The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lobi

  • Akwa United shock Lobi to clinch Fed Cup

    Akwa United shock Lobi to clinch Fed Cup

    Akwa United upstaged favourites Lobi Stars 2-1 on Sunday to win this year’s Nigeria Federation Cup.

    Akwa United, who appeared in their first-ever cup final, will represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup on account of this historic cup triumph.

    Namso Edo put Awa United with a well-taken free kick after 36 minutes after Friday Ubong was brought down on top of the Lobi box.

    Lobi, cup winners in 2003, chased the game after the interval, but it was Abdulafeez Awakan who doubled Akwa‘s lead in the 70th minute when he powered home a shot beyond the goalkeeper from the top of the 18-yard box.

    Substitute Barnabas Imengar Junior pulled a goal back for Lobi in stoppage time from a brilliantly struck free kick.

    Incidentally, both teams clashed on the final day of the Nigeria league season a week ago with Akwa also winning 1-0 to stay up in the Nigeria Premier League.

    Sunshine Queens won the Women’s version of the Federation Cup after they defeated Bayelsa Queens 3-1 on penalties after full time scores stood at 1-1.

    Last year, Sunshine Queens lost to Rivers Angels in the cup final.

  • Akwa Utd’ll beat Lobi-Baraje

    Akwa Utd’ll beat Lobi-Baraje

    Zachary Baraje has not minced words about his ambition of becoming the first manager to guide Akwa United to their first major domestic title in Nigeria.

    The Promise Keepers are playing in their first-ever final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium and they go up against Lobi Stars, who are regarded as favourites considering that they have won the Cup competition in the past.

    “This team is capable of making history. The players, officials, management and fans have played their part in making sure that we reach this stage of the competition and it is now time for us to write our names in history as the first set of players and coaches to win this competition for the first time.

    “There is no doubt that a Cup final will be tough and we know that Lobi Stars will not make it easier for us just as we are hungry to win this trophy for the first time. I know the Lobi team, as we have played them twice this season and more recently in the last game of the league season. But I am very confident we will win this,” Baraje told supersport.com.

    However, the Akwa United head coach acknowledged that there is also the chance of qualifying for the 2016 CAF Confederation Cup.

    “We know that apart from winning the Federation Cup that we stand to play in the CAF Confederation Cup next season. And that will be a very big achievement for the club to play on the continent for the first. So the players are all aware of this and are ready to give their best to make that happen,” he said to supersport.com.

    The last time Akwa United came close to winning Federation Cup was two years ago when they reached the last four. But they were stopped in their tracks by Warri Wolves.

  • Lobi hold celebration for Fed Cup

    Lobi hold celebration for Fed Cup

    Lobi Stars captain and central defender, Anthony Agbaji has said his side are happy with the win against Enugu Rangers but is saving celebration for the 2015 Federation Cup final against Akwa United.

    The Pride of Benue defeated Enugu Rangers 2-0 in Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 37 clash at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.

    Agbaji scored the match opener while Anthony Okpotu scored from the spot to hand the Makurdi outfit the three points at stake.

    “Though we are happy for the hard fought victory against Enugu Rangers but there is no celebration yet as we are saving the win for an expected win against Akwa United in the Federation Cup final.

    “We thank God for the win at least it has finally moved us away from the grip of relegation so we can now head to the season’s last game at Akwa United with more confidence.

    “Although the league clash may turn out to be a dress rehearsal of a sort for the Federation Cup final.

    “Enugu Rangers were no pushovers, they came up with a good challenge for the three points but we were able to overpower the opponents.

    “Of course, we played far better than the visitors and ably deserved the hard fought victory against Rangers,” said Agbaji to supersport.com.

    The win against Enugu Rangers takes Lobi Stars total earning to 46 from possible 111 with a match at Akwa United to round off their season’s campaign though the Sunshine vs Lobi Stars disputed clash is yet to be settled.

  • Lobi: We know how to beat Warri Wolves

    Lobi: We know how to beat Warri Wolves

    Lobi Stars Team Manager, Barnabas Imenger has boasted that the Pride of Benue have the resilient spirit that would turn back Warri Wolves to their base empty handed after their Glo Premier League Week 35 tie at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi on Thursday.

    Imenger told SportingLife that Lobi were condemned to win the league tie against Warri Wolves and that they know how best to deal with the Seasiders.

    The former Super Eagles’ striker revealed to SportingLife that Lobi Stars are in a precarious position on the league table and are under pressure to beat Warri Wolves today to ward off drop zone worries.

    Imenger told SportingLife: “We have the resilient spirit and this will help us to beat Warri Wolves. They are a good side and we must not take them with kids glove.”

    Lobi are 14th on the log with 40 points from 34 games but are only two points clear of the relegation zone with only four games to the end of the season.

  • Imenger:Lobi won’t joke with Kwara United tie

    Imenger:Lobi won’t joke with Kwara United tie

    Lobi Stars have expressed their determination to beat Kwara United on Sunday in a Glo Premier League Week 33 as they battle to stay in the elite division beyond this season.

    The Pride of Benue are 14th on the log with 37 points from 32 matches but are not in anyway comfortable as they are only two points away from the drop zone and anything short of victory against the Harmony Warriors may be suicidal.

    The Team Manager of the club, Barnabas Imenger told SportingLife that they are condemned to beat Kwara United and other teams that are bound to visit Makurdi as they seek points that will take them off the relegation zone.

    He said their away loss to Nasarawa United where they were very close to grabbing a road point has further put them in a precarious position and that a victory over Kwara United would be crucial to their stay in the premier league at the end of the season.

    Imenger expressed happiness at the return to full match fitness of some of the club’s players who have been out for quite some time adding that besides Felix Osia who is yet to be fully fit, all other players are fine and raring to go.

    “We cannot afford to lose more points at home and this has made it imperative for us to secure a home victory against Kwara United on Sunday.

    “We shall do everything possible within the law of the game to beat Kwara United and we are hoping to win our remaining home matches and also get good results away from Makurdi,” Imenger told SportingLife.

  • Heartland want to dedicate Lobi win to Oriental Airline plane crash victims

    Heartland want to dedicate Lobi win to Oriental Airline plane crash victims

    •Naze Millionaires remember dead duo 21 years later

    Heartland will be eager to beat Lobi Stars as a tribute for the repose of the souls of Aimola Omale and Uche Ikeogu who both died when the club’s (then known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale) chartered flight crashed in Algeria in 1994 when they were returning from Tunisia after a CAF Champions Cup first leg tie against Esperance Sportive.

    The ill-fated crash happened on September 18, 1994 and 21 years after the incident which happened in an Algerian town of Tamanrasset Heartland players and officials yesterday assembled to pray and have a procession in honour of the two players that died in the crash.

    The Media Officer of Heartland, Cajetan Nkwopara told SportingLife the Naze Millionaires players and officials used part of their final training session ahead of Sunday’s duel with Lobi Stars to hold a procession and also pray for the repose of the lives of the dead duo of Omale and Ikeogu.

    He said Heartland players have been told to approach the tie with the Pride of Benue with maximum concentration as they would like to dedicate the expected home win to the repose of the lives of their former heroes.

    Nkwopara told SportingLife that the death of the two players in the Oriental Airline plane crash still remains one of the sad moments of the club and that even though it is over 20 years the incidence still remains ever fresh in their memories.

  • Lobi gain precious point in Port Harcourt

    Lobi gain precious point in Port Harcourt

    Lobi Stars have gained a precious road point in Port Harcourt against Sharks yesterday in a rescheduled Glo Premier League Week 24 tie and are further clear of the relegation zone on the table.

    The Pride of Benue have now accumulated 31 points from 25 matches and remained unbeaten in the last three matches.

    Though Lobi Stars’ Anthony Okpotu was unable to add to his nine goals tally as he fired blank throughout the encounter just like other strikers in the match, the Makurdi side were able to tame Sharks throughout the duration of the match yesterday.

    The Technical Director of the club, Dominic Iorfa revealed to SportingLife that Lobi would continue to strive harder to get points both home and away as they are aiming at finishing the league season on a very high note.

  • Okpotu is Lobi hero again

    Okpotu is Lobi hero again

    Libya returnee, Tony Okpotu once again came to the rescue of Lobi Stars after he scored the only goal to earn them three points at the expense of FC IfeanyiUbah 1-0 in a Week 25 game.

    He has now scored nine goals in 10 games.

    Lobi now have 30 points from 24 games, while Ifeanyi Ubah have 32 points.

    Akwa United and Giwa settled for a 2-2 draw at The Nest of Champions in Uyo.

    Giwa have 36 points from 24 games, while Akwa have 30 points.

    Ocheme Edoh gave Giwa a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute.

    Hosts Akwa equalised on the hour when the outstanding Aniekan Ekpe converted a penalty.

    Ukeme Davies then gave hosts 2-1 lead in the 64th minute, before David Sunday scored to claim a point for Giwa.

  • Akwa United face Lobi in first-ever Federation Cup final

    Akwa United face Lobi in first-ever Federation Cup final

    Akwa United will face Lobi Stars in their first-ever Federation Cup final after they stopped Nasarawa United 1-0 on Wednesday in Abeokuta.

    Aniekpeno Udoh scored the only goal of the game in the 28th minute to book a place in the final of the Federation Cup for the first time in the club’s history.

    David Ukeme of Akwa United was sent off in the game, but all the same they were deserved winners of this tie.

    In the second semifinal, Lobi Stars defeated nine-man Rangers 1-0 in Katsina.

    The goal was scored by Eche Idakwo

    Rangers stars Razak Adegbite and Christian Madu were sent off during the encounter.

    Lobi Stars won the Federation Cup in 2003, when they beat Sharks 2-0.

    They also reached the cup final in 2005 and 2012, when they lost 6-5 to Enyimba after the game ended 1-1 and Heartland 2-1, respectively.

  • Lobi delighted with Federation Cup final ticket

    Lobi delighted with Federation Cup final ticket

    Lobi Stars have stated that they are delighted to make it to the final of the Federation Cup again this year after they defeated Enugu Rangers 1-0 at the Karkanda Stadium in Katsina yesterday to make it to their second final appearance in four years.

    The Pride of Benue survived the scare of the Flying Antelopes who completed the match with only nine players after they had two of their players sent off for unsporting conduct.

    Eche Idakwo scored the vital goal in the first half and the goal sealed the Makurdi Bomber’s place in the final of the competition.

    The Team Manager of the club, Barnabas Imenger told SportingLife that the club’s place in the final of the Federation Cup was for their effort to ensure that they mark the election of the new governor,  Samuel Ortom with a victory in the competition they narrowly lost to Heartland in 2012.

    He said Lobi would continue to work hard to ensure that they lift the trophy at the expense of Akwa United .