By: Gideon

Over the past two weeks, Uites have witnessed a treat of the very best of football drama. Goals, comebacks, upsets, red cards, individual brilliance, shady officiating have all been present in this year’s SEALS Cup, and we’ve gotten to the knockout stages.

The best 16 teams are ready to compete to emerge as UI’s best department footballing team.

The knockout stages start on the 16th of October, 2023 and this article gives a preview of what to expect from the remaining 16 teams and their credentials of going at least a step further.

Education Management vs Philosophy

This is one fixture on the watchlist of many football lovers in UI, following Philosophy’s highlights in the group stages. Both teams come into this game with a fair chance of booking a quarter final ticket.

Education Management, Group A winners were solid during their group stage matches and look good for the win, but should be wary of Philosophy’s threat as they are no push-overs.

MBBS vs Microbiology

This fixture looks well and truly won on paper already, because it sees two teams with the highest points and lowest points of the 16 teams remaining.

Arguably the easiest game of the RO16, MBBS come into this one as overwhelming favourites, having not conceded a single goal.

The ABH landlords dismissed Philosophy-one of the favourites- with a wave of their hand in the group stage. Microbiology would have to do more than turning water to wine to pull off an upset in this one, but what is a football competition without an upset?

Psychology vs Chemistry

This is another fixture that pitches one of the tournament’s favourites. Conceding just one goal and racking up maximum points, Psychology come into this game with a sole aim of ending Chemistry’s shout for the ultimate crown.

Chemistry have not been bad themselves. They had two wins out of three games in the first round and they look finely poised to give Psychology a run for their money.

Industrial and Petroleum Engineering vs Sociology

We can as well say that the only representative remaining from the faculty of technology would need lady luck on their side to go a step further, as they face a Sociology side that just don’t know how not to concede.

With two wins and a goal difference of 0, Sociology have to ensure they outscore IPE, because this would definitely treat us to a feast of goals.

An impregnable IPE side, 0 goals conceded and maximum points in the bag, Sociology have their work cut out for them to win this mouthwatering clash.

Physiology vs LARIS

The two teams look evenly matched in this game and it seems finely poised to entertain spectators.

Physiology come into this one unbeaten and would want to go further unbeaten against a LARIS side who would want to put the thrashing they received in their last group game behind them.

LARIS have the competition’s joint highest goal scorer in Mertesacker with 4 goals, then this fixture is finely in the balance.

Statistics vs Animal Science

The Statistics side come into this one with a 100% record in both points and goals difference (conceding 0). They are up against the well rounded Group E’s runners up in Animal Science, who may have a fundamental problem scoring against their invincible opponents.

Statistics are largely tipped to win this one, but Animal Science may have others tricks up their sleeves and pull off an upset in this encounter.

Forestry vs Computer Science

These are two very good sides looking to go over the other for an illustrious final 8 ticket.

Forestry come into this one unbeaten and are set to better a Computer Science side that dramatically came from behind in their last group game of the group stages. This is one to look forward to. The less organized team would eventually bleed.

Arts and Social Science Education vs Political Science

Technically, this is a game between two faculties NUESA vs FASSA, as bragging rights are at stake in this one.

An unbeaten ASSE side looks to breeze through their opponents into the last 8. However, Political Science, with one loss in the the group stage would be looking to fly FASSA’s flag high having just conceded 1 goal since the competition began.

The SEALS Cup is ready to hit the next gear, the stage is set for another round of entertainment, drama and everything in between.