The Nation Newspaper

Tag: WIKKI

  • Wikki shift focus to NPFL

    Wikki shift focus to NPFL

    The chairman of Wikki Tourists FC Isa Matori has said that the club won’t be distracted with their Federation Cup ouster as he reaffirmed their plan to win the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the end of the season.

    Speaking to SportingLife through the club’s media officer Nasiru Kobi, Matori said the team will concentrate more on the league where the tourists currently lead the table.

    He enjoined the club’s supporters not to be deterred by the result but remain resolute and continue to pray for the success of the club in its remaining league matches.

    “We are not losing focus on our target which is to get continental ticket at the end of the season. We have taken our Federation Cup exit in good fate and we will now devout all our energy on our remaining league games. We are calling on our fans to continuing praying for the team as we are promising them to deliver at the end of the season,” he said.

  • Wassa regrets draw against Wikki

    Wassa regrets draw against Wikki

    Niger Tornadoes left back, Gabriel Wassa has expressed regrets over the team’s home draw against Wikki Tourists, noting that the result was least expected.

    The NPFL All Stars La Liga tour invitee said though he and his teammates did not expect Wikki to be easy prey but achieving a draw, especially away was like a blow below the belt

    “We know that Wikki Tourists play good midfield game, so we wanted to play  them from the flanks, that game was not easy for us as they took over possession of the midfield and made the game difficult for us”, he said.

    He, however, challenged his teammates to charge up with a view to avoiding further drop of points, especially after unexpected draws against Sunshine, Rangers and expelled Giwa FC respectively.

    “This is one thing about football, sometimes you play enterprising game sometimes you get it wrong. This is the same selection that have played in previous games and have been excellent, but not for today”, he said.

  • Wikki fail to regain NPFL’s top spot

    Wikki fail to regain NPFL’s top spot

    Wikki Tourists on Sunday failed to regain leadership of the Nigeria league after they forced hosts, Niger Tornadoes to a 1-1 draw in Lokoja.

    Wikki will now be second on the table having recorded 44 points from 26 matches, two points behind new leaders, Enugu Rangers.

    Rivers United stayed in third place also on 44 points, but with an inferior goals difference to Wikki.

    Tornadoes opened scoring against Wikki through Kunle Issa after 21 minutes.

    Charles Henlong equalised for Wikki in the 64th minute from close range.

    Rivers United were truly at home in Port Harcourt when they defeated Shooting Stars 2-0 only days after they eliminated the Ibadan club from the Federation Cup after penalties.

    Rivers goals were by Ivorian striker Guy Kuemian and Frederick Obomate with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike watching in the stands.

    In other matches, Abia Warriors pipped Warri Wolves 1-0, MFM FC beat Heartland 2-0 and Lobi Stars were 1-0 winners over visiting Plateau United.

    FC IfeanyiUbah defeated El Kanemi Warriors 1-0.

  • Wikki are determined to succeed, says Obaje

    Wikki are determined to succeed, says Obaje

    Godwin Obaje is confident that Wikki Tourists have what it takes to remain at the top of the NPFL log till the end of the season.

    “Yes, I know we have the ability to stay at the top till the end of the season, we are a very hard working team and we are prepared for any challenge with God on our side,” Obaje told Goal.

    “We are concentrating on our own games not minding the team that is behind us because we know that if we are tied on points with any team, we will still be at the top because of our superior goals difference.

    “We are well determined to succeed and we got at least a point in Warri, we really thank God.”

  • Wikki back on top after draw at Warri Wolves

    Wikki back on top after draw at Warri Wolves

    Wikki Tourists are  back on top of the Nigeria league table after they forced hosts, Warri Wolves to a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

    They now have 43 points from 25 matches, same as Enugu Rangers, but enjoy a far better goals difference.

    Rivers United remain in third place with 41 points after a 1-0 home win against Niger Tornadoes, while Kano Pillars are now fourth on the back of a 3-0 win against Lobi Stars.

    Wikki looked like they had suffered yet another slip in the title chase as they were losing 1-0 at Wolves after a 32nd minute goal by Ewenike Achibi, but on the stroke of full time Idris Guda drew them level.

    In the 88th minute, Wolves were reduced to 10 men after Shedrack Oghali was given his second booking.

  • Rangers hold leaders Wikki

    Rangers hold leaders Wikki

    Enugu Rangers recorded a vital away point when they held Nigeria league leaders, Wikki Tourists to a goalless draw in Bauchi on Sunday.

    Wikki remain two points clear of closest rivals Rangers on 42 points, but they would have been a lot happier had they won in front of their fans to extend their lead at the top to five points.

    League leading scorer, Godwin Obaje as well as Alhassan Ibrahim aka ‘Muazam’ both had chances to win the game for the home team, but Rangers Ghanaian goalkeeper Nana Bonsu was in inspired form.

    Obaje’s goal-bound shot in stoppage time came off the post to the huge relief of Rangers.

  • Plateau United players get N40,000 each for Wikki win

    Plateau United players get N40,000 each for Wikki win

    • Sunshine beat MFM too
    • 3SC held by FC IfeanyiUbah

    Plateau United defeated league leaders, Wikki Tourists 2-0 at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos to activate the N40,000 pledge for each player promised by club’s management headed by acting General Manager, Pius Hemwan in a NPFL Match Day 24 yesterday.

    The Jos side have thus moved to 26 points from 23 matches after goals from substitute, Daddy Francis and Anayo Ogbonna in the 71st and 78th minutes steered them to their second win in the last three matches.

    Players of Plateau United were told they would be paid double win bonus if they could surmount Wikki Tourists and their second half performance proved they were more than ready to deliver the maximum points against the Bauchi side.

    In Ibadan, there was mild drama at the Lekan Salami Stadium when home side, 3SC let slip their two goals lead to play out a 2-2 draw against FC IfeanyiUbah.

    The Oluyole Warriors seemed to be coasting to a comfortable home win when Sunday Adetunji doubled his side’s lead in the second half but two goals inside two minutes in the 81st and 83rd minutes pegged the hosts back to reality.

    FC IfeanyiUbah reduced the arrears in the 81st minute from the penalty spot when Tamen Medrano converted from 12 yards before new signing, Onyebuchi Ajunwa scored the equaliser two minutes later to tie the game at 2-2.

    Sunshine Stars were also truly at home in Akure where a brace by Dele Olorundare guided them to a 2-0 home win over MFM FC.

  • Muazam’s brace help Wikki beat 8-man Pillars 3-1

    Muazam’s brace help Wikki beat 8-man Pillars 3-1

    Nigeria league leaders, Wikki Tourists consolidated their top spot on the table after they came from behind to beat eight-man Kano Pillars 3-1 at home on Sunday courtesy of a brace by debut boy ‘Muazam’ Alhassan Ibrahim.

    Wikki remain top of the pile on 41 points from 22 matches.

    The reverse fixture in the first round ended 2-1 in favour of Pillars.

    Striker Emanuel Edmund put visiting Kano Pillars ahead in the 35th minute, when he fired home from outside the box.

    Pillars were reduced to 10 men when defender Jamiu Alimi was sent off for a second booking in the 48th minute.

    Debutant ‘Muazam’ drew Wikki level in the 77th minute with a header, before Abubakar Lawal made it 2-1 for the home team in the 84th minute from a penalty spot.

    ‘Muazam’ then grabbed his brace in stoppage time.

    Another Pillars player was sent off in the 82nd minute, before his teammate Tijjani Adamu was sent off in the 90th minute.

  • Wikki stun Enyimba to go top

    Wikki stun Enyimba to go top

    Champions, Enyimba, missed the chance to go top of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) standings after they suffered a 1-3 defeat to Wikki Tourists in a rescheduled game decided on Wednesday.

    Enyimba started the day in second plaWikki ce but knew a point would see them depose Rivers United at the summit.

    The Peoples Elephant came from a goal down to temporarily level the scores at 1-1 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi but suffered a late setback in the end.

    Wikki took the lead in the 18th minute as Abubakar Lawal timed his run to perfection to head home a free kick past a despairing Enyimba goalkeeper, Theophilus Joel Afelokhai.

    Enyimba would not trail for long though as set piece specialist, Chima Akas, hammered in his side’s equaliser via a superb free kick from the edge of the penalty area to silence the home faithful.

    There was to be a late twist, however, as Idris Guda Mohammed sent the home fans wild with a brilliant finish from the edge of the box in the 88th minute.

    Wikki were to add a third barely a minute later as Godwin Obaje converted a penalty after he was fouled in the box.

    The result on Wednesday means Wikki have now moved to the summit of the NPFL standings, albeit on goals difference.

    Wikki have now amassed 31 points from 18 matches, same as second placed Rivers United, but the Bauchi club have a superior goal difference (plus 16 as opposed to plus five for United).

    In the other rescheduled game decided on Wednesday, El-Kanemi Warriors defeated Enugu Rangers 2-0.

    Hussaini Bata and Ibrahim Mustapha scored either side of the break as El-Kanemi Warriors defeated Enugu Rangers 2-0 in Maiduguri to move up to 14th on the NPFL standings.

    The Maiduguri club have now amassed 22 points from 18 matches.

  • Obaje plays down Wikki’s title talk

    Obaje plays down Wikki’s title talk

    With the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) heading to the business end, all the 20 teams are working towards a sprint finish that would see them reach or even exceed their season’s ambitions and Godwin Obaje believes the title race may continue until the last day.

    However, he has stressed for less pressure on Wikki Tourists from their die hard fans.

    “If I were to rate our title chances at this moment, I’d rather pass the chance because it is still too early in my opinion,” Obaje told Goal.

    “We still have tough games to play in the second round. If we scale through, we can only watch how things unfold. As a team, we want to give our best each game at a time so for the moment we are focusing on the Ikorodu United game next weekend.”

    Wikki Tourists are fourth on the league log with 28 points from 17 games.