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Top Five: Aiteo Cup 2018 upsets

Kabiru Umar of Heartland, James Moses of Sunshine Stars Kabiru Abubakar/BackpagePix

Ahead of the Aiteo Cup Round of 16, KweséESPN reviews the five biggest upsets of the competition so far.

Are the shock results set to continue during this week's group-stage clashes?

Standard FC vs. Lobi Stars: 2018 league champions Lobi Stars could have been forgiven for dreaming of a domestic double ahead of their Round of 64 clash against non-league team Standard FC in Lafia.

Regardless of the gulf in pedigree and quality between both teams, defender Paul Udeh had cautioned his teammates against underrating Standard.

"We have to be cautious and get our first win," he told Goal. "It's an important game, this is our first in the Federation Cup and it's at a neutral venue.

"Since we've won the league, we must prove it to all."

Udeh's fears became reality, as the 2003 cup champions were stunned by Standard, who took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes through Shamsu Sani's strike.

Although Ezekiel Mbah drew Lobi level minutes before the half-time interval, the champs were dumped out 3-2 on penalties, becoming the biggest casualties of the Round of 64.

Confine FC vs. Heartland: Three-time cup winners Heartland (1988, 2011 and 2012) had endured a miserable league season and were only saved the agony of relegation by the abrupt conclusion of the campaign.

They were expected to find solace in the Aiteo Cup up against Nationwide League One Cofine FC...or so it seemed.

However, their poor form was extended when Cofine took the lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

Despite Heartland forcing the game into a penalty shootout at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt, the minnows held their nerves as they dispatched their kicks with perfection to record a 4-2 win, summing up an embarrassing end to the season for Heartland.

J.Atete vs. FC Ifeanyi Ubah: 2016 champions FC Ifeanyi Ubah were overwhelming favourites ahead of a Round of 32 fixture against Nigeria National League team J.Atete.

The Anambra Warriors had come into the contest on the back of a massive 5-1 thumping of Nyansagwag FC in the Round of 64, and could only have expected to continue the winning streak.

However, J.Atete had other ideas, as they stunned their more illustrious opponents, denying them a route back to the continent.

Emmanuel Uangbadje's 24th-minute strike proved to be the match-winner, and settled the contest between two privately sponsored clubs.

Supreme Court vs. Go Round FC: Supreme Court FC were unfazed by the prospect of facing top-flight side Go Round FC in the Round of 32, having dumped out four-time champions Shooting Stars in the previous round. Okon Otop put Go Round in the driving seat around the 20th-minute mark, only for Supreme Court to equalise in first-half added time.

With both teams failing to find a winner, the game proceeded to penalties, and the Abuja-based team, for a second successive game, held their nerve to advance.

Kogi United vs. Niger Tornadoes: 2017 runners-up Niger Tornadoes didn't expect to break much sweat ahead of a North-Central derby against Nigeria National League campaigners Kogi United in the Round of 32.

The complacent attitude ultimately led to the elimination of the Ikon Allah Boys.

A 78th-minute winner from Enesi was all Kogi United required to seal a famous 1-0 victory over Tornadoes...and a spot in the next stage of the competition.