Tag: Osun United

Osun United FC’s Chairman, Gbenga Ololade Oriowo, has stressed that the Omoluabi Giants would strive to get a positive result that would end their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)’s exile since 2008.

Osun United needed a stoppage time penalty kick converted by Nurudeen Abolude to get a share of the spoils against Crown FC despite playing with 10 men for some part of the second half.

Oriowo while speaking with journalists affirmed that it is his team’s determination to secure a spot in the NPFL to end their 17 years exile.

He highlighted the quality in the Omoluabi Giants and their readiness for the final game against Kun Khalifat FC on Thursday.

“It was a local derby but what I was not happy about is that shortly before kick-off I expressed my concerns about the match officials knowing that the Centre Referee is from Lagos. I asked that it should be changed to a Northern team or South East,” Oriowo said.

“Matches between both teams are always quite hot because we know each other. I know the game would be tight and it could go violent. I was told not to bother but you all saw what happened at the end of the game.

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“We are focused. Our aim is to qualify for the premiership. I had been there before with Prime FC which I started in 2003. We spent barely a year in the various lower leagues we played before we qualified for the premier League then.  Then the team belonged to Oshogbo Local Government.  I am grateful to God that we are able to secure a draw.

He  also thanked the Osun State government for their support, praising Governor Ademola Adeleke on his sports’ loving approach.

“Our Governor is a sports loving Governor. He plays football and Table Tennis and has given us all the support. He has promised the team lands and other things as reward if we qualify for the NPFL.

“The team is well motivated. We are like friends and it is going to be a local derby against Kun Khalifat. We shall remain friends even after the game.”

Currently, Osun United tops Group B table with four points from two games, putting them within reach of NPFL promotion.

The final fixtures of the Nigeria National League 2024-25 regular season will be played today across nine centres with the final Super 8 ticket in the Southern Conference B officially yet to be sealed.

The relegated teams have not been totally confirmed with Igbajo United and 1472 FC the only two sides whose fate has been solved weeks ago from the Southern Conference Group A.

It is even tighter in Group B with Abakaliki FC, Godswill Akpabio FC, Gateway United, Madiba FC and First Bank FC all in danger of relegation except they get positive results in the last fixtures of the season which is difficult because some of them will be up against each other.

Battle for last Super 8 ticket will go down to the wires in Group B with the remaining seven qualifiers already known. From the Northern Conference are Barau FC, Wikki Tourists, Yobe Desert Stars and Doma United while Warri Wolves, Kun Khalifat and Crown FC are the teams that have bagged tickets to Super 8 playoffs in the Southern Conference.

Osun United are the favourites to secure the last playoff berth. They are in second spot in Group B with 33 points and have two more points better than their only challenger to the ticket, Rovers FC of Calabar who have 31 points.

Though Sporting Lagos are currently third with 32 points, they cannot finish in the top two having ended their season’s games with the 3-3 draw at Awka against Solution FC.

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Rovers will face Solution FC in Calabar knowing that they would secure the second ticket alongside Kun Khalifat if Osun United fail to beat First Bank FC and Rovers FC whitewashed visiting Solution FC. The Awka side cannot afford to throw the game away in Calabar today because they need at least a draw to really keep them in the NNL for another season.

First Bank FC needs to avoid defeat at Lanlereke Sports Complex, Ile Ogbo, Osun State against Osun United to be certain of safety but they can still pull through when with a defeat if results from other centres go in their favour.

Godswill Akpabio FC will face Gateway United today needing a home win and some favours across other centres while ABS FC with 23 points should be certain of a home win which should be enough to them in the NNL beyond this season.

Madiba FC Vs Abakaliki FC is a tough contest in Lagos. Only a win will boost Abakaliki FC’s survival chances but anything other  than that will spell doom for the 2025 Federation Cup finalists.

In Group A, Abia Comets will host Edel FC. A draw should suffice for Edel FC while Dakkada FC will slug with Beyond Limits with only a win their reprieve from relegation.

Crown FC and Warri Wolves will face off in an inconsequential tie while Inter Lagos and Ijele FC will face each other with the maximum points in mind.

Osun United have jumped to the second spot in the Southern Conference Group B after a 1-0 home win over Kun Khalifat FC at the Lanlereke Stadium, Ile Ogbonna in the concluding fixture of Nigeria National League Matchday 20.

Osun United were fourth in the table with 30 points before the tie but Ebenezer Odeyemi’s 11^th  minute header proved to be priceless as group leaders Kun Khalifat suffered second defeat of the season and have gone three games without a win for the first time this season.

They have been held to a 2-2 draw by Gateway United and a goalless draw at home to Rovers FC in the last two games before the lone goal defeat to Believe and Achieve Osun United.

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Kun Khalifat’s lead at the top has been cut to three points and must beat Godswill Akpabio FC this weekend to move a step closer to achieving Super Eight ticket with two games before the end of the season.

Kun Khalifat will seal the ticket with a game to spare if they beat the visitors from Uyo irrespective of other results from Abakaliki Vs ABS; Gateway United Vs Osun United; First Bank Vs Rovers and Solution Vs Sporting Lagos.

The management of the Nigeria National League side, Osun United has been dissolved. 

The management was put in place last season by the state government to ensure the team’s stability and promotion to the elite division which was not achieved.

However, the management led by Akin Maxwell failed to deliver the much-needed promotion.

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The team finished in third position with 30 points from 20 matches and also failed to make the playoffs.

The dissolution of the management was announced on yesterday in Osun State capital, Osogbo but the main reason for their dissolution remained unknown.