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Tag: nasarawa utd

  • Lobi face Nasarawa Utd in friendly tie today

    Lobi face Nasarawa Utd in friendly tie today

    Lobi Stars and Nasarawa United will later today trade tackles at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi in their final warm up match before the start of the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League season on Saturday.

    The Makurdi side are hoping to better last season’s performance where they got to the final of the Federation Cup and also retained their Premier League status before the final match of the season.

    While Nasarawa United on their part got to the semi-final of the Federation Cup and also came third in the league to book a CAF Confederation Cup ticket.

    The Team Manager of Lobi Stars, Barnabas Imenger told SportingLife that both clubs would use the friendly match to put finishing touches to their preparation for the first game of the season where Lobi play away to 3SC on Sunday while Nasarawa United host MFM FC in Makurdi, their adopted home.

    Imenger added that they convinced some of the players of the state’s origin to come back home to help salvage the club and that this has yielded the return of Eneji Otekpa (Kano Pillars), David Tyavkasse (Gabon), Solomon Kwambe (Warri Wolves) and few others.

    He hailed the club’s pre-season results which fetched six victories and a draw and a defeat on penalty shoot-out to Supreme Court FC of Abuja during the Gold Cup pre season in Ijebu Ode and also thumbed up the hard work of the Godwin Koko Uwua-led technical crew.

     

  • Nasarawa Utd’s opponents storm Abuja today

    Nasarawa Utd’s opponents storm Abuja today

    The Nigeria Football Federation has now received information from the Senegalese Football Federation to the effect that the delegation of AS Academie Generation Foot to a CAF Confederation Cup match in Abuja will arrive today.

    Generation Foot, a lower division team in Senegal that upset the formbook to win the country’s FA Cup, clash with Nigeria’s CAF Confederation Cup flagbearers Nasarawa United at the National Stadium, Abuja in a first round, first leg match.

    The Senegalese Football Federation also confirmed that Generation Foot have chosen the option of taking care of themselves while in Nigeria, with the implication that the Solid Miners will also take care of their stay in Dakar in the return leg.

    While Generation Foot are campaigning on the continent for the first time, Nasarawa United played in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2007 after crashing out of the more lucrative CAF Champions League.

    On Thursday, Nasarawa United FC chairman, Barr. Isaac Danladi, told thenff.com that his boys are in great shape to earn a heartwarming win that will stand them in good stead in the return leg.

    “We are not taking this campaign with levity. The Government of Nasarawa State is very keen on the team doing the nation proud, so nothing is being left to chance. Our commitment is to take it one match at a time. We will fight for a handsome result in Abuja on Sunday and then go and play our hearts out in Senegal.”

    The winner of the fixture between Nasarawa United and Generation Foot will proceed to the second round, to battle it out with Club Sportif Constantinois of Algeria.

    On Sunday, Nasarawa United coach Kabiru Suleiman Dogo will be able to call on some of the most impressive actors in Nigeria’s domestic football.

    Esosa Igbinoba, who was among the top scorers of the penultimate season, is available alongside CHAN Eagles defender Samson Gbadebo, Abdulrahaman Bashir, Philip Azango, CHAN Eagles midfielder Yaro Bature, Thomas Zenke and Philip Auta.

    Today, Nigerian champions Enyimba FC will take on Vipers of Uganda in Kampala in their CAF Champions League first round, first leg match, while Akwa United are away to Club Mokanda of Congo in the CAF Confederation Cup.

    The other Nigerian team in the CAF Champions League contest, Warri Wolves, will host Praia Cruz from Sao Tome and Principe at the Warri Township Stadium on Sunday.

  • Nasarawa Utd spy on Generation Foot

    Nasarawa Utd spy on Generation Foot

     • Match fixed for Sunday in Abuja

    Nasarawa United chairman, Isaac Danladi has revealed that his side has valuable information about their opponents, As Academie Generation Foot of Senegal in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup.

    The Solid Miners will  tackle  the Senegalese outfit on Sunday at the National Stadium, Abuja.

    In a telephone conversation with SportingLife, the club’s boss said they have gotten some people to understudy their opponents and they have given them vital tips needed for the encounter

    Twenty-two players and eight officials are currently camping at the Peace Haven Hotel, Idris Gidado Street Wuye District off National Stadium, Abuja ahead of the encounter.

    “We are trying to see how we can match their tactics. We have gotten people to understudy our opponents (As Academie Generation Foot) and they have given us valuable information about them and we are keeping that to our chest. We have the information and we are working on it,” Danladi told SportingLife.

    Danladi said the 22 players will be participating in the build-up preparation while four players would be dropped at the final preparation.

    The club’s boss said all the players are ready for the big game as he admitted that the just concluded Super Four has helped to prepare the team for the tournament.

    “Twenty two players will be there (in Abuja) training for five days and eighteen players would be picked at the final training to play the match. We are battle ready for the encounter after the Super Four and we are  putting finishing touches into our preparation. Preparation for a tournament like this is not over until it is over. We are ready for the match,” Danladi said.

  • Nasarawa Utd stay top of Super 4

    Nasarawa Utd stay top of Super 4

    NPFL surprise team of last season, Nasarawa United, made sure they finished the first round of the Super 4 in top spot and unbeaten in Kaduna on Sunday.

    After 1-0 wins over Nigerian champions, Enyimba and last season’s runners-up, Warri Wolves in previous matches, the Solid Miners played out a dour scoreless draw with Federation Cup holders, Akwa United.

    The only real chance of the contest between the two clubs billed to feature in the Caf Confederation Cup fell to Nasarawa United when Ishaya Anyu smashed a thumping header against the woodwork 18 minutes before time.

    The 0-0 draw was enough to ensure that Nasarawa United finished the first round of the Super 4 with seven points, three better than Akwa United in second place.

    However, what should have been the signature game of the first round turned out to be the top-two from last season struggling to put points on the board to reduce the gap held over them by the impressive and organised Nasarawa United side.

  • Bashir glad with Nasarawa Utd switch

    Bashir glad with Nasarawa Utd switch

    Former ABS FC striker, Abdulrahman Bashir, has found a new home at Nasarawa United after making the move from Makurdi-based side Lobi Stars.

    Bashir, who was one of the hottest commodities in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) two years ago, has switched to his third club in three years as he seeks to regain his scoring form.

    He was a revelation at ABS alongside Lordson Ichull which saw him earn a dream move to Enyimba.

    That adventure did not pan out well for the striker and he was soon off to Lobi Stars, where despite an initial good start, he failed to hit the limelight again.

    Bashir told supersport.com that he is happy with his move to Nasarawa United and hopes to be back at his best at the Lafia side.

    “Yes, it’s true I have moved to Lafia to team up with Nasarawa United.I believe it’s a good move for me to choose Nasarawa United as my new club,” he said.

    “I have met some fantastic players and I’m enjoying our pre-season camping in Ilorin which you know was my former base. I had loads of fond memories here.

    “Apart from that, the main factor was the fact that I will get to play continental football with the team.

    “Every player’s dream is to play against the best in Africa and I’m no different. It was a big factor towards coming here. Insha Allah we shall do well.

    “I already like what I see here and I’m adapting already so the signs are positive so far.”

    When asked about his reasons for moving to Lafia despite rumoured interest from other NPFL sides, Bashir said the lure of continental football played a huge part in his choice.

    “I had a couple of offers but I’ve always liked Nasarawa United and how they play. They are an attacking side which I think can help get back to my goal scoring ways,” he said.

    Nasarawa United will represent Nigeria in the 2016 CAF Confederation Cup after placing third on the 2014/15 NPFL log with 63 points from 38 matches.

  • CONFEDERATION CUP: Nasarawa Utd set to play in Abuja Stadium

    CONFEDERATION CUP: Nasarawa Utd set to play in Abuja Stadium

    There are strong indications that Nasarawa United will play its CAF Confederation Cup home matches at the Abuja National Stadium, SportingLife has learnt.

    It was gathered that the club management suggested the Aper Aku stadium, Makurdi and Kaduna Township stadium to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) but the Federation advised them to choose Abuja stadium because of the high cost of hosting and airlifting the opposing teams and match officials at the Aper Aku stadium and Kaduna stadium estimated to be about N10 million aside other logistics.

    The hope of Nasarawa United to use the Lafia Township stadium was dashed when it was discovered that the renovation process at the stadium won’t be completed before their first Confederation Cup match against International Foot Du Senegal next month.

    A top source told SportingLife that both Aper Aku stadium and Kaduna stadium have been inspected by the NFF but they opted for Abuja stadium.

    It is understood that the recent condition of facilities at the Aper Aku Stadium also triggered other negative reactions from the NFF.

    A source at the Nasarawa United camp told SportingLife that his side would have prefered Aper Aku stadium but still deliberating on the NFF advice.

  • Nasarawa Utd still match rusty, says Igbinoba

    Nasarawa Utd still match rusty, says Igbinoba

    Nasarawa United are match rusty, only 60% ready for the season and their CAF Confederation Cup campaign may be heading for the rocks owing to the postponement of the kick off of the Super 4 and NPFL.

    Discussing his team’s chances ahead of the new season, Esosa Igbinoba said the apparent delay to the kick off of the new season could hurt the club’s chances.

    “I’m afraid the postponement of the Super 4 itself could have hold us back a while because we have not had to play much competitive games and now the League will be postponed so that means we’ll be match rusty.

    “We’ve been playing against local teams here in Lafia but I could say we’re only about 60%-70% ready for new season,” the midfielder told footballlive.ng.

  • 2016 CAF CONFEDERATION CUP: Nasarawa Utd to commence build up next week

    2016 CAF CONFEDERATION CUP: Nasarawa Utd to commence build up next week

    Nasarawa United will now begin preparation for the new premier league season and their charge on the continent next week after the death of their skipper, Baba Idris derailed their build up by additional one week.

    The Solid Miners’ camp was thrown into mourning on Sunday night with the death of club captain, Idris after a brief illness and the head coach of the team, Kabiru Sulaiman Dogo told SportingLife that everyone in the team was shocked.

    He said Nasarawa United would continue to remember him for his role in advancing the interest of the club which led to their ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup at the end of last season.

    Dogo told SportingLife that preparations would begin next week as they step up their build up to their chase of continental honours and on the domestic scene too.

  • Nasarawa Utd shock FC Ifeanyiubah 2-0

    Nasarawa Utd shock FC Ifeanyiubah 2-0

    Nasarawa United brightened  its continental chances with a resounding 2-0 away win over FC Ifeanyiubah in Nnewi.

    The two goals from Phillip Auta and Anyu Ishaya were all the Solid Miners needed to claim three points at stake in the tension soaked match.

    The win over Ifeanyiubah means the Solid Miners have secured its fourth away win this season.

    The Lafia-based side won the first game away from home at Kano Pillars when they defeated league champions 1-0 at the Sani Abacha Stadium to truncate the Sai Masu Gida’s 13 years unbeaten home record.

    The coach Kabiru Dogo led side also secured an incredible win against Sunshine Stars at Akure while they also won 2-1 against Bayelsa United at Oghara Township Stadium.

    The win lifts Nasarawa United to fourth position on the log with 60 points. Nasarawa United will host Giwa United which occupy third position with 63 points for the last game of the season.

    Interestingly, Nasarawa United were in the same situation last season but the Solid Miners were not lucky as they lost the third position to Warri Wolves.

    In a chat with SportingLife after the game, the club’s chairman Isaac Danladi praised the players for their hard earned victory.

    He said the club will pay additional match winning bonuses to players today to appreciate their efforts.

    Danladi also said his club will try very hard in their last game to win with a wide margin of goals to secure the third position.

    “Today’s game was exclusive, we played a side highly motivated with money. Some weeks ago, I told you that the league is still open. The first and second position teams have emerged and the race for third position is still open. We still have the chance to make it happen. “We will try and work hard to win our last game with a wide margin of goals and by the grace of God we can grab it. The last game against Giwa FC is going to be an exclusive local derby. At this time last season we lost the third to Warri Wolves. We cannot be twice unlucky.This time we must be lucky,”he said

  • Ubale, Leonard back for Nasarawa Utd

    Ubale, Leonard back for Nasarawa Utd

    • Nwanze Ifeanyi out

    Nasarawa United duo of Manir Ubale and Ogochukwu Leonard will be on parade for this weekend’s Glo premier league game against Bayelsa United.

    Ubale was not in action for Solid Miners during last weekend’s 1-0 win over Lobi Stars. The former Kano Pillars forward travelled home to visit his sick mother on the club’s permission.

    Also, Leonard is coming into the squad after recovering from a head injury he sustained during his side’s league clash against Akwa United.

    As the club received cheering news about Ubale and Leonard, the lafia-based side will miss the services of the club’s right back Nwanze Ifeanyi who is down with injury.

    SportingLife learnt that Ifeanyi would be replaced by Onaolapo Olayinka.

    The club’s chairman, Isaac Danladi confirmed the report to SportingLife on Friday.

    Danladi said there is nothing to worry about as the team has enough players to pick from.

    He said the match is very important to the team and will go to Bayelsa full of hope.

    Danladi said:  “Apart from Nwanze Ifeanyi that is doubtful for  Bayelsa United. We have enough players in our team that are available for selection. And I want to tell our fans that there is no cause to worry because there is replacement for Nwanze.  If he eventually misses the match, Onaolapo Olayinka will replace him.

    “Nasarawa United is not a one man team and we have quality players in the team. Ubale and Ogochukwu Leonard are available for selection. The boys know the importance of the game and we are rearing to go for all the three points in the match.

    “At this stage of the competition, every point is very important and you have to work very hard to get it. The motivation is already there for the boys and we are happy that they are not disappointing us. We want them to do more because it is not yet over.”