. What was witnessed during the qualifiers was the tip of the iceberg. The schools are ready and what we assured lovers of collegiate sports is double excitement. We appreciate the support of NUGA and our sponsors Nivea Men and Minimie for their trust in HiFL and as we deliver value to all our stakeholders,” Fijabi said.
The games are scheduled to hold between June and September 2021.
