Tag: NPFL

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Board has announced that February 14th  as the new kick-off date for the second stanza of the league.

This decision comes after the initial resumption date of February 4th  was postponed, with the league citing public demand influenced by the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

In a letter addressed to various clubs on Wednesday, the NPFL Board explained the reason behind the delay, emphasizing the need to capture the undivided attention of players, fans, and stakeholders amid the prime African football spectacle that is the AFCON.

Nigeria’s progression to the quarterfinals after a stellar 2-0 victory against Cameroon in the round of 16 has undoubtedly heightened football fever across the nation.

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The league body stated: “Be informed therefore that a new date of February 14th has been decided for the commencement of the second stanza of the season. This decision was reached to capture the full attention of players, fans, and all other stakeholders at this time of prime African football tournament.”

Heartland FC who are at the wrong end of the league table will host Kano Pillars in Awka their adopted home ground in the first game of the second round on February 14th .

Youth teams of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) would be arriving their designated centres for the zonal  today for the much expected kick off  tomorrow.

Chairman of the NPFL Youth League Committee, Pastor Emeka Inyama, disclosed that the start of the tournament will be preceded by the screening exercise on January 31 to ensure proper documentation of players.

The 20 NPFL Clubs have been zoned on regional basis for preliminary qualifying matches in five centres. The centres are Lafia for clubs in North Central, Kaduna will host clubs from the Northwest and Northeast, Ekiti is the centre for Southwest clubs while Enugu is host to Southeast clubs and Port Harcourt for South-south clubs.

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According to fixtures sighted by MPFL Media, matches at each centre will commence at 8am and concluded at noon.

“We want to get it right at building a stronger NPFL through setting up a proper Youth League culture which is the future of elite leagues all over the world,” Inyama said.

He commended the Chairman of the NPFL, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye and the Board members for the foresight in setting up Youth League and the support to his committee’s work.

“I can tell you that we are all set for the start of the Youth League season and are looking forward to a very healthy competition.

“It must be reiterated that participation is compulsory for all 20 NPFL Clubs as there would serious consequences for any club that fails to be part of this”, Inyama emphasised.

As the mid-season break commenced after Matchday 19 over the weekend, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Davidson Owumi, believes there  have  been marked improvement in several aspects of the league organisation.

Assessing the performance of the referees, the former international turned football administrator noted that officiating got better with a handful of errors that could have been erased if modern technological aids were  deployed.

“After 185 matches, we probably had issues with less than 15 and in terms of percentage, I think our Referees scored over 85 percent which represents excellence,” he said.”We are not unmindful that football is now technologically driven for players training and match officiating where the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) now assist Referees correct human errors.”

Owumi said the NPFL was  working with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and other development partners towards introducing technology in the league.

He also pointed to the leagues zero tolerance for poor officiating as manifested in swift withdrawal of culprits from officiating in matches of the NPFL.

Read Also: NPFL Players net impressive 379 goals at mid-season

“We worked in perfect sync with the NFF Referees Appointment Committee to organise trainings for selected members of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) and those who have so far been adjudged to have performed poorly were delisted for now”, Owumi told NPFL Media.

He said the NPFL prioritised the welfare of all match officials :”We not only increased their travel allowances and honorarium but also ensured their bank accounts were credited before they travel. This is unprecedented in the history of the league.”

He further  revealed that the referees’ performances were boosted by the special arrangement for Matchday security squad that all clubs were mandated to provide for match officials.

“Last season,  we enshrined points deduction in the Framework and Rules for any club whose fans physically attacked our Referees and this season,  we went a step further to mandate all home teams to provide Special Escort Security Squad for Match officials. 

“The only breach was recorded in Gombe and Gombe United were ducked three points and three goals.

“So, overall we have made it possible for our officiating to improve considerably and would continue to explore opportunities to attain global best rating. It’s work in progress”, Owumi concluded.

The 2023/24 NPFL mid-season commenced on January 19, 2024 and the season will resume on February 3, 2024. 

Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) reached the mid-season with fixtures held over the weekend of January 20-21 and with a total of 379 goals scored in 185 games, an average of two goals and a fraction per match.

According to stats released by the NPFL Competitions Department, there was a total of 139 wins recorded over the period and five outstanding matches yet to be played.

The stats show that Remo Stars Sikiru Alimi is the most prolific scorer at the halfway mark of the season with 11 goals but didn’t indicate how many matches he played out of the 19 his club was involved in.

Ten away victories were recorded and 46 draws which saw 271 goals scored by home sides and 108 scored by clubs on the road.

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Out of a total of 47 penalties awarded, 37 were scored with ten not scored. Of the 379 goals, own goals accounted for nine just as there were 3 Hat-tricks  in this first half of the season.

Referees sought to maintain discipline and clean games by issuing a total of 724 cautions and expelling 23 players from matches for various breaches of the rule.

Lobi Stars of Makurdi ended the first stanza of the season at the top of the log with 36 points,  scoring 22 goals and conceding 15 to earn a goal surplus of 7. However, it was Remo Stars that ended up more prolific at scoring, netting 27 goals while Rivers United, though with three outstanding matches, paraded the strongest defence that let in just 10 goals. Their Riverine neighbours,  Bayelsa United topped the list for most goals conceded with 32 shipped in.

• Lobi Stars finish first stanza as Champions

Lobi Stars repelled  hard fighting Remo Stars to end the first stanza of the 2023-24 Nigeria Premier Football League season as halfway Champions.

The Pride of Benue defeated Plateau United, who were hitherto third on the table before the start of the Matchday 19 fixtures, 1-0 at the Lafia Township Stadium yesterday to finish the first round with 36 points, a point more than second placed, Remo Stars who ended the first round with 35 points.

Kumaga Suur struck in the 23^rd  minute to seal up important three points for Lobi Stars. Plateau United ended the first stanza in sixth spot with 31 points.

In Ibadan, Shooting Stars suffered a disappointing home defeat against Enyimba at the Lekan Salami Stadium Adamasingba, Ibadan.

Chijioke Mbaoma gave the People’s Elephant the lead in the 56^th  minute from the penalty spot before Kareem Ayinde equalised in the 83^rd  minute. Enyimba had the last laugh when Chibueze Izuogu netted the winning goal in the 93^rd  minute.

Enyimba by virtue of the win have moved to the third spot with 32 points and could finish the first stanza with more points by the time they play their remaining outstanding game. Shooting Stars are 11^th  on the log with 23 points.

In Ikenne, Remo Stars survived a late scare to beat Abia Warriors 2-1 with goals from Dela Akorli and Ahmed Akinyele in the ninth and 63rd minutes while Sunday Megwo got Abia Warriors’ solitary goal in the 70^th  minute.

The Sky Blue Stars finished second at the end of the first stanza with 35 points while Abia Warriors are in ninth with 26 points.

Akwa United returned to winning ways after their midweek defeat to Rivers United. They pipped stubborn Rangers by a lone goal from Ubong Friday’s 79^th  minute penalty kick. The game was played at the Eket Stadium and the win takes the Promise Keepers out of the relegation zone.

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In Kano, Kano Pillars got the better of Heartland FC 2-1 to put more fire on the Naze Millionaires’ head coach, Christian Obi.

Suleiman Idris scored the opening goal in the 49th minute before skipper Rabiu Ali netted the crucial second goal from the spot in the 85th minute. Just like it was in Kaduna against Niger Tornadoes, Clement Ogbobe another fantastic free kick to half the deficit in the 90^th  minute.

At the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Niger Tornadoes could not make it consecutive home win following their goalless draw against Katsina United. The Ikon Allah Boys lost a penalty kick in the encounter.

NPFL MATCHDAY 19 RESULTS:

Gombe United 1-1 Bayelsa United

3SC 1-2 Enyimba

Akwa United 1-0 Rangers

Remo Stars 2-1 Abia Warriors

Tornadoes 0-0 Katsina United

Kano Pillars 2-1 Heartland

Lobi Stars 1-0 Plateau United

Doma United 1-1 Rivers United

Bendel Insurance 3-1 Sporting Lagos

Kwara United 1-0 Sunshine Stars

The organizers of the Nigeria Premier Football League have withdrawn the approval given to Abia Warriors and Heartland FC to use the Umuahia Township Stadium and Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri for their home matches.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of Abia Warriors, John Obuh and General Manager of Heartland FC, Promise Nwachukwu and signed by the Chief Operating Officer of the League body, Davidson Owumi, the body regretted to inform the club of its decision.

NPFL said the decision is as a result of the poor condition of the playing pitches at Umuahia Township Stadium and Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

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“In light of this, we kindly request that Abia Warriors FC and Heartland FC promptly identify and provide an alternate home ground for the remaining matches of the season”

“However, there is a possibility of returning to Umuahia Township Stadium and Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri if the playing pitches conditions are successfully restored during the course of the second half of the season”.

Abia Warriors and Heartland FC were  further encouraged to take the necessary measures to improve the pitch, and if the required standards are met.

NPFL promised to  reconsider the venues for approval if the playing pitches are improved upon.

Abia Warriors and Heartland FC were however given three approved venues of Enugu, Port Harcourt and Aba to choose from.

Remo Stars continued to dictate the pace of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) following their stoppage time 2-0 win over Sunshine Stars in Ikenne but they face an audacious tie against  away to  Katsina United  while Plateau United  face Enyimba at home  in a battle of former champions as Matchday 18 games are played today, Monday and Tuesday.

With the 2023 African Cup of Nations due to start today and the Super Eagles slated to face Equatorial Guinea on Sunday in Abidjan, the N Premier League Board shifted  the  league games hitherto fixed for Sunday in solidarity for the Super Eagles.

Three games are billed for today, while five matches would be played on Monday and the concluding fixture on Tuesday. The game between Heartland FC and Kwara United has been postponed indefinitely because of Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma’s swearing in ceremony on Monday for a second stint in office.

At the Umuahia Township Stadium, Abia Warriors will trade tackles with NPFL surprise team of the season, Doma United as they seek a return to winning ways after the 3-1 loss in Eket to Akwa United. The Erasmus Onuh-led team who are currently eighth on the league table with 23 points, will be in the hunt for the three points to move closer to the top seven.

The Savannah Tigers are third with 31 points and getting a positive result in Umuahia will help their aspiration to finish the season in the top three.

Enugu Rangers defeated Shooting Stars 2-0 in their return game to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu for the first time since three seasons. They have the chance to make it two when Gombe United visit the Coal City State today.

Sunshine Stars collapsed in the dying embers of their away game with Remo Stars at Ikenne. They will welcome Niger Tornadoes to the Ondo Sports Complex, Akure with a vital home win on their mind.

Read Also: AFCON 2023: NPFL juggles Matchday 18 ties for Super Eagles

At the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, Bayelsa United must look beyond their alleged robbery away to Shooting Stars in Ibadan and the loss of their leading scorer, Robert Mizo when they play against Bendel Insurance.

The Prosperity Boys were pinned 1-0 by the Oluyole Warriors in a game riddled with match officials’ errors but to get out of the bottom of the table, they must beat in-form Insurance who are seventh with 27 points.

In other NPFL games fixed for Monday Katsina United will be at home at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina against Remo Stars while  at the Lafia City Stadium, Lobi Stars may displace Remo Stars at the top of the table if they beat Kano Pillars on Monday.

There is a South West derby to look forward to on Monday as Shooting Stars visit Lagos to contend with the Noisy Lagosians, Sporting Lagos, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.

Meanwhile, it is the clash of former and reigning champions on Monday in Jos when Plateau United trade tackles with nine times champions, Enyimba.

In the last fixture billed for the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, 2022 Champions, Rivers United are up against 2021 winners, Akwa United.