Enyimba FC have qualified for the next round of the Nigeria Federation Cup after edging fellow Nigeria Premier Football League side, Rivers United at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Thursday, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The rescheduled round of 64 encounter between the former Nigerian league champions and the reigning champions ended goalless at regulation time before the People's Elephant triumphed via penalties (5-4).
The match which should have been played on Wednesday, 26th April was shifted this day due to the continental engagement of Rivers United in the CAF Confederation Cup.
In the encounter, the two sides just as expected went neck to neck in the game which was touted as the star match of the round, but it ended with nothing to choose between two sides and had to be decided through penalties.
The "Pride of Rivers" lost one of their penalties out of the five spot kicks taken as against Enyimba FC that scored all their five spot kicks to take the day.
With the loss, Rivers United have now crashed out of two cup ties in five days after their ouster by Young African of Tanzania in the CAF Confederation Cup.
For Enyimba, the win means that they progress to the round of 32 where they will play Plateau United on the 10th of May, 2023 in a yet to be decided venue.
By Uche Dozie