Tag: Kun Khalifat

The chief Executive officer of Kun Khalifat FC of Owerri, Micheal Chukwudi Amaefula, says  he would for a long time cherish his team’s his team’s qualification to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Speaking with journalists after his team secured a ticket to the NPFL,  the young  football  administrator said the achievement  was as a result of hard work and the believe of his players in him.

“It’s been a long journey to the NPFL, remember I told you 10 months ago in Aba during the NLO Playoffs that I will take this club to the top division, today that dream has become a reality.

Read Also: Crown FC, Kun Khalifat thro’ to NNL Super 8

“My appreciation goes to everyone who has been part of this journey, they are the true champions”.

The Imo State-born administrator however assured that the club will even get better in the future.

“We will work more to make this club better, this is what I’ve been planning since, and with this opportunity we have now, we will build on this success story”

Kun Khalifat FC, started as a grassroots’  football club in Irete, Owerri Imo state and has in the last three seasons gained promotion from the Nigerian  Nationwide League (NLO) to the Nigerian National league (NNL) and now to the Nigerian Premier football League (NPFL).

Two more teams: Crown FC and Kun Khalifat over the weekend booked their tickets for the season-ending Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 playoff with just a round of games to be played before the end of the regular season.

The two qualifiers made it seven teams that have confirmed their readiness to battle for the four tickets to the topflight at the end of the playoff.

It means it remains just one slot more to complete the Super 8 teams with Yobe Desert Stars, Barau FC, Wikki Tourists and Doma United the other teams to emerge from the Northern Conference.

It was goals fest in the three games played yesterday in the Nigeria National League Southern Conference as the game’s produced 19 goals. Warri Wolves thrashed Dakkada 4-2 at home to move to 39 points in Group A and consolidate their top spot in the group. The win extended the Seasiders’ point difference over second placed Crown FC to six points. Crown FC got the other ticket in the group after beating Ijele SC of Enugu away 2-1. The Ajilete Boys have 33 points and cannot be overreached by other teams in the group with a game to the end of the season.

In another game in Group A, Beyond Limits pummelled Igbajo United 7-0 in Ikenne to confirm their status in the NNL next season with a game to spare while it was a six goal thriller in Awka between Solution FC and Sporting Lagos who played their last game of the season which ended in a 3-3 draw.

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Earlier on Saturday, Kun Khalifat had to come back from a goal down to play a 1-1 draw at home to Godswill Akpabio FC before picking their ticket to the Super 8. Kun Khalifat who have amassed 37 points from 19 games will finish the group in first spot even if they lose to ABS FC in Ilorin this weekend.

The battle for the second spot in Group B will go down to the wire between Osun United (33 points) and Rovers (31 points) on the final day of the regular season this weekend. Sporting Lagos are third with 32 points but are out of reckoning after their failure to win in Awka yesterday. It was their last game of the season while the other contending two teams have a game each more.

In the results of other games, Edel FC beat Smart City 2-0 to boost their survival chances and are now in the seventh place with 18 points. The Awka side must avoid defeat in Umuahia against Abia Comets this weekend and pray that Dakkada versus  Beyond Limits tie goes in their favour too.

Rovers FC were beaten 2-0 in Lagos by First Bank to cause a massive setback to their promotion bid. They are currently third with 31 points and must pray that Osun United fail to beat First Bank FC while they must defeat Solution FC at home.

In the relegation zone, it is all looking gloomy for 2025 President Federation Cup finalists, Abakaliki FC who are last in Group B with 20 points. They will visit Lagos in search of three points against Madiba FC while hoping that Madiba, ABS and Gateway United falter in their games.

Warri Wolves and Kun Khalifat look poised to grab their tickets to the Nigeria National League Super Eight playoffs this weekend when they face Dakkada FC and Godswill Akpabio FC in Matchday 21 fixtures of the NNL season in the Southern Conferences A and B.

Warri Wolves made light work of Igbajo United in Ile Ogbo, Osun State winning 3-1 last weekend and will qualify for the Super 8 if they avoid defeat at home to Dakkada FC who are however struggling and could only drew 1-1 at home to Enugu based Ijele FC on Tuesday.

In other Group A ties, Ijele FC will host second placed Crown FC with a home win crucial to their survival with only one game remaining after this weekend games. The Ajilete Boys on the other hand must get at least a draw in Enugu to ensure they go into the last game with their destiny in their hands.

Sixth placed Beyond Limits with 20 points will host Igbajo United in a must win game to move closer to the top five with Abia Comets currently in fifth spot with 23 points drawn bye from the weekend’s fixtures. Igbajo United with just nine points from as many games will place amateur league next season.

Awka is another dicey action spot this weekend with Edel FC facing third spot Smart City who must be smart enough to go for all points if they want the battle for the Super 8 ticket to drag on to the last round of fixtures. But Edel FC cannot afford to toy with their last golden chance to win before their fans and leave their relegation battle almost secured.

Read Also: Kun Khalifat , Warri Wolves inch closer  to NNL Super 8

In Group B, leaders Kun Khalifat must put an end to their three games winless streak if they are to qualify for the Super 8 this weekend. They need a home win against Godswill Akpabio FC to be certain of the ticket having managed to stay at the top of the Southern Conference Group B for the most part of the season.

Uncharacteristic of Kun Khalifat, they drew at home to Gateway United and Rovers and were beaten 1-0 by Osun United in Ile Ogbo on Tuesday.

While the first spot is almost settled, the second spot will still be a straight fight between Osun United (33 points), Sporting Lagos (31 points) and Rovers (31 points).

Gateway United are at home to Osun United in a game both sides need positive outcome. The Abeokuta based side need a home win to continue their race towards escaping relegation while Osun United must also avoid a defeat to remain second before the last game of the season.

First Bank host Rovers while Solution FC must find solution to Sporting Lagos problem in Awka.

Former CAF Confederation Cup campaigner, Warri Wolves and Kun Khalifat are within just a win from joining four Northern Conference teams who have picked the tickets to the season ending Nigeria National League Super 8 playoffs.

Wikki Tourists, Yobe Desert Stars, Doma United and Barau FC are the four teams from the North who have qualified for the Super Eight but Warri Wolves brightened their ticket chances with a 3-1 win over Igbajo United while Kun Khalifat can pick the ticket today if they beat Osun United in Ile Ogbo in a Matchday 20 tie.

Warri Wolves who have been relegated from the Nigeria Premier Football League since the 2020-21 season have struggled to stage a return to the topflight but this season has been different and is currently topping Southern Conference Group A with 36 points from 16 games. They are six points ahead of Crown FC who are on 30 points and in second spot. They will host Dakkada FC this weekend with a win signalling their place in the Super Eight.

Having played most of the group’s league games over the weekend, Dakkada in seventh spot with 16 points from 15 games will host Ijele FC this evening in the last game in Group A.

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In Group B of the Southern Conference, Kun Khalifat continues to dominate in first spot with 36 points from 17 games and will qualify for the Super Eight with two games to spare if they are able to beat Osun United today in the group’s Matchday 20 last game.

Osun United have occupied the second spot for a long spell but they have drifted to the fourth with 30 points from 17 games after Sporting Lagos pummelled First Bank 4-0 in Lagos to jump to the second spot with 31 points. But the Noisy Lagosians have played two more games better than Osun United who will supplant Sporting Lagos and third placed Rovers (31 points) if they manage a home win against stubborn Kun Khalifat whose only loss all season was at Awka against Solution FC.

If Kun Khalifat are unable to secure the ticket in Osun State, they will have another chance when they host Godswill Akpabio FC at home this weekend.

In other games played last weekend, Rovers beat Gateway United 2-1; ABS thrashed Madiba FC 3-1 in Ilorin; and Godswill Akpabio FC pipped Abakaliki FC 1-0 in Uyo.

.Wolves, Wikki, Basira lead in other groups

Kun Khalifat extended their lead at the top of Group B of the Nigeria National League to five points after they defeated Madiba FC 3-1 in a reverse of the concluding game of the first stanza.

The Owerri_based side at the Dan Anyiam Stadium scored first in the 16^th  minute before Amaefula Chikamso increased the tally to two 10 minutes later before Julius Jeremiah made it three eight minutes from full time.

Madiba did reduced the goals arrears in the stoppage time of the game but it was too little, too late for the visitors from Lagos.

Kun Khalifat have 28 points from 11 games to continue to dictate the pace in Group B ahead of Osun United who are second with 23 points. Osun United had got a 1-1 draw in Awka against Solution FC who are third with 18 points.

Sporting Lagos are fourth with 17 points after a 1-0 home win over Rovers who are a place below them with 17 points also.

In Group A, Warri Wolves pinned Inter Lagos 1-0 in Warri to return to first spot with 23 points while Inter Lagos slipped to the fifth spot with 16 points.

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Smart City put more dent Abia Comets promotion chances with a 2-0 home win to move to the second spot with 21 points. Crown FC remain in third spot with 21 points despite losing 3-1 to Beyond Limits who are fourth with 18 points.

In Group C which is Northern Conference, Wikki Tourists got a morale boosting goalless draw away to Sokoto United to return to the top with 14 points from seven games while Sokoto United are fourth with 10 points.

Gombe United are second on the log with 12 points despite beating Jigawa Golden Stars who slipped to the seventh spot with five points. Mighty Jets slid to third spot with 11 points after they sank 3-1 in Gusau against Zamfara United.

In Group D in the other Northern Conference group, Basira downed Kada Warriors 3-1 to move to top spot with 13 points from seven games. Kada Warriors are sixth with six points.

Doma United are closely in second spot also with 13 points but with an inferior goals difference after a 2-0 home win over Sporting Supreme. Supreme are now in the fifth spot with seven points.

Kebbi United deflated Yobe Desert Stars 2-0 in Birnin Kebbi to move to the third spot with nine points ahead of Yobe Stars who are in third spot with 11 points.

Yobe Stars were involved in an auto accident on Thursday on their way to Kebbi and their game hitherto fixed for Friday was now played on Sunday.

Crown FC and Kun Khalifat have emerged as the halfway champions of the Nigeria National League Southern Conference in Groups A and B following the end of the first round yesterday.

Crown FC displaced Group A leader Warri Wolves after they pipped Beyond Limits 2-1 in Ogbomosho as Wolves drew  1-1 draw away to  Inter Lagos.

Crown FC finished first after 10 games with 21 points while Warri Wolves are second with 20 points. Smart City and Inter Lagos were third and fourth respectively with 18 and 16 points in that order.

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Edel FC who have been having a torrid season with just a win all season ended the first stanza on a high playing a goalless draw at Ile Ogbo against Igbajo United. They were ninth with five points at the end of the first stanza.

In Group B, Kun Khalifat edged Osun United  at the top after they pipped Madiba FC 1-0 through Josiah Jeremiah’s goal in the stoppage time of the first half..

They are first at the end of the first round games with 25 games having won whopping eight games, drew one and lost one. Osun United beat Solution FC 1-0 to finish second with 22 points while Solution FC are third with 17 points.