The Nation Newspaper

Tag: league title

  • Lobi Stars aiming at league title – Idoko

    Lobi Stars aiming at league title – Idoko

    Vice Chairman, Lobi Stars Football club of Makurdi, Mike Idoko has said his team will strive to win the Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL,) title this season .

    Speaking during a thanksgiving and dedication service held at Dunamis International Gospel Church in Makurdi, Benue State capital, ahead of the  2016/2017 football season which commences on January 14.

    Idoko said they returned to the church where he dedicated the team a year ago to thank God for what he did for the club in the 2015/2016 season.

    In thanking God for the success recorded last season ,the former Warri Wolves and Sunshine manager said he was gunning for the league title this season and called for prayers from the church.

    He told the congregation that in the last season, the team did not witness any accident despite travelling through out the country on air and road transport .

    He noted further that for the first time in 12 years the team finished 5th on the league table saying it called for thanksgiving .

    Earlier, Senior Pastor of the church, King Oloche Adaji prayed and anointed the players amd officials of the club urging them to do exploits in the coming season .

  • League Title: Rangers order special wine to celebrate victory

    League Title: Rangers order special wine to celebrate victory

    Rangers Football Club chief coach, Imama Amapakabo has revealed that a special wine has been oredered to celebrate the triumph of the flying antelopes as the 2015/16 Nigeria Football Professional League (NFPL) champion ahead of this Sunday’s clash against El-Kanemi.

    Speaking to Sportinglife over the telephone, the tactician said the success behind the team’s success was due to the decision of the management to retain 80% of its squad used last season and the addition of a few players to strengthen the team.

    He also added that he had in his library all the match tapes of all the Premier league clubs which he always watched with his players on the eve of every match pending on whom they were playing against.

    Amapakabo confessed that Ikorodu United remained his hardest game so far in the league saying they almost spoiled his dream of lifting the trophy with their pace and counter attack.  ” I was afraid in the second stanza with the way Ikorodu boys were penetrating our defence. The boys are good and I have spotted two players that can be of use in our quest for CAF Champions League competition,” said Amapakabo.

    The coach told Sportinglife that after the season he will rest for two weeks. He ruled out the possibility of dumping the flying antelopes.

  • 10-man Enyimba clinch 7th league title

    10-man Enyimba clinch 7th league title

    Ten-man Enyimba on Sunday won their seventh Nigeria league crown after they held Warri Wolves to a goalless draw in front of over 40,000 fans at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba.

    Enyimba needed just a point in their final home game against closest rivals Wolves and they did just enough to get the job the done.

    ‘The People’s Elephant’ clinched the championship with a round of matches to spare as they have 69 points, six points clear of Wolves.

    The best away form of the season – five wins and seven draws – earned the two-time African champions Enyimba the league title five years after their last conquest.

    Warri Wolves gave a good account of themselves and they are expected to end the season as runners-up to earn a ticket to next year’s CAF Champions League with a home win over relegated FC Taraba on the final day of the season Sunday week.

    After a rather cagey first 45 minutes, the second half opened up after Nigeria U-23 forward Daniel Etor was sent off for punching Gbolahan Salami in the 50th minute.

  • Ikhana to Enyimba players: League title not yet won

    Ikhana to Enyimba players: League title not yet won

    Enyimba head coach, Kadiri Ikhana has told his players to  keep things cool and approach their Glo Premier League Week 36 tie against Abia Warriors on Sunday as if it is their last league game of the season.

    The People’s Elephant are on top of the league table with 65 points from 35 matches and a win against the Umuahia side will take them closer to their dream seventh league title with few matches to the end of the season.  Despite another win over Kwara United last Wednesday,

    Ikhana  told his players to tackle Abia Warriors this weekend with the sole aim of getting the three points.

    He praised Kwara United team under Tunde Abdulrahman adding that the Ilorin side played very well despite losing the match while hoping that the Harmony Warriors would find a solution and wriggle their way out of the relegation zone.

    Ikhana cautioned his players and supporters, who feel that they have won the league title already stating that the title is still there for the taking among Enyimba, Giwa FC and Warri Wolves and that they would continue to concentrate on winning their  remaining games as they close in on the title.

  • League title still open, Aigbogun insists

    League title still open, Aigbogun insists

    Warri Wolves coach, Paul Aigbogun has insisted the Nigeria league title race is still open after they were held to a draw by hosts Rangers and leaders Enyimba won at home.

    Enyimba opened a five-point gap at the top of the table when they beat Shooting Stars 2-1 and Wolves were held to a 1-1 draw by the Flying Antelopes on Sunday.

    “The title race is still wide open,”  Aigbogun said after the match.

    Aigbogun’s side welcome Enyimba to Warri in a top of the table clash next week in a game that could decide their title ambition.

    In Enugu, Wolves let their hold slip after taking a 13th minute lead through Gbolahan Salami who slotted home from a Kufre Ebong assist.

    Osas Okoro drew Ranger level for the home side in the 51st minute stabbing home from close range.

    It was Wolves eighth draw on the road.

  • Ikhana: Enyimba away win from league title

    Ikhana: Enyimba away win from league title

    Enyimba coach Kadiri Ikhana has said his club need an away win to be crowned Nigeria champions for the seventh time.

    Enyimba are top of the table with 58 points from 31 matches, five points clear of closest rivals Sunshine Stars.

    Their remaining away games are at Sunshine Stars, Nasarawa United and derbies against Abia Warriors and Heartland.

    “We need to win an away game and we will be champions,” said Ikhana after Sunday’s 2-0 home win over fellow title chasers Wikki Tourists.

    “We have recorded five draws and won four for a total of 17 points on the road.

    “We want to keep the pace and we are doing just that. Last week, we had a four-point gap and this week, five-point gap. So, you can see the difference.”

    However, Ikhana maintained the title race remains too close to call.

    “Everybody is very far from trophy because we still have seven matches to play. The gap at the top is still close,” he said.

    On Sunday in Aba, Ikhana deployed skipper Chinedu Udoji from his familiar central defence position to defensive midfield and he scored the two goals that sunk Wikki.

    “We had several chances, we should have been three goals up in the first half. In the second half, we came close too. We created several chances, but did not utilise them,” the coach said.

    “Maybe I should take some credit for Udoji’s goals because before now he has not scored playing under several other coaches.

    “I am happy about that.”