THE 63 clubs left in the 2013 Federation Cup will know their preliminary round opponents Thursday when the draw for the national competition holds at the FIFA Technical Centre, National Stadium Complex, Abuja from 12 p.m.

According to Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, no club from Yobe State registered for the annual glamour competition, while Ranch Bees FC of Kaduna would be disqualified from the ceremony should the club’s management fail to off-set by this morning an outstanding debt of N200,000 payable since last year.

“The management of Ranch Bees have failed to pay this money, which is their fine for late registration for last year’s competition, despite several written undertakings to pay,” said Sanusi.

All the 20 Premier League clubs in the country, plus 22 clubs from the second-tier National League, nine clubs from the Nationwide League and 12 non-League teams will be involved in the draw.

A special feature will be added to this year’s draw, with the draw for the Women’s Federation Cup competition also taking place alongside that of the men’s event.

This year’s Federation Cup grand finale will take place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on July 28 with the grand finale of the Women Federation Cup taking place the previous day, July 27.