Tag: NPFL

The battle for the highest scorer award intensifies  after Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 26 games  were played last weekend.

Albert Hilary scored for Plateau United to put them momentarily ahead in Katsina against Katsina United for his 12^th  goal of the season but it could not prevent a 2-1 loss following two goals scored by Andrew Idoko and Chidera Ezeh for the Changi Boys.

Hilary’s goal drew him level with Chijioke Mbaoma who is also on 12 goals but fired blank in Enyimba’s 3-1 home win over Niger Tornadoes.

Remo Stars’ Sikiru Alimi is stuck at 11 goals but he won’t be able to increase his goals tally this weekend when they hosts Bendel Insurance in Ikenne following his sending off in the Sky Blue Stars’ 2-0 defeat to Shooting Stars in Ibadan on Sunday.

Robert Mizo had 10 league goals before he got a deal in Libya while Ibrahim Mustapha Yuga scored Kano Pillars’ only goal in their 2-1 defeat to Bayelsa United in Yenagoa. It was his eighth goal of the season.

Enugu Rangers’ Godwin Obaje notched his seventh goal of the season in the Flying Antelopes’ 2-1 win over reigning league leaders, Lobi Stars. The win catapults Rangers to the third spot with 45 points.

Read Also: NPFL: Four star  Plateau United win big on MatchDay 25  

Nenrot Silas (Plateau United) and Samuel Tiza (Lobi Stars) are on six goals each. Silas went goals berserk scoring three goals in his club’s 4-0 win over Gombe United in their penultimate tie to improve to six goals while Tiza got a consolation goal in Lobi Stars’ 2-1 loss in Enugu.

Onyekachi Okafor netted once in Heartland’s 2-0 home win over Abia Warriors in their penultimate tie for his fifth goal of the season while Suleiman Sani (Akwa United) and Junior Osaghae (Bendel Insurance) also scored last weekend for their fifth goal of the season. Nelson Abiam (Doma United) is on five goals also.

Meanwhile,E nyimba’s Chijioke Mbaoma is level on 12 goals along with Hilary of Plateau United but the striker has asserted that being the winner of the NPFL gong will just be a personal bonus..

The former Heartland FC attacker said helping Enyimba to retain the league title is his main priority.

Mbaoma was not on the scoring sheet for Enyimba in their 3-1 win over Niger Tornadoes with Alade Balogun, Elijah Akanni and Uche Collins doing the scoring and the striker told NationSport that he was pleased the People’s Elephant ended up with the maximum points. 

“I am not eager to be the league’s highest scorer at the end of the season. My desire is to help Enyimba win the 10th league title. I will be more than satisfied if I achieved that,” Mbaoma told NationSport.”I just want to give my best and if I become the highest scorer along the line, I would be happy.”

Enyimba who are third on the league table with 45 points  will face Kwara United

Plateau United easily thrashed beleaguered Gombe United 4-0 in Jos to cement second position on the league table while Lobi Stars, Enugu Rangers, Remo Stars and Shooting Stars got impressive results in their Nigeria Premier Football League(NPFL) Matchday 25 matches .

Alex Enejoh netted the opener while Nenrot Silas bagged a hat-trick as Plateau United trounced Gombe united 4-0 to move to the second position with 44 points while Lobi Stars managed to hold off Rivers United in a 3-2 victory at the Lafia City Stadium.

Samuel Tiza got the Pride of Benue’s first goal before Ukeme Williams equalised in the 24th minute for the visiting Pride of Rivers. Alao Danbani put the home side in front again from the penalty spot in the 43^rd  minute while Kumaga Suur increased the lead to 3-1 in the 58^th  minute. There was still time for Mark Gibson to reduce the goals arrears for the visitors in the 81^st  minute for a nail biting finish.

The win restored Lobi Stars back to the top with 46 points while Rivers United are in the 16th spot with 22 points.

Monday Gideon’s 45th minute goal earned Shooting Stars their first away win of the season in the victory over Doma United. The Oluyole Warriors are now seventh on the log with 37 points but Doma United have slipped to the 12th spot with 33 points.

Azeez Akintunde’s early goal gave Niger Tornadoes 1-0 victory over Sporting Lagos. The win lifted the Ikon Allah Boys to the 14^th  spot with 30 points while Sporting Lagos are a step ahead with 31 points.

Heartland FC defeated Abia warriors 2-0 in Aba courtesy of Onyekachi Okafor and Ikechukwu Mgbemena early strikes. It was head coach, Christian Obi’s first topflight win as the Naze Millionaires’ coach and fourth win overall for the Owerri club.

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

In Akure, Yusuf Ibrahim’s lone goal gave Sunshine Stars the much needed win  over visiting Katsina United. The Owena Whales also lost a spot kick in the game.

In Kano, Enugu Rangers forced Kano Pillars to a draw to extend their unbeaten streak. Sani Mubarak put the host ahead in the 30th minute while Chinemerem Ugwueze restored parity for the visitors in the 52^nd  minute.

The draw maintained the Flying Antelopes’ third spot with 42 points but Kano Pillars slipped to the sixth spot with 38 points.

In Uyo, Akwa United defeated Bendel Insurance 3-1 to record consecutive home wins. It was the same scoreline when they beat Enyimba at the same venue about 10 days ago.

Ubong Friday netted a brace in the 21^st  and 76^th  minutes while Suleiman Sani sandwiched Ubong’s goals in the 23^rd  minute. Zaidu Ayuba scored the consolation for the visitors in the stoppage time of the first half.

In Ikenne, Remo Stars pipped Enyimba FC by a lone goal courtesy of Adams Olamilekan’s second half strike after the People’s Elephant spurned several chances. The Sky Blue Stars have remained unbeaten in sixth consecutive game against the People’s Elephant.

Remo Stars are fourth with 42 points while Enyimba are fifth also with 42 points also.

Mohammed Alao’s precious 15th minute goal gave Kwara United a slim victory over Bayelsa United.

NPFL MATCHDAY 25 RESULTS

Lobi Stars 3-2 Rivers United

Akwa United 3-1 Bendel Insurance

Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Sporting Lagos

Kano Pillars 1-1 Enugu Rangers

Doma United 0-1 Shooting Stars

Sunshine Stars 1-0 Katsina United

Plateau United 4-0 Gombe United

Remo Stars 1-0 Enyimba

Kwara United 1-0 Bayelsa United

Heartland 2-0 Abia Warriors

Abia Warriors got a surprise 1-0 away win in Kano against Kano Pillars;  Akwa United beat Enyimba 3-1 while Sporting Lagos drew goalless with Doma United in the continuation of the Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 23 games played at three match venues yesterday.

The Umuahia based Warriors pipped Sai Masu Gida 1-0 to record their first away win of the season. Daniel Ijeh scored the only goal of the game 12 minutes from the regulation time. It was Kano Pillars’ first home loss in the ongoing season.

The win has lifted Abia Warriors to the eighth spot with 33 points. Pillars slipped out of the top five. They are sixth with 36 points from as many games as they suffered second straight loss for the first time this term also. 

Read Also: NPFL: Lobi Stars dislodge Remo Stars at the top

At the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, Akwa United marked their return to Uyo with a 3-1 win over reigning league champions, Enyimba.

David Philip scored an early goal in the sixth minute to put the Promise Keepers ahead. Suleiman Sani doubled the lead in the 50th minute to make it 2-0. Mbaoma Chijioke threatened a late comeback when he fired home from 12 yards in the 73rd minute but Sani again made victory certain with the game’s third goal in the fifth minute of the additional time. It was his second of the game. 

With the win, Akwa United have now garnered 24 points from 23 games in 17th  spot while Enyimba are in the fifth spot with 39 points. 

Doma United stretched their winless streak to five games following their goalless draw at home to Sporting Lagos.

 The Savannah Tigers have failed to pick the maximum points in any of their last three home games against Rivers United, Enugu Rangers and now the Noisy Lagosians.

Three league games have been moved to today by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)  organisers due to ‘exigencies beyond the control of  affected teams’. 

The three games are Abia Warriors vs Kwara United, Enyimba versus Gombe United and Shooting Stars versus Bendel Insurance due to some unforeseen circumstances.

Enyimba posted on their X account: “Our game against Gombe United initially scheduled for today (yesterday) Wednesday 28th  February, 2024 has now been rescheduled for tomorrow (today) Thursday 29th  February, 2024 as this time due to exigencies on the part of the visiting team. 

Read Also: Katsina Utd vs. Pillars: NPFL brace for  Incident-free northwest derby

“Kick off is slated for 2pm. Thank you for your unwavering support.”

Abia Warriors also indicated that their home game with Kwara United was rescheduled after they arrived late from Kaduna, the venue of their last weekend away game with Niger Tornadoes.

Shooting Stars and Bendel Insurance had earlier been fixed for today because the Oluyole Warriors asked for it to be shifted due to their long trip to Jos where they battled their hosts, Plateau United to a goalless draw.

Rivers United versus Niger Tornadoes has been postponed to a later date with the Pride of Rivers involved in a CAF Confederation Cup tie with Ghanaians’ Dreams FC this weekend.

The management, players, and fans of the 20 clubs of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have received commendations for a weekend of great sportsmanship and a great atmosphere of the Matchday 21 fixtures.

Two sides, Doma United and Akwa United, lost their home games while there were three drawn games in Benin, Jos, and Ilorin.

Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL, while reviewing the weekend games, observed that it represented the best of the character of NPFL fans.

He disclosed that reports reaching his desk from various centres had no disputes or complaints about officiating.

Read Also: NPFL: Ilechukwu plots Remo Stars fall in Enugu

“It is my resolve to highlight these positives because that is a sure way to encourage the right attitudes in our fans and sportsmanship in the players,” the former Nigerian international said.

“While it is not unusual for a team to lose on its ground, the fact that no unsavoury incidents were recorded after Rangers defeated Doma United in Gombe and Bayelsa won Akwa United in Eket,  is reason to believe that our  message of peace is reaching the targets.

“I equally want to commend our match Referees who have been doing their best without the aid of technology and we look forward to assisting them to do much better with the provision of technological aids in the near future,” Owumi noted.

In other results at the weekend, Kano Pillars had the biggest win, 5-1 against Sunshine Stars, while Gombe United beat Sporting Lagos 2-0 in Gombe. Heartland lost 1-0 in Lafia to Lobi Stars, Niger Tornadoes won 1-0 against Abia Warriors.

The season continues midweek with nine fixtures as Rivers United games are put on hold due to their CAF Confederation Cup engagements.

With Remo Stars exempted from the league games this weekend because of involvement of  Rivers United in the CAF Confederation Cup campaign, Lobi Stars, Enyimba and Plateau United are among the teams seeking  to displace the Sky Blue Stars as NPFL fixtures reach Matchday 21 holds this weekend,  writes TUNDE LIADI .

Lobi Stars will be hoping to reclaim top of the Nigeria Premier  Football League(NPFL) spot when they host Heartland FC at the Lafia City Stadium tomorrow  in a Matchday 21 tie while Bendel Insurance will confront third place Enyimba with the prospects of  moving up the table among other tantalising games billed for the weekend.

With league leaders, Remo Stars not listed for action this weekend because of Rivers United’s tricky CAF Confederation Cup tie against Academica do Lobito of Angola also this weekend, second-placed, Lobi Stars will go to the  top again if they beat crocked Heartland FC at home.

Lobi Stars have been flying under coach Eugene Agagbe and club’s Vice Chairman, Dominic Iorfa. They will be eager to return to winning ways after their 2-1 loss to Plateau United in Jos last weekend. But Heartland have a uphill task after they got lucky to even secure a 1-1 draw at home to Kano Pillars last weekend in Aba.

Today, Doma United will hope to record their first win in three games when they trade tackles with Enugu Rangers at the Pantami Stadium in  Gombe.

 Doma United got a draw at home to Rivers United before losing the reverse fixture in Port Harcourt 3-2 last weekend.

Led by Akinade Onigbinde, Doma United have slowed down in recent games unlike their high-flying start at the beginning of the season. They must beat Rangers to improve beyond their current sixth position with 32 points. The Flying Antelopes pipped Akwa United 1-0 last weekend to move to the seventh spot with 31 points.

Bendel Insurance will also welcome third placed Enyimba in arguably the star game of the week  today in Benin. Insurance who are eighth on the table with 31 points, were pinned 1-0 by Sporting Lagos in the last game but the People’s Elephant silenced Shooting Stars 1-0 in Aba to complete a double.

Plateau United galloped to the fourth spot with 34 points last weekend after a 2-1 home win over Lobi Stars, who slipped to the second spot on difference as a result of the defeat. They face 12th  placed Shooting Stars in Jos and another win today could see them accelerate better.

In Kano, Kano Pillars will hope to add to their home successes when they square up against Sunshine Stars. Pillars were unfortunate to return home with shared spoils last weekend against Heartland FC in Aba after a late Malachy Ohawume’s late goal rescued a point for the Naze Millionaires while the Owena Whales could not give new coach, Kennedy Boboye a welcome back win against Kwara United in Akure. Sai Masu Gida who are currently fifth with 33 points,  could move closer to the top three with a win at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

Read Also: Nwabali, Chukwueze counsel  NPFL Youth League players

Sunshine Stars too need a positive result if they do not want to plunge to the relegation zone. They are currently just two points away from the drop zone and must resist all attempts to lose the game.

Kwara United needed a late goal to secure a point in Akure in the game with Sunshine Stars. They must put aside their indifferent results at home in Ilorin this season when Katsina United come visiting tomorrow.

The Harmony Boys are 14th  on the log with 24 points but just three points away from the relegation zone. They must go for the maximum points while Chanji Boys are eager to consolidate on their last minute win over Niger Tornadoes in the last game when they face their hosts at the Kwara Sports Complex, Ilorin.

Still ruing their stoppage time loss to Katsina United, Niger Tornadoes will slug out with Abia Warriors aiming for a home success in Kaduna. Tornadoes are in the relegation zone as they occupy the 17th  spot with 21 points. Abia Warriors failed to win their home game for the second time this season out of 10 games after Remo Stars fought to secure a point in Aba last weekend.

Under pressure Erasmus Onuh will hope his boys live up to the billing and ensure they are in a better spot than their present 11th  position with 27 points.

It was an improved performance from 16th placed

After  losing   1-0  last weekend to Enugu Rangers in Enugu, Akwa United  will be hoping to  bounce back against Bayelsa United at the Eket Township Stadium with the desire to deliver all points to hard working Paul Bassey-led management team.

Meanwhile in Gombe, Gombe United are up against Sporting Lagos.

 The Desert Scorpions who are at the bottom of the table with 20 points were beaten 2-0 by Bayelsa United in Yenagoa but 13th placed Sporting Lagos managed a 1-0 win over Bendel Insurance to win two consecutive games for the first time in their short history and improved to 24 points.

It promises to be the best of elite domestic football across Nigeria and fans won’t have any dull moment across all venues.

Super Eagles duo of  Stanley Nwabali and Samuel Chukwueze have in separate recorded videos urged players of the NPFL Youth League to work hard and listen to their coaches.

Rangers International,  Rivers United, Plateau United, Katsina United, and Remo Stars are the five teams that emerged from the zonal qualifiers for the Championship finals.

Chukwueze, who joined AC Milan of Italy from Villarreal, Spain, admonished the younger players to work hard at their games and have the determination and humility to succeed.

“I just want to say you should keep working hard and believe in yourselves,” Chukwueze said.”I know it’s not easy, and nobody is going to tell you that it’s easy.

Read Also: Proud Obuah lauds Nwabali over chieftaincy title

“Keep working hard, keep pushing. The most important thing is determination, humility, and keep believing in yourself to go far.”

Nwabali, who was a revelation  at the 34th  AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire , also encouraged the players to push themselves to their limits and pay attention to their Coaches.

He said: “I am here to encourage the NPFL U-17 players to keep pushing always, be attentive, and respect your coaches.”

The former NPFL Goalkeeper, who is now based in South Africa, also reminded the upcoming players  that success does not come easy.

“I know it’s difficult, it’s harsh, but I believe you can always be like me or even better than me,” he added.

The NPFL Youth League Championship finals will be held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin from February 24 to March 2.

After emerging the Southeast zone Most Valuable Player in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Youth League, Rangers International of Enugu Youth team captain, Igwilo Chimaobi has set his eyes at leading the Coal City lads to win the national finals.

Chimaobi netted four goals in three games as Rangers won two matches and drew one to snatch the zonal ticket. He believes that the Young Flying Antelopes can achieve success in Benin given the training routines they have been put through since clinching the ticket to the finals.

 “We have been working very hard to ensure that we represent our state very well in the national playoff in Benin,” Chimaobi told the club media.

He, however, is not under rating other teams in the competition and acknowledged that it would not be an easy contest.

“It is going to be a tough championship, but by God’s grace, we shall celebrate at the end of the competition,” he predicted.

The Championship finals of the NPFL Youth League for players aged below 17 years will be contested for by five teams, which are Remo Stars,  Rivers United, Katsina United, and Plateau United.

The Rangers International squad under the watch of Coach Basil Obeta has been training twice daily since emerging the zonal champions.

At the Rangers camp with Obeta as assistants are illustrious former Rangers

players, Ejike Uzoenyi (MON) and Okey Odita, a former captain of the senior team.

Read Also: Be patient, Tinubu’s policies yielding results, Bagudu begs Nigerians

In his assessment of the players reaction to his training approach, Obeta said, “the boys are reacting well in training and management is fully supporting our training programs and giving us all we need to be fully prepared for the national playoff.”

“It won’t be easy, but with the quality we have in the team, I am positive about getting something good in Benin.”

The team will be travelling to Benin on February 23, 2024, for their opening match against Katsina United on February 26, 2024, in an early kick-off.