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Tag: El Kanemi Warriors

  • Dogo eager to transform El Kanemi Warriors

    Dogo eager to transform El Kanemi Warriors

    El-Kanemi Warriors head coach, Kabiru Dogo has expressed  eagerness  to transform the Borno Army and consolidate on the club’s impressive performance in the President Federation Cup of 2024 which they won.

    The Borno Army failed to defend the cup won last year after a defeat to Enyimba before the quarter final while the club needed a home win on the last game of the season against Sunshine Stars to book their topflight safety.

    The former coach, Aliyu Zubairu has since departed and Dogo who had previously coached Lobi Stars, Sunshine Stars, Nasarawa United and Kwara United and the new gaffer has revealed that ensuring that El Kanemi Warriors compete favourably with other teams is the reason he has come to the club.

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    His appointment  marked a bold step in the quick transformation of El-Kanemi Warriors with the Kwara born handler coming with wealth of experience in the Nigerian football league and leadership qualities unrivalled.

     “Insha Allah (by the grace of God) , we are determined to build a strong team that can compete favourably in the coming season,” Dogo told the club media.

     “I am ready to give my all to ensure that El-Kanemi Warriors returns to its rightful place among Nigeria’s elite clubs.”

  • Zubair seeks El Kanemi Warriors’ improvement ahead of NPFL second stanza

    Zubair seeks El Kanemi Warriors’ improvement ahead of NPFL second stanza

    El Kanemi Warriors’  Technical Adviser,  Aliyu Zubair, is convinced the Borno Army would finish better than their  fifth place finish  at the league’s halfway,

    The gaffer made the remarks after their 1-0 victory against Kano Pillars in their matchday 19 encounter in Maiduguri on Sunday to end the first round.

    While describing the first stanza campaign as averagely good, he noted that the team will explore options of fortifying the squad in order to compete favourably.

    He said: ” So far the team has performed averagely well considering the fact that the team just got promoted from NNL but nonetheless, I will say the team has not performed badly even though there is still a big vacuum for improvement. “   

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    He continued: “We don’t really have any target than to continue to improve by every match. I think in as much as there is no perfect team in the world, so is ours too, we need to fortify in all the departments for better performance. “

    He  also insisted that the overall season target for the team is to finish well, noting that the players will not be put under unnecessary pressure.             

    “The ultimate target at the end of the season is to finish among the first five. I think that target is more realistic and easily achievable without putting too much pressure on the players and on the team as a whole, ” he concluded.

    El Kanemi Warriors had a relative impressive first round performance by finishing fifth on the log with 29 points –  from seven wins, eight draws, and recorded only four losses.

    The teams also scored 19 goals, conceded 18, and had nine clean sheets in the first stanza.

  • El Kanemi Warriors knocked out of CAF Confed

    El Kanemi Warriors knocked out of CAF Confed

    Dadje of Benin Republic have knocked out Nigeria’s representatives El Kanemi Warriors from the CAF Confederation Cup.

    Read Also:CAFCC: Dadje doles out free tickets to fans against  El Kanemi Warriors

    Dadje beat Nigerian Federation Cup winners El Kanemi 2-1 yesterday to go through 3-2 on aggregate after both teams played out a 1-1 draw in Ikenne a week ago.

  • CAFCC: Dadje doles out free tickets to fans against  El Kanemi Warriors

    CAFCC: Dadje doles out free tickets to fans against  El Kanemi Warriors

    The management of Dadje FC of Benin Republic are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to eliminate President’s Federation Cup champions, El Kanemi Warriors in the return leg of the CAF Confederation Cup slated for Cotonou this weekend.

    The Beninese secured a valuable 1-1 away draw last weekend against the Nigerian FA Cup champions in Ikenne, Ogun State but despite the favourable result, the Beninoise League runners-up have thrown the gates of the stadium open for the first 8,000 fans to ensure they have maximum support in the home tie.

    The management of the club yesterday morning announced a free 8,000 tickets for fans ahead of the game.

    The tickets will be on first come first serve basis and there paid tickets also available for the VIP section.

    The game is slated for this weekend and Dadje FC need to win or secure a scoreless draw to progress.

    La Liga: Iheanacho, compatriots chase  first wins on StarTimes

    The opening matchday in La Liga yielded a mixed bag of results for Nigerian players, with none securing a win.

    However, the second matchday fixtures, broadcast live on StarTimes, promise to be exciting as Nigerian stars like Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Ejuke seek their maiden victories.

    On matchday 1, Sevilla FC, despite not having Iheanacho and Ejuke in action, settled for a 2-2 draw away to Las Palmas.

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    Meanwhile, Chrisantus Uche made a memorable debut, securing a point on the road for Getafe in a 1-1 draw against Athletic Club.

    Sadiq Umar, however, remained on the bench as Real Sociedad suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano.

    As the second matchday kicks off today, live on StarTimes, Nigerian La Liga stars are eager to make a mark.

    Sevilla FC will host Villarreal at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium, seeking a win after picking just a point in the corresponding fixture last season.

    Chrisantus Uche, the rave of the moment, will make his highly anticipated home debut against Rayo Vallecano.

    Having witnessed Vallecano’s stunning 2-1 win over Sadiq Umar’s Real Sociedad, Uche will be determined to avoid a similar fate.

    Also tommorrow, Umar and his Real Sociedad teammates will face Espanyol away, hoping for a fruitful journey.

    Football fans can catch all the action live on StarTimes Sports Premium channel, with the platform also offering every La Liga match for just N600 weekly on the StarTimes-ON app.

  • CAF Confederation Cup: El Kanemi Warriors now to face Beninese foes Friday

    CAF Confederation Cup: El Kanemi Warriors now to face Beninese foes Friday

    El Kanemi Warriors will now play their first preliminary round first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup home game against Dadjè FC of Benin Republic on Friday at Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne. 

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    The 2023/24 President Federation Cup winners  initially fixed Sunday , August 18, for the home game with Dadje but after CAF barred them from using the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja,  the club’s choice of alternative which is the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne meant they must get a new date as it clashed with their hosts Inter club competition game.

    El-Kanemi enters the match highly motivated after receiving N35.2 million from the Borno State Government for ending a 32-year trophy drought with their President Federation Cup win.

  • Confederation Cup: El Kanemi Warriors in search for home ground

    Confederation Cup: El Kanemi Warriors in search for home ground

    Newly crowned Nigerian President Federation Cup champions El Kanemi Warriors have begun the search for an adopted home ground for the home games in the CAF Confederation Cup.

    The El Kanemi Sports Complex in Maiduguri is not fit to host CAF Club games and the management of the club has swung into action to shortlist three stadia across the country for consideration for their home game.

    The Borno-based club will represent the country in the Confederation Cup and they’ve been drawn against Dadje FC of Benin Republic in the first preliminary round.

    Their original home ground in Borno has failed to get CAF approval to host the Confederation Cup .

    The stadiums under consideration are Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, and Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.

    Both legs of the first preliminary round are scheduled for next month.

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    If the Confederation of African Football sticks to its decision about the stadium approval for the Inter-Club competitions, then Nigeria’s representatives will have their hands full.

    The football apex body in Africa had last weekend released the list of approved stadiums for the first preliminary round of the both CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup and it was only Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo that got the nod in Nigeria.

    No place for MKO Abiola Stadium Abuja, Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos or Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne.

    CAF made it clear the stadiums are approved for the upcoming first preliminary round of the Inter-Club competitions.

  • Aluo rallies El Kanemi for President Federation Cup conquest 

    Aluo rallies El Kanemi for President Federation Cup conquest 

    Chairman of Nigeria National League (NNL), George Aluo,  has urged  NNL side, El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri to go all out and win this year’s President Federation Cup.

    The finals of the most glamorous football competition in the country tagged the ‘Battle of the Warriors’ will take place on Saturday between El Kanemi Warriors and NPFL side Abia Warriors at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena ( Onikan ) in  Lagos.

    El Kanemi who have won the competition twice in 1991 and 1992 got to this year’s finals by eliminating fellow NNL side, Kebbi United 5-4 on penalties after their semi-final game ended goalless at regulation time while Abia Warriors playing their first ever cup finals beat fellow NPFL side, Kano Pillars 4-3 on penalties after their game ended 0-0.

    Speaking on the finals, Aluo noted that the fine run of El Kanemi in both the second tier league and the Federation Cup is an indication that they can lift the trophy for the third time, urging them to maintain their winning run in the finals just as he stated that their victory would further prove that NNL is truly the most important league in the country.

    According to him, the number of NNL teams that made it to the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the FA Cup showed  how solid the league is and the good work done by the league body and expressed confidence that the three other promoted teams will do well in the NPFL next season.

    Read Also: El Kanemi Warriors

    The NNL boss also commended Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) and their strategic partners GTI Assets Management & Trust Limited for bringing back the glamour of the most prestigious football tournament in the country.

    “As football fans eagerly await the finals of this year’s Federation Cup, I must commend the NFF and their strategic partners, GTI for what they have done to bring back the glamour of the most prestigious football tournament in the country,” he said.

    “History will always remember them as those who changed the narratives of Nigerian football and I will be ever grateful to them.” 

    The winner of the President Federation Cup will represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup along with Enyimba FC of Aba.

  • Kurfi, Babangida chart way forward for Polo

    Kurfi, Babangida chart way forward for Polo

    Kastina United Chairman, Aminu Kurfi on Tuesday met with the Patron of EL-Amin polo club, Muhammed Babangida in Minna to discuss on how to improve  the game of Polo in Nigeria.
    Kurfi, who is on two weeks break,  also used the occasion to inform one of the African best defenders, Babangida, his love for the game and the need to make Nigerian Polo a better competitive one.
    “I am on two weeks break. So I am taking my time out of football to show love for another sport. I am in Minna to see one of the African best defenders in Polo and to see how to make the game very big than what it is today in Nigeria.

    Muhammed Babangida is a Patron of a big Polo club, they have  won so many laurels within and outside the country. We had fruitful discussions and I am assuring Polo lovers in Nigeria to look out for good programs for the game in Minna and Nigeria at large,” Kurfi said to SportingLife.
    EL-Amin dismantled available records to clinch a 12th Georgian Cup title in ‘2015 International Polo Tournament in Kaduna. The club was founded in 1995.

  • Plateau United extend NPFL lead, ends Shooting Stars unbeaten run

    Plateau United extend NPFL lead, ends Shooting Stars unbeaten run

    Plateau United on Match day 32, maintained their position as top of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) table after they defeated Shooting Stars of Ibadan 2-0 at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos.

    Emmanuel Odafe had given the hosts the lead after converting a Salmon Junior cross on 16 minutes, before Ibeh Johnson scored, scrabbling the ball in, after a goal-mouth melee on 78 minutes.

    This win ends Shooting Stars five-match unbeaten run in the NPFL, with the Jos-based side also failing to drop points at home in their last ten matches.

    Mfom Udoh scored the only goal for Enyimba in their 1-0 victory over Kano Pillars from the penalty spot. This goal marked his eleventh of the season. The twist in the game, however, came in the 35th minute, when Junior Lokosa of Pillars was shown a straight red for a rough tackle on Ifeanyi Anaemena on 35 minutes.

    The People’s Elephant also hit the bar on four occasions during the match, in a bid to extend their lead.

    In Sagamu, Austin Ogunye scored on 71 minutes to gift the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Football Club a slim 1-0 victory over already relegated Remo Stars, as they continue their chase to catch up with leaders Plateau United. He converted an assist from Adebayo Waheed to score for the Lagos side.

    Stephen Odey, however, missed chances during the match to extend his lead as the highest goal scorer of the domestic league.

    Akwa United lost 1-0 to El Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri. Tchoanfine Pade scored from a header to gift the northerners the win against the third placed side on the table.

    At the end of match day 32 of the NPFL, Plateau United sit on top with 58 points, MFM FC is second with 55 points, Akwa United is third with 51 points and Enyimba FC is fourth with 50 points.

    At the rear, Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) stays at 17th position is 40 points, Enugu Rangers is 18th with 39 points, Gombe United is 19th with 37 points and Remo Stars stays at 20th place with 29 points.

  • Bosso dedicates LBA award to players

    Bosso dedicates LBA award to players

    El Kanemi Warriors technical adviser, Isa Ladan Bosso has dedicated his Coach of the month award to his players.

    The former Flying Eagles coach was named the League Bloggers Award manager in February , after his team El Kanemi Warriors had an excellent run in the month under review in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    He was presented with the award during his side’s matchday 17 encounter in Maiduguri on Sunday.

    In a chat with SportingLife, Bosso praised his boys for their outstanding performance in the ongoing season.

    “I want to appreciate everybody in the team for the award. I want to specially dedicate this award to my players. I really commended them for their commitment and dedication to the team, without them I may not have achieve it. I thank God that I won the award. This is a challenge to me and everybody in the team as well. I am happy I received the award in-front of our fans. I will continue to work harder to keep the momentum,” Bosso said to SportingLife.

    Four wins out of five matches in February, including a 1-0 success at Abia Warriors, proved to be enough for Bosso to claim the manager’s accolade ahead of Akwa United’s Abdu Maikaba, Fidelis Ilechukwu of MFM FC and Abubakar Bala of Niger Tornadoes.

    Victories against seven-time NPFL winners Enyimba, Gombe United, Abia Warriors and Nasarawa United with a 0-2 loss at Plateau United in between put Bosso and his team ahead of other competitors in February and helped them claim 12 points out of the 15 available.