Tag: NPFL

Solid Miners to pay N3m fine, duck three points

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has fined Nasarawa United 3 million Naira and deducted  three points and three goals from the club’s  haul in the ongoing campaign for their infractions in their Matchday 18 topflight tie with Rivers United in Lafia last month.

The NPFL in a verdict posted on its social media handle, said the Solid Miners fans encroached the field; assaulted the away team and one of the match officials.

The league body noted that Nasarawa United would pay one million Naira for each of the three infractions while the club would also forfeit three points and three goals for the alleged assault on one of the match officials.

“Nasarawa Utd have been charged for breaching the NPFL Framework & Rules in the course of their Matchday 18 fixture vs. Rivers Utd on December 22, 2024,” NPFL wrote.”The Lafia club breached #NPFL25 rules following encroachment unto the field of play in the course of the match.

“Nasarawa Utd also failed to ensure proper conduct of their team & supporters which led to the assault on the away team.

“The club’s supporters also assaulted one of the match officials (centre referee Musibaudeen Ibrahim).

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“Nasarawa Utd will pay a fine of N3 million, being N1 million each for encroachment unto the pitch, failure to ensure proper conduct of their team & supporters & failure to provide adequate & effective security.

“3 points & 3 goals shall be deducted from Nasarawa Utd’s accrued points & goals for the assault on centre referee Musibaudeen Ibrahim.”

The league body also ordered Nasarawa United to identify and prosecute the fan(s) involved in the assault on the away team while the Lafia City Stadium will be shut from fans until the NPFL is properly briefed that the security situation at the edifice is improved.

“Nasarawa Utd have been ordered to identify & prosecute the individual(s) involved in assaulting the away team with details of their progress submitted to NPFL within 7 working days of this notice,” the verdict continued.

“The Lafia City Stadium will be closed indefinitely to fans until security is enhanced & the state box is barricaded with the club directed to give feedback on compliance to #NPFL25 security department.

“Nasarawa Utd have 48 hours from the date of notice to appeal these sanctions.”

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced the official opening of the 2024-25 mid-season transfer to start from January 6^th  to February 5^th.

The window  would afford the  topflight teams to strengthen their squad with new players for the second stanza of the season.

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Meanwhile, the NPFL has also embarked on a three-week break after the completion of the Matchday 19 fixtures but Enyimba are expected to play their outstanding games during the break to allow the second round to start on a clean slate.

Remo Stars finished top at the end of the first stanza with 36 points from 19 games. They are closely followed by Rivers United who were two points behind with Shooting Stars, Rangers International FC and El Kanemi Warriors occupying the top five.

Remo Stars held on to a 2-1 win against Akwa United to put themselves in the right stead to finish the first stanza as halfway champions after  some  Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 19 games were  played yesterday.

Ibrahim Shuaibu scored first for the Sky Blue Stars in the third minute from the penalty spot but Kabir Osoba silenced the home fans when he equalized for the Promise Keepers just before the end of the first half. 

Remo Stars, however, regained the lead through Tochukwu Michael’s curling effort from the free kick in the 82nd  minute which Goalkeeper, Darlintin Ovunda could not stop. 

The Sky Blue Stars are atop with 36 points from 19 games and with three points better than Rivers United who  welcome Plateau United to Port Harcourt today. 

The Pride of Rivers will overtake Remo Stars only on goals difference if they beat the Peace Boys by at least 4-0 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

In Minna, Niger Tornadoes were beaten 1-0 by Rangers  who got back to winning ways also a week after they were beaten by the same result at home by Shooting Stars. Former player of Tornadoes, Bashir Usman scored the game only goal in the 33rd  minute. He thereafter apologised to the home fans after the goal. He didn’t celebrate it either out of respect to his ex-clubs.

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Rangers finished the first round in fourth spot with 31 points while Tornadoes are ninth with 24 points. 

Shooting Stars secured their fifth straight win on the trot with a fiercely fought 1-0 victory over Kwara United at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan. A home draw would have been enough to keep them in third spot but Adam Mustapha Agba’a’s 45th  minute effort made sure of the maximum points even when the Harmony Boys threatened a fight back. 

The Oluyole Warriors are third at the end of the first stanza with 33 points while Kwara United are 12th  with 23 points.

Ikorodu City for their first win after three games following a 2-1 win at home to Sunshine Stars. Shola Adelani put the Oga Boys in the ascendancy in the 38th minute but Chidozie Iwundu got the leveller for the Owena Whales in the 45th minute. Rivio Ayemwenre’s 90th  minute spot kick settled the contest in Lagos. 

It was Ikorodu City’s second South West derby win after the win over Shooting Stars. They drew the other against Remo Stars. The Oga Boys are sixth with 28 points.

In Katsina, Azeez Falolu’s 73rd  minute strike buried Nasarawa United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium. They have moved to the 13th  spot with 23 points.

El Kanemi Warriors pipped Kano Pillars 1-0 through Al-Amin Umar’s 37th  minute strike.

In Lafia, Lobi Stars could not go past Heartland FC and have to settle for a goalless draw at the Lafia City Stadium. The draw which claimed the job of Daniel Amokachi who resigned shortly after the game has left the Pride of Benue in precarious 17th position with 20 points.

Rangers and Shooting Stars will trade tackles to close the gap on Rivers United and Remo Stars in contest between the third and fourth spots in the league while Rivers United, Remo Stars, Plateau United and Heartland are in must-win situations to stay in reckoning,  writes TUNDE LIADI…

After the razzmatazz of last weekend  which produced exciting results across the country in  Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 17 games,  lovers of the domestic league will have plenty to cheer about  as Matchday 18 fixtures are decided between today and  Monday.

The real action spots this weekend will be in  Jos where two former league champions, Plateau United and Enyimba will lock horns as they look to revive their season while Rangers International FC will trade tackles with Shooting Stars in another tough duel  that should rekindle age long memories in Enugu.

The Matchday 18 fixtures start with three games billed for today. In Benin, Insurance will face Lobi Stars in a tie between two struggling teams. The Edo Arsenals picked important draws in their last two away games against Akwa United and Heartland in Uyo and Owerri respectively and will climb up the ladder with a home win against bad travellers, Lobi Stars.

Kano Pillars will host Niger Tornadoes today also at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano. Sai Masu Gida lost 2-0 to Shooting Stars in Ibadan in their last game but they must be at their best to beat Ikon Allah Boys who whitewashed Sunshine Stars 4-1 just last weekend.

The third game billed for today will see Sunshine Stars in combat with El Kanemi Warriors who dispatched Abia Warriors 3-0 in Maiduguri in their last game. The game holds in Ijebu Ode. The Owena Whales have found it difficult to win games in recent times but they expect the acquisition of new head coach, Abubakar Bala to turn the tide from this game.

Six games would be on offer tomorrow  with  the peak of the pack being  the encounter  in Jos between  Plateau United and Enyimba.

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Enyimba are winless in the past eight games in all competitions and they were mauled 3-0 in Maputo by Black Bulls in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage tie last weekend.

A lot of negatives have come from their trip to Maputo including travelling in batches which made some players to arrive barely one hour to the kick-off of the game despite having sufficient time to prepare for the trip. They have just arrived from the journey and must embark on the trip to Jos irrespective of fatigue that might have set in for them.

They will be up against a more prepared Plateau United who are 16th on the log with 18 points and desperately need the maximum points to move out of the relegation zone. Enyimba have three games at hand and have slipped up the top three due to the accumulated games.

In another top duel, 17th – placed Nasarawa United will lock horns with Rivers United in a game both teams need to get maximum points to either leave the drop zone or remain atop the table. The Solid Miners would be fresh ahead of this tie with their last weekend tie with Enyimba shifted because of the latter’s CAF Confederation Cup tie in Maputo.

Rivers United on their part laboured to a 2-1 win over Kwara United in Port Harcourt last weekend but the allure of remaining at the apex of the table should propel them to go for an away win.

Ikorodu City have gone two games without a win and have also lost their six game unbeaten streak following the 1-0 loss to Bayelsa United in Yenagoa two weeks ago. They will hope to return to positive result when they face Imama Amapakabo’s erratic Abia Warriors tomorrow. The Umuchineke Boys collapsed to a 3-0 defeat to El Kanemi Warriors last weekend in Maiduguri. They have been presented with a chance to redeem their dented image with the fixture with the Oga Boys. Will they seize the chance?

In Ilorin, Kwara United will hope to secure a positive result when they host Katsina United on Sunday. Both teams had contrasting results last weekend with the Harmony Boys losing 2-1 in Port Harcourt to Rivers United despite scoring first in the game while the Changi Boys were held to a goalless draw at home by Rangers International FC.

In Ikenne, Remo Stars will seek to overtake Rivers United at the top if they can beat Bayelsa United while it will be a battle between the third and fourth teams on the log in the topflight when Rangers International FC do battle with Shooting Stars in Enugu. Both teams are separated by one point but it could be widen if the Flying Antelopes win or the Oluyole Warriors overtake their host in third spot if they shock them in Enugu.

Meanwhile, the last game of the weekend comes up in Uyo on Monday between Akwa United and Heartland FC.

Akwa United are last on the log with 16 points from 17 games and will be under immense pressure to win at home to close the gap on their visitors, Heartland who are two points better. The Naze Millionaires may plunge into the bottom four if they fail to make hay in the game in Uyo and their visit to Lafia as guests of Lobi Stars next weekend.

NPFL Matchday 18 Fixtures

Insurance vs. Lobi Stars

Nasarawa United vs. Rivers United

Kano Pillars vs.  Niger Tornadoes

Abia Warriors vs. Ikorodu City

Plateau United vs.  Enyimba

Kwara United vs.  Katsina United

Remo Stars vs.  Bayelsa United

Akwa United vs. Heartland FC

Enugu Rangers vs.  Shooting Stars

Sunshine Stars vs. El Kanemi

Akwa United FC of Uyo has been reprimanded by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for threatening the crew of Propel Sports Africa (PSA) the Over the Top (OTT) broadcast streaming partners of the league.

Similarly, the Welfare Officer of the club, identified only as Mr. Asuquo was invited to face a disciplinary panel over threats he was seen on a video footage issuing to the broadcast crew.

In a letter titled, “warning on unprofessional conduct of club officials”, the NPFL expressed concern that such actions may have grave consequences on contractual obligations to partners.

“It has come to our attention that in the course of your Match Day 16 fixture, Akwa United vs. Bendel Insurance, played on Monday, 10 December 2024, your Welfare Officer, Mr. Asuquo, harassed and intimidated the technical staff of Propel Sports Africa, the OTT Broadcast partners of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

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“Acts of this nature expose the league to significant legal risks, reputation damage, and financial costs”, stated the letter signed by Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer.

It went on to remark that such behaviour falls far short of the expected standards of professionalism and contravenes the principles underpinning the league’s operations.

The club was warned that a repeat occurrence of such or similar conduct will attract severe sanctions against both your club and the errant official.

Akwa United was directed to take all necessary steps to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the future.

In specifically address the said Mr. Asuquo, invited him to face an inquest on Wednesday, December 18 at its office in Abuja.

“In light of the seriousness of this matter, you are invited to appear before an inquest to explain your actions and provide any necessary clarification”, the letter stated and reminded him that his attendance is mandatory while failure to appear may lead to further disciplinary actions.

Nigeria Premier Football League table continues to change hands weekly between Remo Stars and Rivers United who are clearly the front runners for the current season’s title challenge.

Rivers United were the leaders before the last weekend’s round of games but their 1-0 loss to Rangers in Enugu meant they go behind Remo Stars who were 2-0 winners at home to El Kanemi Warriors in Ikenne.

The fixture at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium was dubbed the star game of the weekend as it was between 2022 Champions (Rivers United) and the reigning Champions, Rangers.

The game lived up to expectations but it was Chinemerem Ugwueze’s 16th minute strike that decided the contest.

By virtue of the win, Rangers moved to the third spot with 27 points while Rivers United slid to the second spot with 29 points.

In Ikenne, Remo Stars pinned El Kanemi Warriors 2-0 to hand the Borno Army their third defeat of the season.

Peter Onuoha and Franck Mawuena with the goals in the 31st and 45th minutes to return the Sky Blue Stars to the top with 29 points as they have a better goals difference than Rivers United who also have the same number of points.

In Umuahia, Abia Warriors pipped Niger Tornadoes 2-1 to move to the 11^th spot with 21 points but Ikon Allah Boys are now ninth with the same 21 points. Antoine Ijoma and Paul Samson with the goals for the Umuchineke side while Ahmed Family got a late consolatory penalty kick for the visitors.

The encounter between Plateau United and Heartland FC produced five goals with the Peace Boys edging the Naze Millionaires 3-2 at the New Jos Road Stadium.

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Sunday Anthony put the home side in the lead in the fifth minute and the lead was sustained till the end of the first half. The game took another dimension in the second half with Tobi Iyanda scoring two early goals to put the Naze Millionaires in the ascendancy with his goals in the 53rd and 57th minutes. Anthony again benefitted from Daniel Itodo’s long throw-in to score his second of the game in the 69^th minute.

Mafeng Pam’s 90^th minute strike settled the contest for Plateau United who are out of the relegation by the victory. They are 15^th with 18 points but Heartland have slipped to the 13^th spot with 20 points.

In the other games played, Kano Pillars defeated Katsina United in the North West derby through Abba Adam’s 34th minute goal. They have moved to the seventh spot with 22 points while Bayelsa United ended the six games unbeaten run of Ikorodu City.

Rabiu Abdullahi scored for the home team on 79 minutes to ensure the Prosperity Boys move to the 10^th spot with 21 points. The Oga Boys slid to the fourth spot with 24 points.

Shooting Stars of Ibadan beat Sunshine Stars in Ikenne 1-0 in the latest South West derby while Nasarawa United got the better of Lobi Stars 1-0 in a North Central derby.

It is the weekend of Local derbies from North Central to South West, South-South and North West while reigning champions, Rangers will hope to ignite their spark with a home tie against Rivers United among other top topflight fixtures, writes TUNDE LIADI.

WE are in for another thrilling weekend of exciting Nigeria Premier Football League games as the country’s topflight enters Matchday 16 across nine centres today and tomorrow.

It is a weekend that had been boosted by the return of NPFL official Television partners StarTimes to the live telecast of games following fruitful reconciliatory discussion with the league organisers. The pay Television service provider has already advertised four games to be beamed live this weekend.

Matchday 16 fixtures are highlighted by key local derbies and games between important tradition teams.

Local Derbies

There are four local derbies on offer this weekend starting with the South West derby between Sunshine Stars and Shooting Stars holding today at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne.

Shooting Stars have lost the two previous South West derby this season against Ikorodu City and Remo Stars and the Oluyole Warriors head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote has said in the build up to this encounter that it would be bad to lose three local derbies consecutively.

The game was postponed from Ijebu Ode to Ikenne meaning the Owena Whales too are not joking with the points based on their position (15th with 17 points) on the log.

Another derby making headline is the North Central derby between Nasarawa United and Lobi Stars in Lafia. Both teams make use of the Lafia City Stadium for their home games and both have been off form in the current campaign. The Solid Miners are last on the table with 15 points while the Pride of Benue are 16th with 16 points ahead of the hostilities billed for today.

In another derby in the North West, Kano Pillars will host Katsina United with both teams in 11th and 12th spots respectively with identical 19 points.

 Sai Masu Gida are under pressure to win following their 1-0 loss to Rivers United in Port Harcourt. The fixture between both teams have always been fierce in the past but both teams expect a brotherly affair this term, devoid of controversies.

The fourth derby is the South South derby between Akwa United and Insurance holding tomorrow at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

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The two teams are struggling on the table with 15 points apiece in the 19th and 18th spots in that order.

Akwa United who have become a sleeping giant won the league title in 2021 but have been shadow of themselves since then always struggling to escape relegation. Bendel Insurance on the other hand who were 2023 Federation Cup champions have found it difficult to regain the height of last year. A win may not immediately guarantee their leaving the drop zone but it will help boost their morale ahead of subsequent games.

Battle of traditionalists 

The encounter between Rangers International and Rivers United is undoubtedly the peak of the weekend clash and it is also the confrontation between two traditional teams with Plateau United versus Heartland also in that cadre.

Rangers’ International FC are the NPFL reigning champions and have gone eight games unbeaten which had three wins and five draws. They picked away draws in their visits to Uyo, Ilorin, Owerri, Aba and Jos and have garnered all the nine points from three home games. They were last beaten on October 16th, a 4-3 home loss to Kano Pillars.

Rivers United too are gradually regaining their groove back following two consecutive losses to Ikorodu City and Bayelsa United and have gone four games unbeaten since their defeat on November 10th to the Prosperity Boys. What can happen when two in-form teams clash in the hot chase for bragging rights?

Plateau United’s home game with Heartland FC is another fixture to be on the lookout for. The Peace Boys have not recovered from the points deduction from the organisers of the league for the alleged unruly behaviour of their fans in the home draw against Rangers International FC.

The game holds behind closed doors with the Naze Millionaires expected to throw their hat to the ring in search of the positive result at the New Jos Road Stadium, Jos on Sunday.

Rest of the pack

In the remaining fixtures, Imama Amapakabo and Abia Warriors will lock horns with Niger Tornadoes tomorrow knowing that only a home win will quell the talk of managerial changes at the club with the Umuchineke side in 14th position with 18 points and only three points away from the relegation zone.

Tornadoes on their part made amends for their 4-1 drubbing in the hands of Bayelsa United in Yenagoa to beat Remo Stars in Minna. 90 minutes will judge what becomes of them in Umuahia on Sunday.

In Ikenne, Remo Stars will strive to regain the summit of the table when they host El Kanemi Warriors tomorrow in another tough NPFL tie. The Sky-Blue Stars have lost two consecutive away games for the first time in recent games and will be buoyed by the realisation that a home win against stubborn Borno Army will see them replace the Pride of Rivers at the top if the Finidi George led side are beaten by Rangers International FC in Enugu.

In the last league game of the weekend to be reviewed, Bayelsa United will hope to consolidate on their goalless draw in Maiduguri against El Kanemi Warriors with a home win against NPFL newcomers, Ikorodu City. The Prosperity Boys are 13th on the log with 18 points and barely three points shy of the relegation zone. A home win must be a certainty for the Ladan Bosso led Bayelsa United if he doesn’t want his stay in Yenagoa to be reviewed.

Ikorodu City on their part are unbeaten in the last six games and have picked points in Minna, Katsina with the 3-0, 4-1 and 4-2 whiplash of Bendel Insurance, Akwa United and Lobi Stars the icing on the cake. The Oga Boys also ended the unbeaten streak of Rivers United and inflicted on El Kanemi Warriors their second defeat of the season to rise to third on the table with 24 points.

It will be a tough game for both teams but the side that take their chances and show the urgency and determination to win, will carry the day.

The fixture between Kwara United and Enyimba has been shifted to a later date to allow the People’s Elephant honour the CAF Confederation Cup Group stage tie against Zamalek of Egypt in Uyo on Sunday.

Heartland, Lobi Stars, Katsina United, Tornadoes secure home wins

Rivers United overtake Remo Stars at the top 

Topflight debutants, Ikorodu City extended their unbeaten run to six games following a 4-1 demolition of Akwa United in Lagos while Rivers United nicked a precious 1-0 home win at home to Kano Pillars to regain top spot and Heartland dug deep to secure the three points in Owerri against Nasarawa United as Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 15 fixtures were concluded yesterday.

In Lagos, Ikorodu City added to the woes of Akwa United whom they dismantled 4-1 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.  Tosin Oyedokun shot the Oga Boys ahead in the fifth minute but Chijioke Alaekwe equalised in the 36^th  minute for the Promise Keepers. Ikorodu City managed to regain their lead in the added time of the first half through Emmanuel Solomon before two further second half goals through Olatunji Abdulmalik and Ayomide Cole put the game beyond the reach of the visitors who dropped to the 19th spot with 15 points.

But Oga Boys have moved to the third spot with 24 points and only two points behind second placed Remo Stars who were beaten 2-1 in Minna by Niger Tornadoes.

In Ibadan, Shooting Stars triumphed 2-0 over Abia Warriors through Anthony Okachi’s 39^th inute strike from the spot and Joshua Akpan sealer in the 43rd minute. The win has taken the Oluyole Warriors’ points tally to 21 points and sixth on the log.

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In Port Harcourt, Rivers United relied on a wonder strike from Aniekeme Okon to beat Kano Pillars 1-0 at the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium. The win returned the Pride of Rivers to the top of the table with 29 points three points better than second placed Remo Stars.

Godstime Joseph and Papa Daniel were on the score sheet for Niger Tornadoes who were 2-0 up at halftime against Remo Stars. Michael Ibe halved the deficit in the stoppage time but it was only a consolation goal. Ikon Allah Boys are now seventh with 21 points.

It was a five goal thriller in Owerri between Heartland and Nasarawa United.  Before the game started, Surajudeen Lawal was presented with  the Imo SWAN Heartland FC Player of the month for November for his outstanding performance in the month under review.

It was the Naze Millionaires that got the curtain raiser in the 15th minute through Promise Anyanwu who got his first goal of the season off Christian Nkwo’s long throw in. Anas Yusuf grabbed the Solid Miners’ equaliser in the added minute of the first half.

Nasarawa United thought they had picked all point when Garba Abubakar put them in the ascendancy five minutes from time but two late goals from Lawal and Christian Molokwu handed three crucial points to Emmanuel Amuneke led side who are now 10th with 20 points but the Solid Miners are still afoot the table.

Katsina United, Bendel Insurance, Lobi Stars all got home victories too but El Kanemi Warriors were held to a goalless draw by Bayelsa United in Maiduguri.

NPFL Matchday 15 Results

3SC 2-0 Abia Warriors

Rivers United 1-0 Kano Pillars

Ikorodu City 4-1 Akwa United

Niger Tornadoes 2-1 Remo Stars

Heartland 3-2 Nasarawa United

Katsina United 1-0 Sunshine Stars

El-Kanemi 0-0 Bayelsa United

Lobi Stars 1-0 Kwara United

Insurance 2-1 Plateau United