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Tag: Lobi Stars

  • Away draw, motivation out of relegation – Lobi Stars coach

    Away draw, motivation out of relegation – Lobi Stars coach

    The Head Coach of Lobi Stars Football Club, Tar Akombo, said that getting a draw against Shooting Stars Sports Club in Ibadan was a motivation for the team to work hard to escape relegation.

    Akombo, who spoke to journalists after his team’s  2-2 draw with 3SC in the Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL) Match Day 25 in Ibadan on Wednesday.

    The coach said that the hosts underrated Lobi Stars due to their current position on the league table.

    “3SC underated us because we are at the bottom of the league table while they are on second position on the log.

    “I encouraged the players before the match that it is a normal thing that Lobi Stars would be underrated but we have to put in our best.

    “Our current position on the league table is a slap on our faces, sometimes we can not walk head tall even in our own town as a big team.

    “We still have a lot of matches to play and we believe that things could change around for us from our performance against 3SC,“ he said.

    He condemned the attitude displayed by the team’s two goal scorer, Martins Ossy,  noting that a player of his caliber should not allow himself to be frustrated.

    “He could have done better because he doesn’t deserve that, he can still cool his temper and avoid being booked,“ he said.

    NAN reports that Shooting Stars still maintain its second position on the log with 41 points from 25 matches in spite the draw against Lobi Stars at  home.

    The Oluyole warriors  lost thier   last two away games in the Match Day 24 against Heartland FC of Owerri, and a rescheduled Match Day 20, 0-2 against Kwara United in Ilorin

  • 3 ex-Lobi Stars officials to refund N2.4bn to Benue Govt.

    3 ex-Lobi Stars officials to refund N2.4bn to Benue Govt.

    The Benue State Government has ordered three former vice chairmen of Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi to refund the sum of N2.4 billion into the government coffers.

    Sir Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, made the disclosure in a statement made available to NAN on Friday in Makurdi.

    The statement said that the order was necessitated by the white paper report on the forensic audit investigation into the club affairs between January 2020 and September 2024.

    According to reports, Gov. Hyacinth Alia had on 7th October, 2024, inaugurated a Forensic Audit Investigation Committee led by Mr Donatus San-Chir-Igba to examine the funds of Lobi Stars.

    The terms of reference included studying handover notes submitted by the outgoing board, identifying the club’s income, making recommendations on appropriate actions to be taken in the interest of the club, and advising the government on the way forward.

    According to the report, which was submitted on the 24th of November, 2024, N3.7 billion accrued to the club during the period in question, but only N1.3 billion was accounted for, leaving a difference of N2.4 billion.

    “The breakdown indicates that Mr. Mike Idoko and others who worked with him are to refund the sum of N243 million for the period of 2020-2021.

    “Mr Emmanuel Taman and others who worked under him are to refund N434.3m for 2021-2022. Mr. Dominic Iorfa and others are to refund the sum of N692.4 million for 2022-2023 and N702.8 million for 2023-2024 as well as N371.4 million for 2024-2024.

    “The committee made it clear that all individuals and companies involved in financial transactions with the club within the time covered were formally invited and given a fair hearing.

    “The committee recommended, among other things, that Lobi Stars be registered as a full company with the responsibility to generate revenue and that funds from the club’s sponsors be deposited directly into the club’s account.

    “The report also advocated for the independence of the club, stating that the Ministry of Sports should no longer control or interfere in the day-to-day running of the club.” the statement stated

  • NPFL: Rangers, Enyimba keep title hopes alive, 3SC move to fourth position after win over Lobi

    NPFL: Rangers, Enyimba keep title hopes alive, 3SC move to fourth position after win over Lobi

    Rangers International of Enugu on Tuesday retained its position as number 1 on the Nigeria Premier Football League following a thrilling 3-2 victory over Abia Warriors in Enugu.

    The two teams put up a solid display in front of a fairly large crowd at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium in Enugu.

    Isaac Saviour  opened the floodlight of goals by netting the opener in the seventh minute of the thrilling encounter.

    Abia Warriors fought back late in the first half, with Adejoh Ojonugwa scoring the equaliser.

    Rangers took control of the game after the break, scoring twice through Kazeem Ogunleye and Chiedozie Okorie.

    Chiedozie Nwabueze reduced the deficit for the visitors in stoppage time.

    Holders Enyimba moved to second place courtesy of a 1-0 win against Heartland in another oriental derby.

    Ekenne Awazie fired home the decisive goal in the 35th minute.

    FULL RESULTS

    Gombe United FC 1-2 Kwara United

    Rivers United 3-0 Plateau United

    Akwa United FC 4-1 Niger Tornadoes

    Bendel Insurance 2-1 Kano Pillars

    Bayelsa United FC 1-1 Katsina United

    Enyimba FC 1-0 Heartland FC

    Rangers Int’l FC 3-2 Abia Warriors

    Sporting Lagos 1-0 Sunshine Stars

    Shooting Stars 2 -0 Lobi Stars

  • Rangers defeat Lobi 2-1 in Enugu to keep title hopes alive

    Rangers defeat Lobi 2-1 in Enugu to keep title hopes alive

     Rangers Football Club of Enugu on Sunday  at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium defeated visiting Lobi stars of Makurdi 2-1 in the week 26 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
    Rangers dominated proceedings all through the first half but all efforts to score from open play proved abortive.
    However, the flying antelopes were awarded a penalty on the 39th minute when Ugochukwu Ejike was hacked down in the box by Lobi Goalkeeper, Lucky Abdulahi.
    Ugochukwu neatly beat Abdulahi to give Rangers a deserving lead on the 40th minute to end the first half 1-0.
    Kingsley Madufori gave Rangers the second goal immediately on resumption of the second half on the 48th minute.
    Substitute, Stanley Oganbor pulled one back for Lobi on the 60th minute.
    All efforts by Rangers to increase the tally failed while Lobi’s attempt to equalize proved abortive.
    In his post match reaction, Chief Coach of Lobi Stars, Eugene Ogabe, praised the officiating of the match adding that he was impressed by the performance of his players.
    “I am impressed with my players; I am also happy with the officiating; we will go back and prepare for our next game, ” he said.
    On his part, Rangers Coach, Fidelis Illechukwu, said though he made several changes to his starting lineup due to injuries by his starters, he was satisfied with the result.
    “I am happy for the win. Some of my players injured and I decided to make changes but I am happy about the game, ” he said.
    The win takes Rangers to 45 points behind Lobi with 46 points, while they travel away to Heartland in Owerri next Wednesday
  • NPFL Play-off: Remo stars grab continental ticket, Insurance of Benin, Sunshine, Lobi end without silverware

    NPFL Play-off: Remo stars grab continental ticket, Insurance of Benin, Sunshine, Lobi end without silverware

    Ogun based clubside, Remo Stars football club today defeated Bendel Insurance 1-0 to grab a continental spot for next season.

    Remo Stars forward, Qudus Akkani lashed on to a pass in the 27th minute to fire home the only goal of the encounter.

    All effort by Bendel Insurance to cancel out the goal proved abortive, .

    Moreso, Remo Stars effort to add to their tally met a brick wall from the defenders of Bendel Insurance of Benin.

    Bendel Insurance finished the first stanza of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) unbeaten but have now lost two games back to back at the NPFL Super six.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Rivers United ended Remo Stars 21-game unbeaten run with a 2-1 defeat on match day four of the super six.

    The result meant Remo stars will be featuring in next year’s CAF Champions League.

    Earlier, Sunshine FC of Akure also defeated Lobi Stars 2-1 to finish the group standing on 4th position.

    Despite finishing the first stanza of the league unbeaten, Insurance of Benin  finished as the 5th placed team of the play-offs.

    Insurance, Sunshine and Lobi  will be leaving the super six championship with their head high but without any silverware.

     

  • Bosso gives Flying Eagles yuletide period off after NPFL tests

    Bosso gives Flying Eagles yuletide period off after NPFL tests

    Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles turned back NPFL side, Lobi Stars 2-0 on Saturday morning at FIFA Goal Project AstroTurf in Abuja to round off the first phase of the team’s preparations for the forthcoming Africa U20 Cup of Nations on a high note.

    Haliru Sarki broke the deadlock in a closely-fought game with a well-taken free kick in the 76th minute, and 10 minutes later, prolific Olusegun Otusanya sealed the victory for the Ladan Bosso-tutored side after an assist from Dominion Ohaka. The win was the second for the U20 boys in three games against NPFL sides as Bosso’s squad maintained their rich vein of form.

    Earlier on Friday, the Egypt-bound team forced Nasarawa United to a 1-1 draw with Olamilekan Adams scoring the equaliser four minutes to the end of the game.

    On Thursday, the Ladan Bosso-led team knocked Wikki Tourists 2-0 with goals from Olamilekan Adams and Olusegun Otusanya stamping the win for the seven-time African Champions.

    The win against Lobi Stars was the eighth game the Flying Eagles had played (with seven wins and a draw) since the team opened camp on 28th November.

    The Flying Eagles will now embark on a two-week recess and are expected to resume camp in the first week of January for the final phase of preparations ahead of the Final Tournament of the Africa U20 in Egypt. The TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2023 will be played between 19 February and 11 March 2023.

    Meanwhile, the Draw Ceremony for the U20 AFCON is billed to take place in Cairo, Egypt on Friday, 23rd December.

    The qualified countries are hosts Egypt, Tunisia, Nigeria, Benin, Senegal, The Gambia, Uganda, South Sudan, Mozambique, Zambia, Central African Republic and Congo.

  • Flying Eagles spank Lobi Stars 2-0 in friendly match

    Flying Eagles spank Lobi Stars 2-0 in friendly match

    The Flying Eagles, the national under-20 male football team, on Saturday in Abuja defeated Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubside Lobi Stars of Makurdi 2-0 in a friendly match.

    The match played at the FIFA Goal Project at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium saw the Flying Eagles putting up a better performance.

    The national side had drawn 1-1 in their friendly match against NPFL side Nasarawa United on Friday.

    They tightened up at the rear, making Lobi Stars to fight hard and unsuccessfully to break their defence in spite of laying siege on many occasions in their half.

    Flying Eagles forward Halliru Sarki broke the deadlock by scoring with a free-kick in the 76th minute.

    Twelve minutes later, forward Olusegun Otusanya doubled his side’s lead after a pass from Dominion Ohaka.

    Speaking after the match, the Flying Eagles head coach, Ladan Bosso, said their performance was satisfactory in spite of the fact that the match was part of their preparation.

    “Things are going on smoothly. We have played against some NPFL sides, and we have won two and drawn one of the matches.

    “We also won all our matches against the football academies. So, it has been a very good performance displayed by the team.

    “The tactical strength was there and, by the time the players will be returning to camp early in January, we would have been set,” he said.

    Bosso added that before the team resume camping, he and his colleagues would have streamlined and prepared all that is necessary for the camping.

    He however said their last three matches were determining factors in recalling the players to camp.

    “The performances of the last three matches will serve as determinants regarding player to have in camp when we come back by January.

    “We will not have back this crowd (of 45 players) to blend in January,” the coach said.

    The team is preparing for the 2023 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt from Feb. 19 to March 11.

    Nigeria qualified for the competition after winning the regional WAFU U-Under-20 Tournament in Niger Republic.

    Ghana are the current continental champions while the Flying Eagles are the event’s most successful team, having won it seven times.

    NAN

  • Football: Lobi Stars to lay off 20 players – Vice Chairman

    Football: Lobi Stars to lay off 20 players – Vice Chairman

    Tama Aondofa, the Vice Chairman of Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, says the club will undergo a major restructuring before the resumption of the 2021/2022 Nigeria Premier League League in April.

    Aondofa made this known in Awka on Sunday, saying they had a good away match with Rangers International FC, at Awka Township Stadium on Saturday but lost to tactical indiscipline.

    Rangers beat the Makurdi side 5-3 in their Week 19 encounter at their new temporary home ground in Awka. Rangers scored three goals in the first half and another two after the break while Lobi netted all their three goals in the second half.

    The Vice Chairman said though they lost the game, it was one of their best matches in recent times.

    According to him, “the outcome was not what we expected in terms of the result, like somebody said, we scored the eight goals in the game, we gave Rangers the goals they scored against us, including the penalty.

    “The three goals of the first half was virtually donated to our opponents because of tactical indiscipline, there were so many back passes in front of the goal, but in the second half we fought back and scored three goals but we ran out of time.

    “We will go back to the drawing board and look at our players recruitment, we will flush the system and a number of players who have not shown the desired commitment have been identified,” he said.

    He said “about 15 to 20 players have been lined penciled down to move on. They will be let off and equivalent number who are doing well in the league will join almost immediately.

    Aondofa said Lobi Stars FC will return in the second half of the League with a better squad and zeal, saying the club would no longer condone the lack of commitment shown by some players.

    He also said officiating of league games is getting better but the issue of buying of, and betting on games had to be addressed.

    “Refereeing is getting better but some things are still wrong. People are still buying games, betting in the matches, it will take a little more time for the League Management Company to clean up the system,” he said.

    Lobi Stars finished the first stanza on 19 points from five wins and four draws from 19 matches played.

  • My Family is still stuck in Ukraine – Lobi Stars coach, Eddy Dombraye

    My Family is still stuck in Ukraine – Lobi Stars coach, Eddy Dombraye

    Ex-Flying Eagles player and Lobi Stars head coach Eddy Dombraye has hinted that his wife and daughter are still stuck in Ukraine amid the Russia invasion.

    According to a news platform The Cable, Dombraye said his wife and 5-year-old kid have been stuck at the train station in Ukraine trying to escape to Poland.

    “They were supposed to catch the train from Boryspil which is about 15 kilometers away from Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, but the train was cancelled. They are currently looking for a different alternative,” he said.

    “The train was supposed to move by 11 am this morning (Monday) but it was cancelled. I have been in touch with them every minute to work on alternatives.”

    He said he returned to Nigeria from Ukraine after he got the job as Lobi Star head coach in September 2021.

    Dombraye, whose other child is in Poland, also said his wife and two children were supposed to join him in Nigeria on Sunday but their flight was canceled due to the crisis.

    “I have two kids and one of them is in Poland. He is a Polish citizen while the other one who is 5-year-old is currently with my wife,” he added.

    “I followed the crisis on CNN since the first day it started. My wife and I thought the war will not escalate as we never anticipated it was ever going to happen. Even my wife said there would be no fight or war. Now, she is blaming herself and I am also blaming myself, wishing they had relocated earlier.

    The worst part of it is that she has a Nigeria visa already. She was supposed to return as her flight originally was supposed to be yesterday to Nigeria, so, everything is so painful.

    “We were both residing there. I have lived there since 2002. I based there like a dual citizen but moved down to Nigeria when I got the job as Lobi Star head coach in Nigeria. I have always wanted to come to Nigeria to coach. So, when I returned to Nigeria, I asked my wife to hold on for a few months until I am properly settled in the new space.

    “Their flight was supposed to be yesterday. I returned to Nigeria on 6th of September 2021 as Lobi Stars football coach of Makurdi in the Nigerian Professional Football League ( NPFL).”

    The 42-year-old also expressed concerns over his inability to rescue his family, adding that “this is the worst thing to happen to any parent.”

    “As a football coach, I am trying to put on a brave face when I go out to meet my players but when I am indoors, it’s a different thing. It’s not like I am crying but I am feeling bad because I can’t actually do anything. With my 5-year-old kid trapped in a crisis area and I can’t help, It’s very bad. That is the worst thing to happen to any parent,” he continued.

    “Yesterday, they were at home and today we decided to board the train that will take them to Lviv, a border town close to Poland so that my 18-year-old son who lives in Poland as a citizen would pick them up but the train was cancelled. They are currently looking for other alternatives to get there.

     

     

    “I am worried because getting there is about 12 hours and it’s not a fast train.”

    Dombraye is a former Super Eagles player who had played professionally in Poland and other parts of eastern Europe.

  • Nothing we can do if NPFL is scrapped – Ogunbote

    Nothing we can do if NPFL is scrapped – Ogunbote

    Lobi Stars manager Gbenga Ogunbote has made a bold assertion that nothing can be done should the 2019/20 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season be called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Football leagues across the globe have been put on hold as a result of the viral outbreak which is affecting more than a million people globally.

    Nigeria is one of the worst-hit countries in West Africa with more than 250 confirmed cases.

    The Pride of Benue are currently third on the log after 25 games with an outstanding game still to play and this could mean another shot at genuinely winning the title slipping out of their grasp again.

    “The other time it happened [league inconclusive] is completely different from the scenario we are facing now,” Ogunbote told Goal.

    “This is a global affair and it is difficult for a nation to get up and say this is how we are going to do it. We have to study the trend of events.

    “If every country decides to declare the season null and void, there is nothing we can do. The administrators here will have to follow suit. It’s a difficult one but we just have to look at events as they unfold and until then, decisions will be difficult to take.”