Wahala dey for Leeds United fans as dem dey wait for FA Cup semi-final date announcement. The supporters’ trust come out talk say e no acceptable at all. Dem reach out to di club and di Football Supporters’ Association to ask why dem dey take so much time.
Di West Yorkshire club finally announce today say dem go face Chelsea for Wembley on Sunday, April 26. Kickoff na 3pm. But di wait don cause plenty headache for fans wey dey plan travel and hotel bookings.
Leeds United Supporters’ Trust yarn say even di club sef dey in di dark. Dem dey wait for governing bodies, police, and broadcasters to finalize di decision. “We’re all frustrated at the length of time it is taking,” dem talk. “It’s not acceptable that we go into the fourth day since the draw, with no details leaving thousands of fans in limbo.”
Dis semi-final na big tin for Leeds. Na di first time for 39 years dem reach dis stage. Last Sunday penalty shootout win against West Ham carry dem go Wembley. Di Football Association don confirm say di ties go hold for weekend of April 25-26.
But anoda wahala dey. Leeds get Premier League game wey dem rearrange to play against Bournemouth just four days before di Wembley trip. Na so confusion full ground.
For di oda semi-final, Manchester City go face Southampton on Saturday evening, April 25. Southampton sef get dia own gist. Dem don get permission to wear dia special anniversary yellow kit for di match. Di kit na to commemorate dia 1976 FA Cup final win against Manchester United.
FA rules normally talk say from semi-final stage, clubs must wear kit wey dem register from season beginning. But Southampton announce say dem don get permission to wear di yellow wey dem don wear for all dia FA Cup matches dis season.
Southampton talk say dem happy to wear di commemorative ’76-inspired yellow kit wey don follow dem for victories over Doncaster, Leicester, Fulham and Arsenal. Even better sign for Saints, dem get di west end of Wembley – di same side wey dia fans watch dem beat Leeds for 2024 Championship play-off final.
Di winner of Southampton vs Manchester City go face either Chelsea or Leeds for di final on Saturday, May 16. Southampton sef dey chase promotion back to Premier League after dem suffer relegation last season.
For Leeds side, former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness talk say Leeds season go be success if dem reach FA Cup final and remain for Premier League. Wyness wey serve as CEO at Goodison Park from 2004 to 2009 praise manager Daniel Farke for how e don handle di team.
“If they can get into a cup final, that would be amazing,” Wyness talk for Football Insider Inside Track podcast. “Chelsea vs Leeds brings back many memories for people of my age, the cup final, the famous cup final. It really was a battle.”
Wyness talk say Farke don learn plenty and prove say e na Premier League manager. “He’s got this Leeds team doing well, and they are a cup-style team, and they could actually do this against Chelsea. If they get to a cup final, and they stay up, that would be considered a very good season for Leeds.”
Leeds expected to get around 30,000 tickets for di Wembley trip. But anoda small wahala dey – di match go clash with dis year’s London Marathon wey also go hold on di same Sunday.
Sources talk say Leeds go smash dia club revenue if dia season end well. Revenue fit surpass £200million, and dem go bank £120m if dem maintain dia current 15th position for Premier League table. Di extra money fit help dem improve dia squad for summer transfer window.
As fans dey wait for di big match, di delay for date announcement don cause plenty frustration. But now say date don come out, preparation fit begin proper. Di FA Cup semi-finals promise to bring plenty excitement as four teams fight for final spot.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
