Author: The Nation

Bendel Insurance and Lobi Stars have both qualified for the Nigeria Premier Football League Championship Playoffs but the trio of Nasarawa United, El Kanemi Warriors and Dakkada FC have suffered  relegation.

In Group A, Insurance picked their  playoffs ticket  despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Shooting Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.  A goalless first half was greeted with the Benin Arsenals’ goal in the 62nd  minute through Ismael Sarki’s sixth goal of the season.

Shooting Stars fought back gamely and were rewarded with the equaliser through Sikiru Alimi in the 88th  minute. Insurance with 33 points from 17 games, mathematically  cannot finish below the third position even if they are beaten by Nasarawa United in the last game.

Enyimba thrashed Gombe United 5-0 with Chukwuemeka Obioma recording a hat-trick for his 14th  goal of the season from 17 games.

The People’s Elephant retained their second spot with 31 points but they will need a draw against Shooting Stars in Ibadan to be certain of playoffs spot. Ikenna Cooper and Sadiq Abubakar with the other goals.

Remo Stars scored at the dead  in Jos to inflict first home loss on  the coach Fidelis Ilechukwu.-led-Plateau United.

Victory in Jos has put the Sky Blue Stars in charge of their destiny ahead of the final game of the season when they host Kwara United in Ikenne.

Meanwhile, Akwa United will now be ruing their surprise home draw with Nasarawa United if they fail to make it to the Championship Playoffs.

The Promise Keepers beat already relegated El Kanemi Warriors 2-0 through Ubong Friday’s double. But Remo Stars victory in Jos still keeps them in fourth place with 29 points.

Kwara United  recorded a  1-0 win over Nasarawa United in Akure in what was a relegation battle .

The Harmony Boys are in the eighth spot with 17 points. They cannot finish lesser than that with already Solid Miners on 13 points. It would be a huge relief for the team’s head coach, Kabiru Dogo who came in the second round on rescue mission.

Elsewhere in Group B, Lobi Stars got a draw in Uyo against Dakkada to pick the second ticket while

Rivers United were made to sweat before beating Bayelsa United 2-1 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.

The league’s reigning champions have returned to the second spot with 26 points despite having three games at hand.

Doma United failed to get maximum points at home to Rangers International who resolutely fought for shared spoils. The newly promoted side are third with 26 points.

Sunshine Stars are the team of the week after they trounced Niger Tornadoes 2-0 in Kaduna. The away win suddenly put the Owena Whales in the race for the Championship playoffs. David Onovo and Yusuf Ibrahim goals were crucial to the win.

Sunshine are fourth with 24 points. They could pick the Super Six ticket if they beat Dakkada in Akure and Doma United falter against Abia Warriors.

While Wikki Tourists thrashed Abia Warriors 4-0 to make a last ditch effort to avoid relegation

Sean Dyche has praised Alex Iwobi for having the strength of character to come back from what could have been a damaging error at Leicester City.

Iwobi gave the ball away in the build up to Leicester’s second goal, a strike that gave them the lead in what was a crucial game between two sides in the bottom three.

But he was able to collect himself and battle on before hitting the equaliser to help Everton earn a valuable point.

Iwobi looked devastated after Jamie Vardy gave Leicester a first half lead at the King Power Stadium. He had been seeking Dwight McNeil when his pass across the halfway line was cut out by Youri Tielemans. James Maddison picked up the ball and fed Vardy, who made it 2-1.

It was a miserable moment for Iwobi, who has been ever-present for the Blues both under Frank Lampard and current boss Dyche. Iwobi fought on bravely and had his moment of redemption 10 minutes into the second half, grabbing his second goal of the season. With six assists on top of those goals he has been involved in almost a third of all of Everton’s goals this season.

Ahead of the trip to Brighton and Hove Albion today , Dyche has  praised Alex and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose presence forced defender Wout Faes into the header that led to Iwobi’s opportunity.

Dyche said: “His [Iwobi’s] work ethic is terrific, his show of ability at times is terrific, and to react to a mistake like he did and to go and score a goal shows his mentality.

“He is a very good player. It was similar to Dom, Dom missed a chance and he set up Alex. That is the mentality you want, you can’t do anything once it has gone, once it’s gone it’s gone.

“You can reflect on it afterwards but not during the game. I think that is a strong sign of people’s mentality – if they do make a mistake, how quickly they recover. Both of those players recovered very, very quickly.”

The Ogun State Government and the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of  Youth and Sport Development have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Saturday, 6th May 2023.

Reacting after signing the MoU at the Governor’s Office in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta on Saturday, Governor Dapo Abiodun updated the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare that Ogun is noted for recording many firsts and hosting of the competition would not be an exception.

“Ogun State indigenes have invested in sports development in Nigeria. Apart from that, we have eminent sports men and women who have distinguished themselves and brought glory to this country. We are ready to host a world-class festival next year. We have capable hands and sponsors that are ready to support us.

“I want to assure you that we will live up to expectations as reflected in the MoU. I can assure you that we will not disappoint you.

“I want to assure you that, like you have said to me that the one in Edo was a very good showing, the one in Delta was better than the one in Edo, the one in Ogun will be the best. We will immediately move to set up a Local Organizing Committee,” the governor stated.

Abiodun expatiated that the National Sports Festival was introduced to promote unity and cohesion among the youths, noting that Ogun as a state with a huge number of youths due to the large number of education institutions, his administration has developed strategies to productively engage them through sports and other relevant activities.

“Sports is a tool to teach our youth leadership skills development, discipline, team work and self-confidence. When youth are busy through sports engagements, they won’t have time for social vices. Some of them have developed into world beaters and we will continue to encourage them, ” Abiodun added

The governor recollected how the state performed very well in the last edition of the Festival, winning 70 medals, and appreciated the Minister and the Federal Ministry of Sports for supporting the state at the bidding stage. Assuring that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure a successful National Sports Festival in the year 2024.

In his remarks, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare said the choice of Ogun State as the next host was due to its culture of sports development, availability of sporting infrastructure and potentials to host a befitting festival that would linger for a long time.

He said the state has been blessed with famous sports men and women making the country proud, and expressed confidence that its performance as the host of the next edition will outshine the last two editions.

The Sports Minister however, called on the state to start preparations, as soon as possible, assuring corporate bodies that are ready to sponsor the competition handsome incentives, such as; tax holidays, and others.

High-riding Lagos-based Nigeria League One (NLO)  side,  Iganmu Tiger FC, have transferred three  promising youngsters Adeola David Abayomi, Abdulrahmon Teslim Olaitan, and Olasunkanmi Abdulwaheed Dayo to Japanese club side Fukuchiyama Seibi.

The teenage stars who shone brilliantly during the recently concluded TCC championship, are on an elite scholarship program to continue their development and boost their promising careers under quality training and supervision.

Last year, the duo of Richard Ubong and Lawrence Izuchukwu,  were also transferred to Japan to continue their careers development.

Speaking while receiving the youngsters in Japan, President of Iganmu Tiger FC, Abayomi Egbayelo, said the latest transfer of his boys to Japan, is a continuation of his  commitment to developing the young lads, as well as, helping them to receive quality education, that would also boost their life after football.

He said: “Apart from giving them the opportunity to get quality education, the lads would also have the opportunity to train, play and be adequately exposed under the watchful eyes and tutelage of world class trainers and coaches.

“On the sporting levels, Iganmu Tiger football club is gradually building and developing a new generation of truly gifted youngsters that would come to dominant Nigeria and world football, in the nearest future,” the awards winning youthful club owner enthused confidently.”