Federation Cup: Heartland, Others Battle For Final Tickets

The much-postponed 2012 Federation Cup semi final matches
will hold today in Ilorin and Calabar as defending champions, Heartland FC of
Owerri confront giant-killers Prime FC of Oshogbo, while Nigerian Premier
League title hopeful, Kano Pillars and Lobi Stars batter for the ticket.

In Ilorin, Prime, which is being buoyed by the support of
Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and their state FC Chairman, Taiwo
Ogunjobi will want to continue their giant-killing act after accounting for the
scalps of premier league sides, Rangers and Enyimba in earlier stages of the
competition.

They want to break the Federation Cup jinx by going against
the odds to secure the federal cup title.

For Heartland, the competition is their only chance of
silverware this season but they must rise above the distraction of unpaid
entitlements to make hay against the highly motivated Primer FC.

At the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Kano Pillars, who are
already talking of achieving league and cup double this season must contend
with the ambition and threat of Lobi Stars, who are also eyeing the league
title.

Indeed, it is going to be a titanic semi final duels that
will serve as prelude to the ultimate final contest scheduled for the Teslim
Balogun Stadium, Lagos, later on.