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Copa Coca-Cola Akure regional finals preview: Edo, Osun & Kogi battle for national finals ticket

Edo vs Kogi

Having scored three goals in two games, Imade Vincent will hope to score more for Niger College, Edo to power his side to the national finals of the 2017 Copa Coca Cola championship when they battle Government Day Secondary School, Kogi on Saturday morning.

The Boys from Benin kicked off their race to the national finals at the Aquinas College, Akure on a shaky note, losing 1-0 to Progress Comprehensive High School, Osun on Thursday, but bounced back with confidence on match day two with victories over Urhobo College, Delta (7-0) and Brightville College, Oyo (1-0).

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Coach Ogieriakhi Austin’s boys scored eight goals without conceding in their last two games, and they will need to cross the hurdle of their opponents from Kogi State to be in the pole position to qualify for the national finals.

Delta vs Osun

The whipping boys at the Akure region, Urhobo College, Delta will hope to grab their first victory in the ongoing secondary schools championship on Saturday when they battle Progress Comprehensive High School, Osun at the Aquinas College, Akure on Saturday.

For the Niger-Delta boys, their hope of reaching the national finals has already been shattered as they conceded 13 goals in their first two games without any consolation in both games, but they will be playing for pride in the their third game against the Modakeke boys.

The Osun representatives on the other hand are currently four points up – two points behind Edo representatives with six points from three games, and they must win their remaining two games to beat the Benin boys to the national finals ticket at the end of the regional finals this weekend.

Oyo vs Delta

Brightville College, Oyo only have pride to play for in their last regional finals encounter against Delta following their slim defeat to Niger College, Edo on Friday evening to dampen their chances of contending for the national finals ticket.

The boys from Ibadan kicked off their campaign on a poor note, dropping four points from two games and losing their last by a lone goal to  the Benin boys – leaving them with just three points to fight for, but regardless of the number of goals they score in their last game, they will not stand a chance to reach the national finals.

Osun vs Kogi

Progress Comprehensive High School, Osun host Government Day Secondary School, Kogi in their last game at the regional level on Saturday.

The Modakeke boys kicked off their campaign on a very good note with a 1-0 victory over Niger College, Edo on Thursday, but failed to consolidate on that victory in their second game against Brightville – playing 1-1 on the second day.

Provided the boys from Osun state wins their last two games, their chances of reaching the national finals may not be possible.

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