2019 Aiteo Cup: Pillars pip Tornadoes 4-3 on penalties to win title

Kano Pillars emerged the winner of the 2019 Aiteo Cup following a 4-3 penalty shootout win against Niger Tornadoes at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna, yesterday.
It was the first time the Sai Masu Gida will lift the title and it came as a consolation for their defeat to Enugu Rangers in last year’s final.
Niger Tornadoes also lost in the final of the competition on penalties to Akwa United in 2017.
The two teams fought hard in the game but were unable to register a goal following 90 minutes of keenly contested encounter.
Penalties was needed to decide the winner with Pillars triumphing after converting four of their six kicks, while Tornadoes only scored three.
Kano Pillars will go home with N25 million as prize money for winning the title while Niger Tornadoes are N10 million richer.
Earlier before the men’s final, Nasarawa Amazons won their first Women Aiteo Cup title following a 5-4 penalty shootout win against defending champions Rivers Angels at the same venue.
Rivers Angels dominated possession, but were unable to find a way past a resolute Nasarawa Amazons defence.
Both teams battled to a goalless draw in regulation time with penalties needed to determine the winner of the contest.
Super Falcons goalkeeper, Tochukwu Oluehi who replaced her international teammate, Chiamaka Nnadozie on the dot of 90 minutes failed to make a save in the shootout.
Nasarawa Amazons scored all their five kicks, while River Angels converted four.

AITEO FA Cup past winners
1945: Marine 1-0 Corinthians
1946: Lagos Railways 3-0 Port Harcourt FC
1947: Lagos Marine 1-0 Zik Athletics Club
1948: Lagos Railways 1-0 Port Harcourt FC
1949: Lagos Railways 3-0 Port Harcourt FC
1950: Lagos UAC 3-2 Port Harcourt FC
1951: Lagos Railways 3-2 Jos XI
1952: Lagos PAN Bank 6-1 Warri XI
1953: Kano XI 2-1 Lagos Dynamos
1954: Calabar XI 4-3 Kano XI
1955: Port Harcourt FC 4-1 Kano XI
1956: Lagos Railways 3-1 Warri XI
1957: Lagos Railways 5-0 Zaria XI
1958: Port Harcourt FC 6-0 Federal United
1959: Ibadan XI 2-1 Police
1960: Lagos ECN 4-1 Ibadan XI
1961: Ibadan Lions 1-0 Lagos UAC
1962: Police 1-0 Jos XI
1963: Port Harcourt FC 1-0 Jos XI
1964: Lagos Railways 3-1 Jos XI
1965: Lagos ECN 3-1 Jos XI
1966: Ibadan Lions W/O Jos XI
1967: Stationery Stores 3-1 Jos XI
1968: S/Stores 3-1 Jos (replay after 2-2)
1969: Ibadan Lions 5-1 Warri XI
1970: Lagos ECN 3-1 Mighty Jets
1971: WNDC Ibadan 2-1 Enugu Rangers
1972: Bendel Insurance 3-2 Mighty Jets
1973: All Africa Games prevents competition
1974: Enugu Rangers 2-0 Mighty Jets
1975: Enugu Rangers 1-0 Shooting Stars
1976: Enugu Rangers 2-0 Alyufsalam Rocks
1977: Shooting Stars 2-0 Raccah Rovers
1978: Bendel Insurance 3-0 Enugu Rangers
1979: Shooting Stars 2-0 Sharks FC
1980: Bendel Insurance 1-0 Stationery Stores
1981: Enugu Rangers 2-0 Bendel Insurance
1982: Stationery Stores 4-1 Niger Tornadoes
1983: Enugu Rangers 0-0 DIC Bees (5-4 pens)
1984: Leventis United 1-0 Abiola Babes
1985: Abiola Babes 0-0 BCC Lions (6-5 pens)
1986: Leventis United 1-0 Abiola Babes
1987: Abiola Babes 1-1 Ranchers Bees (7-6 pens)
1988: Iwuanyanwu Nat. 3-0 Flash Flamingoes
1989: BCC Lions 1-0 Iwuanyanwu Nationale
1990 Stationery Stores 0-0 Rangers (5-4 pens)
1991: El-Kanemi Warriors 3-2 Kano Pillars
1992: El-Kanemi 1-0 Stationery Stores
1993: BCC Lions 1-0 Plateau United
1994: BCC Lions 1-0 Julius Berger FC
1995: Shooting Stars 2-0 Katsina United
1996: Julius Berger 1-0 Katsina United
1997: BCC Lions 1-0 Katsina United
1998: Wikki Tourists 0-0 Plateau United
1999: Plateau United 1-0 Iwuanyanwu
2000: Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Rangers
2001: Dolphins 2-0 El-Kanemi Warriors
2002: Julius Berger FC 3-0 Yobe Stars
2003: Lobi Stars 2-0 Sharks Port Harcourt
2004: Dolphins 1-0 Enugu Rangers
2005: Enyimba 1-1 Lobi Stars (6-5 pens)
2006: Dolphins 2-2 Bendel Ins. (5-3 pens)
2007: Dolphins 1-1 Rangers (3-2 pens)
2008: Ocean Boys 2-2 Gombe Utd (7-6 pens)
2009: Enyimba 1-0 Sharks of Port Harcourt
2010: Katsina United 3-3 Enyimba (3-2 pens)
2011: Heartland of Owerri 1-0 Enyimba of Aba
2012: Heartland of Owerri 2-1 Lobi Stars
2013 Enyimba 2-2 Warri Wolves (5-4 pens)
2014: Enyimba of Aba 2-1 Dolphins FC
2015: Akwa United 2-1 Lobi Stars
2016: IfeanyiUbah 0-0 Nassarawa Utd (5-4 pens)
2017: Akwa Utd 0-0 Niger Tornadoes (3-2 pens)
2018: Rangers Int’l 3 – 3 Kano Pillars (4-2 pens)