The Nation Newspaper

Tag: LOBI STARS

  • Lobi Stars are third with 48 points while Sporting Lagos are in 13th spot with 35 points.

    Plateau United are still in the top five despite losing 1-0 to Abia Warriors through Samson Obi’s second half goal. They are fifth with 44 points and are winless in their last three games in the league.

    In another game, Akwa United compounded their relegation woes following a 1-0 home loss to Doma United who ended their 11 games winless streak as a result of the away win got at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Emmanuel Jesam got the all-important match winner in the eighth minute. Both teams paraded new coaches at the dugout in the tie with Mohammed Babaganaru at the helms in Akwa United while Bala Nikyu is on rescue mission at Doma United.

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    At the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, Heartland FC suffered a 91st  minute heartbreak in the hands of Bayelsa United. Fabby Clark scored the winning goal in the first minute of the additional time. The Prosperity Boys have now moved three points off the relegation zone in 15th  spot with 34 points.

    At the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, Bendel Insurance lost their first home game of the season in their 3-1 defeat to Niger Tornadoes. Ernest Chidiebere, Akintunde Azeez and Clinton Jephthah put the Ikon Allah Boys in cruise control with a 3-0 first half lead and Insurance could only cancel one of the goals through Chukwudi Meze’s 81st minute goal.

  • NPFL: Lobi Stars maintain  lead as Enyimba, Shooting Stars, Sporting Lagos win

    Lobi Stars  maintain top spot of the Nigeria Premier Football League after Matchday 24 fixtures after a last gasp draw in  Umuahia against Abia Warriors kept them atop with 43 points ahead of Enyimba who needed another late goal to down Doma United in Aba yesterday.

    Sporting Lagos thrashed Remo Stars 4-1 to end the unbeaten run of the Sky Blue Stars in the South West derby. Shooting Stars humbled Akwa United 3-0 while Enugu Rangers could not beat Kwara United in Enugu in a disappointing goalless draw.

    In Umuahia, it couldn’t be a winning return for Abia Warriors who conceded a 95th minute goal to settle for a draw against Lobi Stars. It was Abia Warriors that drew the first blood with the game’s opening goal in the 70th  minute from the penalty spot scored by Fabian Omaka.

    The home team thought the three points had been sealed until the Pride of Benue’s John Ekioke stunned them with the game’s equaliser in the fifth minute of the additional time.

    In Enugu, cheered on by  Governor Peter Mbah, Enugu Rangers could not secure the maximum points against stubborn Kwara United. The win could have taken them to six victories on the bounce and joint top too.

    The Flying Antelopes are fourth with 41 points while Kwara United are 17th  with 26 points.

    In Aba, Enyimba had to rely on Mbaoma Chijioke’s 88th minute strike to return to winning ways against Doma United at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba.

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    The three points has taken the People’s Elephant back to the second spot with 42 points while the Savannah Tigers slid to the 11th spot with 33 points.

    In Lagos, it was carnival-like as Sporting Lagos thrashed Remo Stars 4-1 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena. It was the Sky Blue Stars first loss in 14 South West derbies against Sunshine Stars, Shooting Stars and Sporting Lagos.

    Junior Lokosa, playing against his former club netted from the penalty spot in the fourth minute before Pascal Durugbor, Philip Kehinde and Isaac Annor added theirs in the 27th , 48th  and 60th  minutes. Ismaila Sodiq got the Sky Blue Stars’ consolation goal in the 39th  minute.

    While Shooting Stars added to the misery of Akwa United beating them 3-0 in Ibadan. Victor Ehibe and Christian Pyagbara scored in the 15th  and 18th  minutes for early 2-0 lead before Abdullahi Lawal got the third in the 89th  minute as the icing on the cake.

  • NPFL: Lobi Stars dislodge Remo Stars at the top

    NPFL: Lobi Stars dislodge Remo Stars at the top

    • .Rangers, Plateau United secure wins

    Lobi Stars are back to the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League after they beat Katsina United 2-0 at the Lafia Township Stadium in one of the Matchday 23 games while Enugu Rangers and Plateau United both won their games to ensure the title race would be intense this season.

    At the Lafia Township Stadium goals from Ekioke John and Danlabi Alao in the 71st  and 83rd  minute handed the Pride of Benue all points. They thus returned to the top of the table after Remo Stars occupied the spot for 24 hours. They sky Blue Stars had beaten Bayelsa United 1-0 on Saturday to temporarily occupy the position. 

    Lobi Stars are first with 42 points while Katsina United are in the seventh spot with 34 points.

    At the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna Niger Tornadoes suffered their second home loss of the season following their 2-0 defeat to Enugu Rangers who had their General Manager, Amobi Ezeaku feature in the game in the second half. 

    Read Also: NPFL focus: Lobi Stars, Enyimba, Plateau United target crucial wins

    Quick goals from Chidiebere Nwobodo and Godwin Obaje in the 22nd  and 25th  minutes have shot the Flying Antelopes to the 3rd spot with 40 points while Tornadoes are 17th with 24 points. 

    Plateau United also defeated Bendel Insurance 2-0 to move to the second spot with 40 points. Alexander Enejo and Daniel Barnabas with the goals in the 51st  and 67th  minutes. Insurance are ninth with 31 points. 

    In Awka, Heartland FC continued their winless streak after they were held to a 1-1 at home by Sunshine 

    It was dubbed the battle between Christian Obi and Kennedy Boboye, who replaced him briefly and secured the club’s three victories till date, before the start of the game.

    The Naze Millionaires had hardly settled when Promise Awosanmi scored again for Sunshine Stars in the second minute of the game after a mistake in the hosts’ defence. Onyekachi Okafor equalised four minutes later for his third goal of the season but it could only guarantee a point. 

    Today, three NPFL games are lined up: Doma United will face Sporting Lagos; Akwa United will confront Enyimba in Uyo while Kano Pillars and Abia Warriors will settle scores in Kano. 

    On Tuesday, Gombe United will host Shooting Stars.

  • NPFL Showdown: Remo Stars, Lobi Stars battle Live on Beta Sports

    NPFL Showdown: Remo Stars, Lobi Stars battle Live on Beta Sports

    Naija football lovers should brace themselves for a heart-stopping clash as league leaders Remo Stars lock horns with the fiery Lobi Stars in a top-of-the-table NPFL encounter.

    This battle for top of the league spot will kick off on Thursday at 4:00 PM, and football fans across the nation won’t miss a single second as the match will be televised live on Beta Sports channel 244 on StarTimes.

    This isn’t just a game; it’s a battle for supremacy. Both teams have been on fire this season, with Remo Stars showcasing their offensive prowess and Lobi Stars boasting a rock-solid defence. The air will crackle with anticipation as these two titans go head-to-head, promising a spectacle of attacking brilliance and tactical masterclass.

    Both teams currently sit on twenty-six with Remo Stars topping with goal difference.

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    Fans will witness every ounce of passion and skill live on Beta Sports Channel, available on channel 244 on StarTimes. It’s expected to be an electrifying atmosphere as Remo Stars fight to maintain their lead, while Lobi Stars claw their way back into the title race.

    This clash isn’t just about points and trophies; it’s about bragging rights and national pride. Both teams boast passionate fan bases, and the stadium will be a cauldron of cheering voices and vibrant colours.

    Naija fans will witness the raw energy of Nigerian football and feel the pulse of the nation through this extraordinary encounter.

    Meanwhile, Manchester City, the orchestra of Guardiola, conductor of a thousand passes, face their final movement in the FIFA Club World Cup championship. But in their path stands Fluminense, the Samba Symphony, fresh from a victory against mighty Al Ahly! The FIFA Club World Cup final will air live on StarTimes Sports Premium Channel at 9 pm on Friday.

  • NPFL: Lobi Stars outshine Shooting Stars to go atop

    NPFL: Lobi Stars outshine Shooting Stars to go atop

    Lobi Stars have displaced Doma United to second spot  on the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) log following a 2-1 home win against Shooting Stars while Sunshine Stars, Kwara United, Abia Warriors, and Niger Tornadoes all won their home matches with Bayelsa United, Bendel Insurance and Doma United securing away points as NPFL Matchday 10 were played yesterday.

    Waheed Adebayo got the Pride of Benue first goal in the second minute before the Oluyole Warriors could settle down but they fought back gamely and got the equaliser four minutes into the second half through Gideon Monday.

    But the home side saved the best for last when Kalu Orji scored from the penalty spot to put them in the lead again five minutes from time and  return to the top with 20 points while 3SC slipped to the third spot with 17 points.

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    Elsewhere, Doma United extended their unbeaten streak in their goalless draw in Ikenne against Remo Stars.

    The Savannah Tigers have kept eight clean sheets from 10 games they have played in a master stroke defensive formation. It was the first time the Sky Blue Stars would be dropping points at home and they are now fourth with 16 points but with a game at hand.

    Kwara United and Niger Tornadoes defeated Gombe United and Akwa United to jump to ninth and 17th  spots with 13 and 11 points in that order while Moses Omodumueke was the hero has Sunshine Stars tamed Noisy Lagosians, Sporting Lagos 1-0 in Akure. He scored in the 24th  minute.

    Abia Warriors kept their home invincibility to secure their fifth win of the season in a 1-0 win over Enugu Rangers in the second Oriental derby within two days.

     It was played in Umuahia with Collins Nwoburuoke’s second minute goal the difference. The Umuahia side are seventh with 15 points but they are yet to get a point away from their five trips.

    At the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, Kano Pillars could not get a goal against stubborn Bendel Insurance. They had previously won their opening four wins at home before the Benin Arsenals finished with a goalless draw. Insurance are eighth with 14 points while Pillars dropped to the 13th  spot with 13 points.

    At the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina, Katsina United dropped points again for the second time after Bayelsa United forced a 1-1 draw. Impressive Garando Tekena shot the Prosperity Boys ahead in the 42nd  minute but Bello Lukman was on the score sheet for the Chanji Boys in the 61st minute to preserve their home’s unbeaten run.

  • Lobi Stars try Enyimba for size in Aba

    Lobi Stars try Enyimba for size in Aba

    • Akwa United, Remo Stars live on StarTimes

    Reigning champions, Enyimba FC of Aba, fell on Wednesday when they were beaten 1-0 by Doma United in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) game played at Pantami Stadium, Gombe.

    It was the People’s Elephant’s third loss of the season after just six games and as they face 1999 League winner, Lobi Stars at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba tomorrow ,  they must avoid losing to assuage their fans who are already disappointed by their woeful start to the season.

    Enyimba were pinned 1-0 by Kano Pillars last weekend before losing by the same margin to Doma United on Wednesday in Gombe.  They have not been convincing both home and away with the goalless draw   in Kaduna against Niger Tornadoes their only away point thus far this season from three games.

    The Nwankwo Kanu-led side are 10 points away from the top of the table after eight games with seven points  though they have two games at hand. But they must be at their best in front of their fans to return to winning ways against resolute Lobi Stars.

    Incidentally, Enyimba have dominated this fixture in the past  winning three out of the last five matches including the 1-0 win in Lagos during the NPFL Championship playoff on 5th  June 2023.

     They won the other two fixtures 2-1 on  14th  May 2022 and June 2nd ,2021 while they held the Pride of Benue to a 1-1 draw in Makurdi on  28th July  2022.

    Yet the consortium of  former Nigeria internationals at Enyimba led by club chairman, Kanu, and head coach Finidi George have not brought the desired change while the inclusion of club’s Sporting Director, Ifeanyi Ekwueme has not yielded  expected results too.

    They will  undoubtedly be under intense pressure to deliver tomorrow despite having  the likes of    Olorunleke Ojo, Joseph Atule, Chijioke Mbaoma, Daniel Daga, Pascal Eze, Somiari Alalibo and others to call on.

    Lobi Stars, on the other hands, are flying under club’s Vice Chairman, Dominic Iorfa.

    Iorfa who  returned for a second stint , led the Makurdi-based side to the NPFL Championship playoff and the Naija Super 8 last season.

    Read Also: NPFL: Enyimba ignite Kano against Pillars

    Though Lobi Stars failed to fly in both competitions, he and the management board have seemingly fixed the problems and the result is a closed knit side that is very difficult to beat  home and away.

    The Pride of Benue are the in-form team of the league five wins, two draws and a loss from eight matches which had four away games.

    They are atop the league table with 17 points from eight games for a reason but they face stiff challenge tomorrow in Aba where  they are yet to win previous encounters.

    They have the players to get the job done under the tutelage of new coach, Eugene Agagbe. Solomon Kwambe, Moses Tsehuan, Ahmadu Liman, Alao Danbani, Samuel Tiza and Kumaga Suur have formed a unified fold to aid Lobi Stars’ title charge.

    Lobi Stars only win from the past five games with Enyimba was on 23rd  January 2022. It ended 1-0 in Makurdi and knowing that their hosts are not in top form, they  would target their first victory in Aba  tomorrow.

     Meanwhile, history beckons tomorrow when broadcast of the NPFL  games returns on television via StarTimes as  Akwa United hosts Remo Stars at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

    It promises to be excitement galore with under fire Promise Keepers locking horn with the Sky Blue Stars who once had Fatai Osho as head coach in the past.

    If past records is to consider, Akwa United will easily win the game but football is now played on current form. With the Promise Keepers languishing in 18th  spot with seven points from eight games, they must sort the cause of their indifferent season first before tomorrow’s tie.

    NPFL MATCHDAY NINE

    Doma United vs Plateau United

    Bendel Insurance vs Kwara United

    Rivers United vs Abia Warriors

    Enugu Rangers vs Katsina United

    Bayelsa United vs Sunshine Stars

    Sporting Lagos vs Heartland FC

    Enyimba vs Lobi Stars

    Shooting Stars vs Kano Pillars

    Gombe United vs Niger Tornadoes

    Akwa United vs Remo Stars

  • NPFL: Lobi Stars overtake Rangers

    • Sporting Lagos whip Kano Pillars

    Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) top  table  position changed for the second time in two days following Lobi Stars’ 2-1 away win at Yenagoa against Bayelsa United in a rescheduled NPFL Matchday Seven tie.

    Rangers International FC had beaten Heartland FC 2-0 on Sunday to stay atop the table for 24 hours with 13 points but the Pride of Benue’s away win at the Samson Siasia Stadium in  Yenagoa saw them overtake the Flying Antelopes with a point.

    In Yenagoa, Samuel Tiza shot Lobi Stars ahead in the 29th  minute but Robert Mizo restored parity for the home team in the 42nd minute for his sixth goal of the season from seven games. Tiza had the last laugh with his second of the game in the 67th minute and his fourth of the season.

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    It was the third away win of the ongoing season and the second recorded in Matchday 7 alone.

    Meanwhile, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos Sporting Lagos heaped more misery to Abdu Maikaba led Kano Pillars who suffered a 3-0 loss.

    Former player of Sai Masu Gida, Junior Lokosa scored twice in the game before another one from Jonathan Alukwu.

    With the win, Sporting Lagos move to the sixth spot with 11 points from seven games.

  • Lobi, Abia Warriors match shifted to Sunday

    Lobi, Abia Warriors match shifted to Sunday

    Matchday 4 fixture in Lafia between hosts, Lobi Stars and Abia Warriors earlier scheduled for Saturday, October 21 will now be played on Sunday, October 22.

    The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) granted the 24hours shift following the tragic robbery incident in Makurdi, home base of Lobi Stars.

    “Everything and all Officials involved in this fixture, including the crew of our broadcast streaming partners, Propel Sports are on ground in Lafia but this is a huge human tragedy that deserves our sympathy and support, not just for Lobi Stars but the entire people of Benue State”, remarked Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer of NPFL while announcing the date shift.

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    “The NPFL commiserates with the families that lost loved ones and the greater people and Government of Benue State on this unfortunate incident”, he further stated.

    Owumi disclosed that the League has sought the understanding of the Match Officials and the visiting team, Abia Warriors whose schedule and logistics would directly be impacted by the shift. He added that “all other fixtures will be played as scheduled”.

  • Lobi Stars lose narrowly to Asec Mimosa in Abidjan

     

    CAF Champions league campaigners Lobi Stars  lost by a lone goal to homers Asec Mimosa on Saturday in Abidjan.

    Lobi conceded a penalty in the 38th minute of the match which was quickly converted by Mimosa’s Ahmed Diomande.  That was however the only passage the Ivorians could have as Lobi put up a good fighting to ensure that Asec didn’t increase the tally.

    The Solomon Ogbeide tutored side did not only ensure that the first half ended 1-0 but stood their ground till the final whistle as Asec fought tooth and nail with intent to  increasing the  score line to no avails.

    Lobi may have lost the match, but the team was not disgraced. Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal dished out a total of seven yellow cards in the course of officiating the match with three cards going to Lobi’s trio of Monsuru Bashiru,Chidiebube Duru and Kwambe Solomon while the remaining four goals went Asec players.

    Despite the loss, Lobi remain second in Group A with 3 points, enjoying a better goal difference than ASEC who were hammered 5-2 by Wydad Casablanca a week ago.

    The Makurdi-based side will now face Wydad in a double-header next month in continuation of the round-robin group phase.

     

     

     

     

  • CAF Champions League: Lobi Stars in smooth take-off

    Lobi stars began their CAF Champions League group stage campaign on a victorious note Friday, handing visiting Mmelodi sundowns of South Africa a 2-1 defeat at the Cathedral in Enugu.

    The Makurdi side suffered an initial scare when the visitors shot into the lead in the 38th minute of the match through their Liberian import Anthony Laffor.

    Laffor had enjoyed a timely assist from Uruguan Leandro Gastón Sirino and made no mistake in making mincemeat of the opportunity.

    The visitors were looking good to end the first half leading the pack but a penalty to Lobi just before the end of first half was converted by Yaya Kone to leave score line at 1-1 at half time.

    On resumption of hostilities in the second half Lobi went in search of the needed winner which eventually came in the 52nd minute of the match thanks to Mathias Martins sometimes called MSM by his close friends who desire to dish out his name in full Mathias Samuel Martins.

    Coach of the side Solomon Ogbeide introduced Otakho Aghahowa and Super Eagles defender Kwambe Solomon all aimed at consolidating at the back while pushing up front, but the visitors held their own refusing to allow any room for any further damage.

    Centre referee Ghead Grisha however dished out four yellow cards in the course of the match with three going to Lobi Stars and one to the Mamelodi. Lobi are group A which also has Wydad Casablanca and Asec Mimosas of Cote d Ivoire were also billed to clash same day at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat, Morocco