Lagos — Twelve of the 16 matches of the Coca-Cola FA Cup round of 32 will be played today across the country with the remaining four matches coming at a latter date. However, most of the amateur sides will be the centre of attraction when they tackle Premier League campaigners.

Lagos State hopes of hosting the final match that will involve one of its two teams will face big test today with Julius Berger facing Crown FC in Kaduna. The game will re-ignite the rivalry that existed between the two sides as a result of the national Division One league, where they first met. Crown beat Berger 2-0 in the first encounter but in Lagos, desperate Premier League ticket seeker, Berger retaliated three times with the visitors getting one back.

The second Lagos club in the race, Bolowotan FC have a stiffer task against Rangers International in Akure. Rangers, hungry for silverware need a lift to be re-absorbed into the elite teams in the country, having gone several seasons empty handed. It is, however, not yet clear if the game will go ahead after reports from Enugu indicated that Rangers' players were boycotting the game due to unpaid allowances.

Controversial Akwa United, though struggling to retain their Premier League status heaved a sigh of relief after drawing FC Abuja but the game's tradition could make their relief short-lived. Akwa United were criticised and tagged controversial at the end of last season as their promotion to Premier Division was contestable. In the club's first season in the elite division, their fans recorded the worst attack on fellow team in a home game against Enyimba.

Ocean Boys are still biting their fingers because of the way they started the season which has become the bane of their present predicament. The league champions were knocked out of the CAF Champions League in the first round and only recently escaped relegation. They beat Bayelsa United in the state FA Cup final but were handled an easy passage in the round of 64, when their opponents, Royal FC did not show up. Against Police of Ado-Ekiti today in Benin, the odds are against the amateur side, but beneath is an unpredictable outcome.

Kafaru Alabi and his relegation threatened side El-Kanemi have to scale the Talba hurdle today in Jos while elsewhere in Lafia, Nasarawa, Heartland will attempt to brush Makwada opposition aside.

Lobi Stars had been consistent in the FA Cup but failed to make impact last season. In Abuja, they will try their form against Mighty Jets but for Sharks, it will be another achievement to add FA Cup to promotion, as was nearly done three years ago under Amodu Shaibu.