The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NPFL

  • MFM FC set to settle scores in Southwest Derby

     

    The Adamsingba Stadium will once again come alive this afternoon as Shooting Stars Sports Club

    (3SC) of Ibadan host Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club in a Nigeria

    Professional Football League (NPFL) encounter tagged the “Southwest Derby”.

    After their emphatic 4-0 win over Lobi Stars on Sunday, MFM FC moved to 4th position on the

    NPFL log with six points from a possible nine, while the hosts who lost 2-1 to Kano Pillars

    over the weekend occupies 12th spot with three points from same number of matches.

    The Oluyole Warriors beat MFM FC twice last season in the Southwest Derby with a 3-0 and 1-0

    victories respectively.

    MFM FC’s boss, Fidelis Ilechukwu and his troops are going into this game seeking for their

    first victory against the Ibadan-based team, who are on a winless streak of two matches.

    The Olukoya Boys must do everything within their reach to get the desired result in a match

    that promises to offer a lot to both teams fans.

    Having lost two consecutive matches away from home, Shooting Stars’ coach, Amoo Fatai and his

    wards are expected to come all out for the available three points at stake so as to ease off

    the pressure and also give the Oluyole Warriors some pleasurable moment.

  • Nasarawa Utd boss urges ABSFC to maintain good start to season

    Nasarawa Utd boss urges ABSFC to maintain good start to season

    The Chairman of Nigeria Premier League Club Owners and Chairman Nasarawa United FC of Lafia, Barr. Issac Dalandi, has urged the players and officials of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC, to keep the tempo with which they started the league going.

    Barr. Dalandi, said this on Tuesday at the newly renovated Lafia Township where the Saraki Boys had a training session before they completed their journey to Makurdi for a clash with Lobi Stars on Wed. Jan. 25.

    The Club Owners chairman told the players that the North Central region is happy with the way they have started the season but reminded them to keep their heads up and not lose focus.

    The Nasarawa United Chairman was received at the training by the ABSFC’s Team Coordinator, Malam Idris Musa, who described Lafia as second home for his team.

    “I must commend you guys for the good start, you must keep this going.

    “You guys are young and you must make wise use of the energy in you to pilot this team higher.

    “ABSFC and Nasarawa United are one family hence the reason I decided to visit your training this morning” Dalandi said.

    The Nasarawa United boss gave the captain of the team, Boje Abdullahi an undisclosed amount of money for refreshment for the players.

    ABSFC was in Lafia for a night because it could not complete its journey to Makurdi in a day.

    The Saraki Boys will lock horns with Lobi Stars of Makurdi on Wed. Jan. 25, at Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.

    Meanwhile, ABSFC Coach Henry Makinwa, has named an unchanged squad for the match day 4 clash with Lobi Stars.

    Even though he said he will assess the players on Wednesday morning before he make up his mind over who to start the match with Lobi Stars.

     

  • French, Norwegian clubs queue for Obaje

    French, Norwegian clubs queue for Obaje

     

     

    NPFL top goalscorer for last season, Godwin Obaje’s representatives

    and Wikki Tourists are studying transfer offers presented by

    unspecified clubs in France and Norway as the striker inch closer a

    move abroad.

     

    The striker had previously had transfer talks with Tunisian clubs

    Etoile du Sahel and Club Africain but nothing concrete came out of

    them.

     

    The Chairman of Wikki Tourists, Mallam Isa Matori told SportingLife

    that Obaje is billed to travel to either France or Norway soon after

    he has picked one out of the two that have shown serious interest in

    him.

     

    He said that Obaje has made it known that he is not motivated to play

    in the Nigerian league again and that they are striving to help the

    player achieve his dream of playing abroad.

  • NPFL: Plateau United beats Enyimba 3-1 in Jos

    NPFL: Plateau United beats Enyimba 3-1 in Jos

     
    Plateau United have leapt to the top of the NPFL log after they
    dismantled Enyimba 3-1 at the Rwang Pam Stadium to maintain their
    perfect start to the season with six points from two matches.

    Elisha Golbe scored his second goal of the season from two matches in
    the 12th minute before Kabiru Umar and Emeka Umeh increased the Jos
    side lead in the 67th and 80th minutes.

    Enyimba however pulled a goal back through Ikechukwu Ibenegbu in the
    82nd minute but it was too little too late as the People’s Elephant
    suffered their first loss of the season.

    Abia Warriors are second on the log after two games after the saw off
    Katsina United 2-0 at the Umuahia Township Stadium yesterday in a NPFL
    Match Day Two tie.

    The Katsina United with Bala Nikyu as head coach were very disciplined
    in defence in the early stages of the match and even made few
    incursions into the vital area of Abia Warriors without success.

    The Umuahia side however got the curtain raiser in the 37th minute
    after the Katsina United relapsed allowing Sheriff Bashir to nod the
    ball to Godwin Zaki who had the easiest task of tapping the ball into
    an empty net while they doubled their lead in the 54th minute through
    Seun Olulayo after good work from Obi Samson.

    In Lafia, Enugu Rangers recovered from their poor start to the season
    to secure a valuable point against Nasarawa United in their return
    match to the Lafia Township Stadium.

    The Solid Miners broke the deadlock in the 49th minute through Adamu
    Hassan but Fortune Omoniwari restored parity for the Flying Antelopes
    in the 67th minute to ensure that the reigning league champions pick
    their first point of the season after two games.

    FC Ifeanyiubah went goal berserk in Nnewi after the dismissed MFM 4-0
    at the Ifeanyi Ubah International Stadium yesterday.

    Goals from Yaya Kone, King Osanga, Jimoh Oni and Ifeanyi Onuigbo
    handed them a big win as they nullified the 3-0 deficit recorded
    against them after abandoning their match with Kano Pillars last
    weekend.

  • Bala blames loss of concentration, poor marksmanship for defeat to MFM 

    Bala blames loss of concentration, poor marksmanship for defeat to MFM 

    Niger Tornadoes Head Coach, Abubakar Bala has blamed his team’s 3-0 defeat to MFM FC in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day one encounter on loss of concentration and poor marksmanship on the part of the players.

    Three first half goals from Olatunbosun Sikiru, Odey Stephen and Adekunle Adegboyega were enough for the Olukoya Boys to record its first home win of the season in a match decided at the ‘Soccer Temple’, Agege Township Stadium, Lagos on Sunday.

    In a chat with NationSport after the encounter, Bala who felt disappointed losing by such margin, said the team will work on the lapses noticed before their next game against Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC on Wednesday.

    “We never bargained for this, we did not expect a wide margin loss, but that is football for you. At times you prepare for something and you get another thing at the end of the day. We never expected this result but we have taken it in good faith.

    “The most important thing is that we have identified our weak areas and we need to work very hard on them.

    “We have been able to identify two major problems, loss of concentration in the midfield and the reaction whenever we lose the ball. We don’t react well and fast whenever we lose the ball. We allowed them to make use of the ball faster and get into our finishing area on time. We need to correct that especially in area of zonal-marking.

    “If you look at the game, we were playing well from the the first minutes up till the 15th minute.  We lost two clear chances during that period and immediately after we lost the second chance they got their first goal. It was loss of concentration, poor marksmanship from our midfielder that cost us the game.

    “So we will work on those lapses that we have identified before our next game against ABS”, he assured NationSport.

     

  • Plateau Utd grab N500,000 for Remo win

    Plateau United players and officials have been rewarded with N500,000
    by the management of the club for their impressive away win against
    Remo Stars at the Gateway International Stadium, Shagamu on Sunday in
    a NPFL Match Day One tie.

    The half a million naira financial reward was sourced for by the
    management of the club through one the Jos side’s Technical Director/
    Scouting Head, Ibrahim Ahmed’s foreign sponsors and it was different
    from the N40,000 each the players were paid as win bonus immediately
    they returned back to their hotel after the match.

    The General Manager of the club, Pius Henwan told SportingLife that
    the monetary incentive is a way of motivating the team to perform
    better than last season and that they are hoping that the players will
    lift up to expectation ahead of their double home games against
    Enyimba (Wednesday) and Sunshine Stars (Sunday).

    He said he was not surprised that the players decided to go extra mile
    in appreciation of the gesture of the Governor of the State, Simon
    Lalong and the club’s management on the team and that the objective is
    for the Jos side to grab six points from their next two matches and
    improve their chances of leading the log early on in the season.

    Henwan also thumbed up the State Government, Plateau State Sports
    Council and the League Management Company (LMC) for ensuring that
    Plateau United will play their league home matches at the Rwang Pam
    Stadium after the league’s body’s approval of the stadium.

  • NPFL: MFM FC fans want more spectators in stadium

     

    Lagos-based MFM FC fans on Monday urged spectators to turnout en masse for the club’s

    subsequent matches, saying the team is ready to atone for the near disappointment of last

    season’s games.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the spectators stand was not what it used to be

    judging with the turnout for last season’s
    Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matches.

    The Match Day 1 between MFM and Niger Tornadoes ended 3-0 but some fans have called on others to

    come out in their numbers during the team’s home games.

    Jamiu Gboyega, told NAN that it was too early to suggest apathy to MFM’s matches, but noted that

    the economic recession might have
    contributed to the fans not occupying the stands.

    “This is a good start for us, we can also say that MFM only started from where they had started

    last season only that I am expecting to see more fans.

    “It is too early to suggest apathy to matches but I equally think that the current economic

    recession has not helped the situation too.

    “People must be happy before they come out to watch football matches, but let’s wait and see

    what will happen during the next home game.

    “I will like to see spectators fill the stands in subsequent matches, this is a message to

    them,’’ he said.

    Benjamin Ndidi said the situation at the stadium was not new for those who watched MFM’s last

    season’s first game, adding that fans will throng the facility in subsequent games.

    “The situation at the stadium is not peculiar to the team; generally
    first matches like this should not be a yardstick to measure attendance at the stadium.

    “I hope that the spectators will be turning in after this match and we will support our darling

    team.

    “I want to see my colleagues who have promised to be here, some have
    yet to return from their villages where they visited for the Christmas and New Year

    celebrations,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that first half goals from Sikiru Olatunbosun in the 25th
    minute and those from Stephen Odey in 28th and Adekunle Adegboyega 31st minute got MFM to a good

    start to the season.

  • Uwua stunned at NPFL loss

    Uwua stunned at NPFL loss

    Lobi Stars head coach, Godwin Uwua has expressed deep shock at his side top-flight loss to Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).

    The Pride of Benue were pegged 0-2 by the Oluyole Warriors in yesterday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 1 clash at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.

    One goal in each half by the duo, Waheed Afolabi and Sunday Faleke in the 22nd and 66th minutes respectively saw the Makurdi outfit go down without a point after matchday 1 clash.

    Uwua said his side may have underrated the will power of their counterparts from Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).

    “Well the league just started though if I must lose I was not expecting two unreplied goals. This very encounter has been won and lost, we have pushed it behind us to focus and plan for the next match.

    “Sometimes you learn from your mistakes. I believe my players underrated their opposite, 3SC by allowing the first goal and another cheeky one. I’m not blaming anyone for the loss to 3SC I believe the players gave their best in the clash.

    “We will work hard to win the next match against Kano Pillars to get ourselves back to the contest,” said the former Niger Tornadoes coach to supersport.com.

  • Katsina Utd, ABS secure win on NPFL return

    Katsina Utd, ABS secure win on NPFL return

    Katsina United and Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC both emerged winners in their NPFL 2016/17 Match Day One ties which marked their return to the elite division class after some seasons in the lower league.

    Katsina United led by Bala Nikyu prevailed over their foes, Gombe United at the Karkanda International Stadium 2-1 yesterday while ABS overpowered Akwa United 3-1 at the Kwara State Sports Complex, Ilorin.

    ABS’ Mohammed Mohammed fired the Ilorin side ahead in the 12th minute but Akwa United equalised through Godspower Igudia in the 19th minute.

    The Ilorin side led again in the 30th minute after Stone Evbuomwan converted a spot kick awarded his side while Abubakar Chindo made the day safe with the third goal in the 65th minute.

    In Katsina, Tasiu Lawal scored the club’s first league goal on their return to the NPFL early in the tie before Manir Ubale drew his side level but the hosts had the last laugh when Suleiman Ibrahim scored the second which turned out to be the winning goal in the 36th minute.

  • Ifeanyi Ubah FC hold NFF, Ganduj hostage

    Controversy has trailed the opening match of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football league, (NPFL) played between, Kano Pillars and the visiting Ifeanyi Uba football club of Anambra state, at Sani Abacha, stadium, Kano on Saturday.
    Trouble started in the 45th minute of the encounter, when centre referee Folunsho Ajayi from Oyo state made a controversial call, when she cancelled a goal scored from the spot abruptly terminated the first stanza of the match.
    This singular action however infuriated the Ifeanyi Uba lads , who instantly contested the verdict by confronting the referee over the controversial decision.
    On resumption of the second half of play, the visitors, opt not to return to play, holding the referee and the home crowd to ransom, though play resume for a few minutes, before the visitors abandoned the game owing to an alleged instruction from the team manager who kept speaking on phone by the touchline since the assumption of the second half.
    The disruption of play by the alleged team manager, prompted the centre official to hand out a marching order to the team manager of Ifeanyi Uba fc.
    Consequently, after the scenario, the referee observed the reluctance on the part of the visitors to return to play, which prompted her to give the stipulated 15 minutes grace, before ending the match.
    However, the Kano state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who watched the match alongside former chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Galadima, incumbent NFF vice president Shehu Dikko, Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sunusi were baffled over the action of the visiting team, as they were held hostage, while awaiting play to resume
    Kano Pillars gaffer, Kadiri Ikhana who spoke to sports writers after the controversial match described the incident as a national disgrace.
    Ikhana explained that, “if such incident continue to rock our football in this country, the tendency for us to develop as a football nation will be a mirage,”.
    Gambo Mohammed who is the captain of the home side scored the only goal for his team in the 30