TheNewsGuru

Tag: NPFL

  • NPFL: Wikki Tourist bus breaks down, Players, officials spend night on the road

    NPFL: Wikki Tourist bus breaks down, Players, officials spend night on the road

    The bus of Nigeria Premier Football League side, Wikki Tourists Football Club of Bauchi broke down while conveying players to Uyo for their match day two game with Daakada FC.

    Players and officials of the Bauchi based club side were stranded

    The Bauchi Elephants were on their way to honour the matchday two encounter against Dakkada FC at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

    It was gathered that the bus broke down in Otukpo, Benue State and they spent hours trying to put it back in proper shape.

    The players put fire on the road which kept them warm throughout the cold night.

    Players and officials of

    Players and officials of Wikki Tourists Football Club of Jos spent Tuesday night on the road after their team bus broke down on their way to Uyo.

    The Bauchi Elephants were on their way to honour the matchday two encounter against Dakkada FC at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

    The bus broke down in Otukpo, Benue State and they spent hours trying to put it back in proper shape.

    The match is expected to take place today (Wednesday) by 4pm Nigerian time.

  • NPFL: Gusau thumbs up referees, charges them to sustain credible officiating

    NPFL: Gusau thumbs up referees, charges them to sustain credible officiating

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has commended the group of officiating officials who took charge of the Match Day 1 of the Nigeria Premier Football League, saying they should sustain through the season and thenceforth, the credibility that was apparent in their output on the first day.

    The Match Day 1 of the NPFL witnessed four away wins and four draws with only two home teams earning the maximum points. Champions Rivers United fought hard to defeat Lobi Stars 2-1 in Port Harcourt, while Remo Stars turned back El-Kanemi Warriors 2-0 in Ikenne.

    “I am happy with the results in which so many teams won on away ground, as well as the reports we received from most of the centres concerning the performance of the referees.

    “I want to commend the NFF Referees Committee for putting their right foot forward from the beginning and also charge the referees themselves to sustain credible output going forward. We are determined to ensure that so many things about the League change for the better and we will not relent in our efforts,” Gusau said at the weekend.

    The NFF boss underscored the commitment of the present NFF administration to rebranding the domestic game and giving it life to spur the real growth and sustainability of a football economy that will delight all stakeholders and other indirect income earners.

    MATCHDAY 1 RESULTS (A)

    Nasarawa United 1-2 Enyimba FC

    Akwa United 0-2 Bendel Insurance

    Plateau United 3-3 Shooting Stars

    Kwara United 0-0 Gombe United

    Remo Stars 2-0 El-Kanemi Warriors

    MATCHDAY 1 RESULTS (B)

    Bayelsa United 1-1 Dakkada FC

    Wikki Tourists 0-2 Niger Tornadoes

    Doma United 1-1 Sunshine Stars

    Rivers United 2-1 Lobi Stars

    Rangers Int’l 0-2 Abia Warriors

  • NPFL: Enyimba, Insurance secure away victories on matchday one

    NPFL: Enyimba, Insurance secure away victories on matchday one

    The matchday one of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) recorded two away wins in both groups of the new league format.

    Former league champions Eyinmba of Aba put up a good showing at the Jos International Stadium when they beat Nasarawa 2-1 away from home.

    Newcomers Bendel Insurance also stunned former champions Akwa United 2-0 in Uyo in their first NPFL game in four years.

    Enyimba and Bendel Insurance top Group A along with Remo Stars, who defeated El-Kanemi Warriors 2-0 in Ikenne.

    In Group B, Abia Warriors, Niger Tornadoes and holders Rivers United are the early pacesetters.

    Abia Warriors recorded a 2-0 away win against Rangers in the Oriental derby at the Awka City Stadium.

    At the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi, Niger Tornadoes ran out 2-0 winners against their hosts Wikki Tourists.

    Defending champions Rivers United secured three maximum points after defeating Lobi Stars 2-1 in the city of Port Harcourt.

    NPFL is currently being structured with the abridged format in order to align with football calendar in most parts of the world.

     

  • IMC gives NPFL clubsides N200m ahead of Sunday’s season kick-off

    IMC gives NPFL clubsides N200m ahead of Sunday’s season kick-off

    The Interim Management Committee (IMC) running the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Thursday in Abuja handed over a total sum of N200 million to the competition’s season 2022/2023 clubsides.

    According to reports, each of the 20 clubs in the league received N10 million as a form of support.

    The financial support is a grant ahead of participation in the season 2022/2023 competition which begins on Sunday.

    The benefitting clubs include defending champions Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt, Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan, Rangers International of Enugu, and Plateau United of Jos.

    Others are Kwara United of Ilorin, Gombe United, El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, Abia Warriors of Umuahia, Bendel Insurance of Benin and Bayelsa United of Yenagoa.

    There are also Akwa United of Uyo, Wikki Tourists of Bauchi, Nasarawa United of Lafia, Niger Tornadoes of Minna, and Sunshine Stars of Akure.

    The rest are Enyimba International of Aba, Remo Stars of Ikenne, Dakkada FC of Uyo, Doma United of Gombe, and Katsina United FC.

    Speaking at the ceremony, the IMC Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, noted that the development was a fulfillment of the league organising body’s promise.

    “We came into being with a promise to improve the state of the competition.

    “We are here now to do as promised, giving the participating clubs the sum of N10 million each to help kickstart the season.

    “I can promise here again that we are ready to give some money again as the league goes on, in order to help the clubs cushion the financial burden of playing in the competition,” he said.

    Elegbeleye then announced that winners of the competition, which is going to be in an abridged format, will receive as prize the sum of N100 million at the end of this season.

    In his remarks during the cheque presentation, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, said the development was in line with his plan for Nigerian football.

    “Before I came in as NFF President, I had said we must get the league right in order to move forward in the game as a country.

    “So, the issue of having a premier league that is professionally run is important, and that is what we are seeing with the IMC now. This is praiseworthy,” he said.

    Gusau used the opportunity to reiterate NFF’s full support for the IMC, saying the question of playing the 2022/2023 season in an abridged format is a matter of necessity.

    “We need to start the league so as to end it early and start the new season by August.

    “This way, the players will have time to rest and prepare well for the next season and do better on the continent.

    “Luckily for us, IMC has been doing well and the sponsors are set to back them. So, let us give them all the support needed to succeed.

    “That is why I will be in Uyo on Sunday to watch the star match of the Match Day 1 fixtures —- between Akwa United and Bendel Insurance,” he said.

    NAN reports that the season 2022/2023 NPFL will get underway on Sunday with five matches in each of its two groups.

  • NPFL: IMC fixes meeting with NFF President, Club Chairmen, Referee’s union

    NPFL: IMC fixes meeting with NFF President, Club Chairmen, Referee’s union

    The newly inaugurated Interim Management Committee (IMC) that is responsible for overseeing the affairs of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has scheduled a meeting with the Nigeria Football Federation President, Ibrahim Gusau, Club Chairmen, and the Nigeria Referee’s Association, (NRA)

    Moreso, this is to enable the stakeholders deliberate on issue-based discourse as it concerns the new abridged  2022/2023 season.

    This development was made known via a circular signed and released by NPFL’s Head of Operations, Davidson Owuni

    Similarly, the meeting is to further discuss logistics for the new NPFL season as it concerns club sides in the country.

    The meeting is scheduled to hold on Thursday 5th January at the Sandrallia Hotel, Jabi Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT)

     

  • Gusau hails IMC after colourful NPFL draw in Abuja

    Gusau hails IMC after colourful NPFL draw in Abuja

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has applauded the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Professional Football League for its efforts to reposition the Nigeria League, following the conduct of the Draw for the new Season in Abuja on Wednesday.

    At the colourful ceremony held inside the press conference hall of the Sandralia Hotel, the 20 NPFL teams were calibrated into two different groups for the purpose of the abridged League season, already approved by the NFF.

    “Let me state clearly that the NFF is satisfied with the efforts the IMC headed by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye has been making to rebrand and reposition the NPFL since its inauguration. The NFF commends the IMC Chairman and all his members for the highly successful pre-season tournament held earlier in the month, and also for the actualisation of this Draw Ceremony.

    “The commitment to engineer changes that will deliver a vibrant Nigeria League and a viable football economy in the country remains as firm as ever. The NFF will continue to provide the necessary support to the IMC to fulfill its terms of reference in flying colours,” Gusau said. He was represented at the event by the NFF’s Director of Communications, Mr. Ademola Olajire.

    The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare was represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Abdullahi Yola.

    Chairman of the IMC, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye revealed that the organizers have secured a sponsor to foot the indemnities of match officials for the next three years, with the payments to be done directly from the company to the appointed match officials.

    “We are committed to eradicating the malaise of indebtedness to match officials, which compromises them and lowers their morale to do the right thing.

    “The IMC has also increased the winner’s prize for the season to the sum of N100 Million, which is a hundred percent increase on what was in place previously.”

    The Draw Ceremony grouped the 20 teams into two pools of A and B, with Matchday 1 set for 8th January 2023.

    GROUP A

    Kwara United

    Nasarawa United

    Plateau United

    Gombe United

    El-Kanemi Warriors

    Enyimba FC

    Akwa United

    Bendel Insurance

    Shooting Stars

    Remo Stars

    GROUP B

    Niger Tornadoes

    Doma United

    Wikki Tourists

    Lobi Stars

    Rivers United

    Abia Warriors

    Dakkada FC

    Rangers Int’l

    Sunshine Stars

    Bayelsa United

    MATCHDAY 1 (A)

    Nasarawa United Vs Enyimba FC

    Akwa United Vs Bendel Insurance

    Plateau United Vs Shooting Stars

    Kwara United Vs Gombe United

    Remo Stars Vs El-Kanemi Warriors

    MATCHDAY 1 (B)

    Bayelsa United Vs Dakkada FC

    Wikki Tourists Vs Niger Tornadoes

    Doma United Vs Sunshine Stars

    Rivers United Vs Lobi Stars

    Rangers Int’l Vs Abia Warriors

  • 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.

  • CAF Cup: Mixed result for Nigerian clubsides, Rivers united qualify, Plateau crash out

    CAF Cup: Mixed result for Nigerian clubsides, Rivers united qualify, Plateau crash out

    Rivers United have made it to the group stage of the CAF confederations cup for the first time in their history courtesy of the 6-1 aggregate win against Al-Nasr of Libya.

    Rivers had already won the first leg at the Port Harcourt stadium by 5-0 before going to play a 1-1 draw in Libya on Wednesday night.

    The home side scored first in the encounter but the Port Harcourt-based side equalized to end the encounter 1-1 apiece.

    However, the other representative Plateau United had other ideas when the surrendered a 4-1 first leg advantage to lose 3-0 in Libya.

    Fidelis Ilechukwu-coached team held the home team goalless in the first half, supporters of the Jos-based team thought they would get into the group stage of the competition.

    The Peace Boys held their hosts to a barren draw in the first half, but the Libyans began to breach their defense in the 58th minute.

    Al Akhdar added a second goal in the 86th minute, while the third was deflected beyond the reach of Suraj Ayeleso, in goal for Plateau, in stoppage time, as the hosts claimed a 3-0 win.

    Three second half goals by Anas Al Werfalli, Mohammed Al Kista and Mostafa Hamza were enough to send Al Akhdar to the group stage of the competition thanks to away-goal rule.

    The result meant that the Jos based side will return to play in the abridged format of the Nigeria Professional Football League next season.

     

  • Remo Stars sign Ghanaian defender, Franck Kwame from AS Douanes

    Remo Stars sign Ghanaian defender, Franck Kwame from AS Douanes

    Kwame was a key member of the AS Douanes side that lost to Kwara United in a CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round fixture last month.

    “I am impressed with the club facilities as it reminded me of my first professional contract in Turkey,” Kwame told the club’s official website.

    “I’m happy to be here and ready to give my all,” he added.

    The Sky Blue Stars have also completed the signing of goalkeeper, Charles Tambe and winger, Godwin Odibo from Shooting Stars and Ikorodu City respectively.

    Remo Stars finished in third position in the Nigeria Professional Football League last season.

    Daniel Ogunmodede’s side were knocked out of the CAF Confederation Cup in the preliminary round by AS FAR Rabat of Morocco.

  • NPFL: Rangers FC sign 13 new players for next season’s campaign

    NPFL: Rangers FC sign 13 new players for next season’s campaign

    Nigeria Professional Football League  (NPFL) clubside  Rangers International of Enugu have unveiled 13 new players in preparation for the new NPFL season.

    The Flying Antelopes are adding to the quality of their squad in a bid to be title contender in next season’s campaign.

    Rangers missed out of continental football last campaign after only finishing in fifth position at the end of the season.

    A number of experienced players including captain, Tope Olusesi and reliable Ghanaian goalkeeper, Seidu Mutawakilu left the Coal City at the end of last season.

    Olusesi is yet to join another club, while Mutawakilu has pitched tent with NPFL champions, Rivers United.

    Reuben Bala and Saeed Jubril joined from Plateau United, while Michael Ibe and Gabriel Innocent linked up with the Coal City club from Abia Warriors.

    Former Nigeria youth international, Ogundare Detan (3SC), Tunde Olaniyi (Sokoto United), Jacob John (Niger Tornadoes), Emmanuel Charles (Akwa United) and Nwaodu Chukwudi (Heartland) were also unveiled by the seven-time NPFL champions.

    Others include: Sani Shehu (Gombe United); Naziru Auwalu Ibrahim (Rivers United); Emeka Nwabulu (Heartland) and Inemesit Sunday (Dakkada).