Tag: NPFL

Coach Yemi Daniel Olanrewaju said no quarter would be given when he lead Enyimba  to face Rangers of Enugu  in this weekend’s  NPFL/ StarTimes  Matchday 35 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, adding  his respect for the Flying Antelopes’ coach Fidelis Ilechukwu  would count for nothing.

Though admitted  Ilechukwu as a  senior colleague, Olarenwaju admitted :“But everyone has to defend his club and try to get the job done

“He(Ilechukwu)  is a great guy. I have a lot of respect for and nothing will change no matter the results in Enugu.

“Ilechukwu is a senior and more like a big brother to me. He left MFM when I got there and we have a good relationship.”

Olarenwaju  described the all-important fixture Matchday 35 as possible decider , adding:“ It would be  a tough game, league decider if you ask me. Rangers look like the favourites but we  would fight till the end.

“I don’t think I know them much. The way they started the season is not the way they are playing now and the formation is also different with personnels.”

This lack of deep knowledge of the Enyimba team coupled with their inability to defeat the Flying Antelopes in Aba is not something Olarenwaju  is worried about.

“If our two points had not been unfortunately deducted, we should be on the same points with them by  now,” he said.

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Described as one of the new generation coaches in the Nigeria football ecosystem,  the 32-year-old Olarenwaju fondly called Yemastar by admirers, is a young Turk with ship-sized ambitions and you only have to watch his animated gesticulations on the side lines during matches to agree with this tag.

Promoted to the position of Head Coach in the wake of Finidi George’s appointment as Super Eagles manager, Olarenwaju  is unfazed by the  huge  task thrown at  his young coaching shoulders. He is barely five years into the business after starting off with Magate in 2019.

Asked if this was going to be his season of big statement as a coach, Olarenwaju  would be the last to  claim  credit for Enyimba’s performance so far.

He said: “I don’t think it is a season of a big statement for me, I don’t want to praise myself but I have done well with the club even before being appointed after my big ‘bro’ Finidi left for  Eagles. I have handled the team for two months while he was away at AFCON and many qualifiers matches and everything was going on smoothly.

 “It is not  an easy task to work as coach of a club in a city where the club is hugely loved and expected to return laurels every season. The demands are not lost on him but he would rather dwell on the positives.

“I feel good to be the head coach of a big club like Enyimba. I really want to thank the management led by ‘King’ Nwankwo Kanu for the trust and believe. I also wish to thank  the Aba fans for the massive love and support I get from them always. It has been fun and interesting with support of everyone out there.”

Enyimba are two points behind Rangers as both teams go into the first of the last four games to end the season.

As the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League reaches its climax, Remo Stars head coach Daniel Ogunmodede has admonished his players to keep their heads, remain focused and fight till the end.

Remo Stars will travel to Lafia to be the guest of Lobi Stars of Makurdi in the Matchday 35 encounter. The match will air live on StarTimes’ Beta Sports channel 244.

The gifted gaffer was displeased with his wards’ performance against Kano Pillars at Remo Stadium in Ikenne despite winning the encounter narrowly.

Ogunmodede did not hide his feelings admitting that his side was lucky to beat Kano Pillars by 2-1.

“It was unbelievable and Incredible. I never thought we could get the maximum three points with what happened in the game,” Ogunmodede said. “I think we had a not-too-good match but I must salute the courage of the boys and their resilience to keep fighting till the end.

“Obviously, we had a poor game. After we scored in the sixth minute, we went to sleep and we were seriously dealt with in the early stages of the second half. It’s obvious they planned to rush in the opening period of the second half and it paid off with a blunder from my goalkeeper. It’s one of those things and the team generally didn’t do expectedly well.”

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Ogunmodede however believes that the game against Lobi Stars will be a different ball game.

“What is at stake is high. We are almost there. We just needed to work harder and keep fighting until the end.”

Remo Stars currently occupy third position in the league, which airs live on StarTimes, with 59 points from 34 matches closely following Rangers and Enyimba who will slug it out this weekend in Enugu.

For Remo Stars to go top of the table this weekend, a specific set of circumstances must unfold. Firstly, Enugu Rangers and Enyimba must play out a draw, ensuring neither team gains an advantage. Secondly, Remo Stars need to win their match against Lobi Stars by a significant margin of seven goals to surpass Rangers’ goal difference and secure the top spot.

The NPFL title race heats up this weekend, with a compelling twist as newly-minted Super Eagles players face must-win matches this weekend, live on Beta Sports channel 244 on StarTimes.

Unfortunately for their teams, Sodiq Ismail of Remo Stars and Kenneth Igboke of Rangers International will be absent as the Super Eagles camp opens June 1 in preparation for World Cup qualifiers.

As the NPFL season reaches its climax, all eyes will be on league leaders Rangers International as they travel to Lagos to battle relegation-threatened Sporting Lagos. The match will be played on Sunday at 4pm at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena formerly Onikan Stadium.

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Can Sporting Lagos derail the Rangers’ title charge and secure their own survival in a classic David vs. Goliath clash? The stakes couldn’t be higher. However, Rangers’ star striker, Kenneth Igboke, will be absent due to the Super Eagles World Cup Qualifiers’ game.

Sporting Lagos, after their promotion last season, are fighting tooth and nail to avoid an immediate return to the lower division. They currently sit in the fourteenth position.

Meanwhile, Remo Stars, sitting just four points behind Rangers, host a resilient Kano Pillars. Remo Stars’ Sodiq Ismail, their defender called up to the Super Eagles, will be absent, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this crucial encounter. Can Remo Stars maintain their title aspirations while their star defender answers national duties? The match will air live at 4pm on Saturday.

Head coach, Sporting Lagos Abdullahi Biffo has reaffirmed his stance that the  self-styled Noisy Neighbours would  hand   visiting Enugu Rangers the  short end of the stick  in their NPFL Matchday 34 tie this weekend even as  NPFL matches  are being aired  on  Beta Sports channel 244 on StarTimes.

The Lagos-based side suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Rivers United in a matchday 33 fixture last weekend but Biffo in a chat with the club’s media noted that his boys would come good against the Flying Antelopes in the must win fixture.

 “We are very unhappy with the result in Port Harcourt,” he told the club’s Media. “We made a few mistakes and agreed that they can never repeat themselves.

“Now, we’ve accepted the result and are ready to use Sunday’s game against Rangers to win those three points back.”

Incidentally, the Flying Antelopes  remains the  team to beat as the 2023/24 NPFL  hits home stretch.

Following their  emphatic 3-0 home  victory  against  Bayelsa United last weekend, the coach Fidelis Ilechukwu-tutored Rangers maintained its top position with sixty points from 33 matches having won 18, drawn 6, and lost nine, scoring 49 goals and leaking 31 while defending champions, Enyimba are close in second spot with 56 points from the same number of matches.

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Ilechukwu at the post-match chat with members of the media, gave a hint about what to expect against  Sporting Lagos at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos on June 2.

 “It was a good game with a good result from my boys. It would have been more embarrassing for our opponent had we been able to convert begging chances but we keep working till the end of the season to ensure we realize our set target,” Ilechukwu aka ‘The Working One’  said.

“Bayelsa United was challenging, but we came prepared for all of their antics and thanked God for His grace as we won by a good margin.

“We shall approach our next set of matches like cup finals as the season is getting tougher by every week,” he added.

Propel Sports Africa (PSA) has unveiled an additional subscription payment method for NPFL Live Users looking to subscribe and watch their favourite clubs NPFL games on their mobile devices and laptops.

Basil Kabbani, Chairman of PSA, the rights holders of NPFL broadcast streaming of matches, announced on Monday that payment via Paystack, an online payment gateway service provider had been fully integrated for ease of payment with debit and credit cards including cards denominated Naira. This channel in additional to subscription by airtime for MTN subscribers, and card payments via Stripe which already exist for the platform

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“We realised that some of our subscribers had experienced challenges accessing our streaming platforms when attempting to make payment using their Naira Cards, and worked to deliver this additional option for them. Nigerians are already familiar with using Paystack in making online purchases, and it is this same very simple process that is now available as an additional subscription payment option”, a very excited Kabbani disclosed over a WhatsApp call from his base in England.

Propel Sports will in the days ahead embark on a public orientation blitz on all media channels to educate fans on how to use this additional subscription method

 “A single game subscription starts at as low as N400, while a month’s subscription pass costs N2560, A week’s subscription pass to the platform can also be purchased for N980. The weekly and monthly subscriptions give you access to ALL content on the platform, including previously shown games, for the period of your subscription”, explained Victor Okobi, the Country Director for Propel Sports Africa

Victor Okobi also explained that an instructional video of the additional payment process will be posted on the NPFLLive social media platforms (including X, (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and YouTube) shortly. These videos, with instructions in English, the major Nigerian Languages and Pidgin English will be pinned to NPFL Social Handles and on the npfl-live.com website for easy reference by NPFL-Live Users

“We are happy to announce that when the NPFL season resumes on May 25 with Matchday 33, fans will have the additional option of paying for their subscription with their Naira debit and credit cards, giving them access to our high definition video live matches and highlights,” Victor Okobi said.

No fewer than five NPFLLive games have been produced, using sophisticated AI technology enabled cameras, every MatchDay since the start of the NPFL 2023/24 season.

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced that the ongoing league season would be paused after Matchday 34 to ensure that Rivers United complete their backlog of outstanding fixtures.

The league body in a press statement signed by its Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi also said the current league schedules would be adjusted slightly to accommodate the President’s Federation Cup whose Round of 64 ties would be played next week Wednesday.

The NPFL said the  short  break to the league season for the final four Matchday fixtures would allow for Rivers United’s accumulated league fixtures to be played.

“We write to intimate you on recent developments that may impact our already scheduled fixtures,” the press statement signed by Owumi stated.

“Following the release of fixtures for the Federation Cup Round of 64 games, it has become manifest that our fixtures would require some tinkering.

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“In this direction, the NPFL matches would have to be paused after Matchday 34 to allow Rivers United complete all outstanding fixtures which accumulated from their involvement in the CAF Confederation Cup.

“It is our expectation that the backlog of fixtures for Rivers United would be cleared as soon as is sportingly feasible.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced dates and venues for the Round of 64 of the newly christened President’s Federation Cup.

The peak of the fixture is the Kano Pillars versus Enugu Rangers which holds in Abuja next week’s Thursday. The defending Champions of the Federation Cup, Bendel Insurance will slug it out with Stormers of Abeokuta next week Wednesday in Abuja while Akwa United and Cynosure have a date in Owerri next mid-week, also.

Anambra State representatives, Edel FC will face Discovery Talent Academy of Kebbi in Abuja. Shooting Stars square up against Solution FC of Anambra in Benin.

Ikukuoma FC of Imo State will have a tough fixture against Rivers United in Aba while Fr. Eburuaja and FC One Rocket will clash in Aba also next week Wednesday.

Gombe United have been docked three points and three goals from their total accrued for the season in a move the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)  said was ‘ pursuant of its zero tolerance for assault on match officials’.

The Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL, Davidson Owumi, who signed the notice,  warned other clubs to ensure the safety of match officials assigned to their games or face serious consequences.

Officials in the Matchday 26 fixture between Gombe United and visiting Akwa United were found to have been physically attacked by fans at the end of the match at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe on Sunday,  March 17.

The NPFL in a Summary Jurisdiction notice issued to Gombe United said its findings included that Bright Nwosu, the Center Referee, Abdullahi Indabawa, the AR1, Friday Abu Emeje AR2, and Musa Hussainy Talle, the 4th Official were assaulted by the club fans.

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“Gombe United was charged with breach of Rules B13.52, B13.18 and C1.1 of the NPFL Frameworks and Rules which arose from failure to provide adequate and effective security leading to access to unauthorised persons to restricted areas, throwing of objects by their supporters to match officials and the visiting team and assault on match officials at the end of the game.

“In addition to the points deduction,  the NPFL also imposed a total fine of N3million on the club made up of N1million each for failure to provide  adequate and effective security, for throwing objects unto the field of play and compensatory payments to the four match officials at N250,000 each.”

The NPFL also issued an order closing the Pantami Stadium to fans of Gombe United for the next three (3) home games.

The NPFL further said: “Gombe United has 48 hours from the date of receipt of the sanctions to accept in writing to submit to the rulings or elect to face a disciplinary panel in accordance with Rule C26.”