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Tag: NPFL

  • NPFL: Referee escapes mob attack after Rangers draw with Wikki Tourists

    NPFL: Referee escapes mob attack after Rangers draw with Wikki Tourists

    A handful of football fans in Bauchi on Sunday went berserk and attacked the referee of the match between Wikki Tourists Football Club and visiting Rangers International of Enugu.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred after the match, a 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League

    (NPFL) Match Day 11 fixture, ended goalless.

    The football fans were unhappy with the result of the match at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.

    The furious fans rained abuses on the referee, whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of this report, accusing him of bad officiating.

    They threw stones at him and pelted him and other match officials with sachets of water.

    The referee was however rescued by policemen and other security agents in the stadium, after scaring away the mob.

    Aliyu Illelah, one of the fans, said the referee was not sincere in his officiating, explaining that that was why the fans got provoked and wanted to attack him.

    Another fan, Musa Manager, however said their action was barbaric.

    ”What they (the angry fans) did was not right. While the Wikki Tourists’ players did their best, the referee was very realistic in his officiating,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the head coach of Rangers International, Abdul Maikaba, refused to speak on either the incident or the match, saying “it is not safe to conduct interviews”.

    On his part, the Technical Adviser of Wikki Tourists, Kabiru Dogo, could not be located for any comment because of the tense situation in the stadium.

  • Match Day 10 results in 2021/2022 NPFL

    Match Day 10 results in 2021/2022 NPFL

    Following are the results of Match Day 10 fixtures in the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), played on Wednesday:

    AkwaUnited 1-1 Kwara United

    Rivers United 2-1 Dakkada FC

    Shooting Stars (3SC) 4-0 Heartland FC

    Katsina United 1-0 Sunshine Stars

    Nasarawa United 2-1 Enyimba International

    Abia Warriors 3-0 Wikki Tourists

    Rangers International 0-1 Plateau United

    KanoPillars 0-0 Remo Stars

    Lobi Stars 1-1 Niger Tornadoes

    To be played on Thursday:

    Gombe United vs MFM FC

  • Two goals in 2 minutes separate Kwara United and Gombe United

    Two goals in 2 minutes separate Kwara United and Gombe United

    Kwara United Football Club scored two goals in two minutes on Sunday to beat visiting Gombe United in a 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ilorin-based side’s victory means they returned to winning ways after their 1-2 loss to 3SC of Ibadan on match day 8.

    The hosts started the match day 9 fixture impressively, looking for an early goal and Gombe United were so lucky not to have conceded in the game’s first 15 minutes.

    Defensive midfielder Afeez Nosiru powerfully fired a free-kick in the 23rd minute, but Gombe United’s goalkeeper Itodo Akor dived well to save.

    The breakthrough eventually came for Kwara United in the 36th minute through Junior Lokosa.

    Two minutes later, Gombe United lost concentration and conceded the second goal scored by Alao Danbani.

    Gombe United, with Ahmed Jimoh upfront, tried their best to at least pull one goal back in the first half of the match played at the Kwara Sports Complex in Ilorin.

    But the duo of Deji Bamidele and Christopher Nwaeze were too brilliant for them in the hosts’ central defence.

    The Savannah Scorpions came out more agile in the second half, but they failed to get any goal.

    Speaking after the encounter, Kwara United’s chief coach, Sulyman Ashifat, expressed happiness at the win, claiming that the victory would spur his players ahead of their next game.

    Gombe United’s coach Aliyu Zubair, on the other hand, blamed officiating as the main reason for his team’s defeat.

    Meanwhile, Kwara United will on Monday head to Uyo for their match day 10 clash with Akwa United on Wednesday.

  • NPFL: Late strike throws Heartland FC into relegation zone

    NPFL: Late strike throws Heartland FC into relegation zone

    Heartland FC of Owerri faced another disappointing outing at the Dan Anyiam stadium Owerri as they conceded a 0-1 home defeat against Kano Pillars, on Saturday.

    This was on match day 9 of the ongoing Nigerian Professional Football League.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Daniel’s 92nd minute strike was all it took to separate the two sides,

    This is the second consecutive home defeat for Heartland FC, coming after a o-3 loss against Enugu Rangers and the fourth consecutive league defeat.

    With the loss, the Pillars now occupy the 6th position with 13 points, while Heartland FC are on the 19th position with just 7 points.

    Heartland will now look for redemption when they face 3SC in their next fixture.

  • NPFL leaders Remo Stars beat hosts Wikki Tourists

    NPFL leaders Remo Stars beat hosts Wikki Tourists

    Visiting Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne beat Wikki Tourists FC 2-1 on Sunday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi in the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Match Day 6 win ensured that Remo Stars maintained their top position in the league.

    The Remo Stars dominated much of the proceedings in the first half of the encounter, and took the lead after 11 minutes of the match through Taiwo Ojo,

    After 63 minutes, Abdullahi Oyedele scored their second goal to put the match beyond the reach of the hosts.

    But Salisu Adamu halved the deficit in the 75th minute, with the goal gingering Wikki Tourists to put in more efforts in order to get a draw at least.

    Gbenga Ogunbote, the Technical Adviser of Remo Stars, in an interview later said he was appreciative of God for giving his team the opportunity and edge to win against Wikki Tourists.

    He said they were going to put the match behind them and plan ahead of their other matches.

    Wikki Tourists’ Chief Coach, Kabiru Dogo, could not be reached later by NAN for his comments on the match.

    This could have been because of the fact that the team’s fans were all out blaming him for the loss, as well as his coaching style.

    One of the fans, Musa Ajiya, said the coach wrongly positioned his players, even as he added that the team did well and made all efforts to equalise.

  • Remo Stars reclaim NPFL top spot

    Remo Stars reclaim NPFL top spot

    Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne on Sunday reclaimed their top spot in the ongoing 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with a 1-0 win over visiting Plateau United.

    In their Match Day 5 fixture at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, the league leaders needed only a Samuel Anakwe goal in the 55th minute to take the full points.

    They had lost their prime position by 24 hours, after second-placed Rivers United grabbed a point from their game on Saturday to displace them.

    The Port Harcourt-based Rivers United had drawn goalless with hosts Niger Tornadoes of Minna to move to nine points.

    That was a point above Remo Stars who had earlier been leading them on goals difference.

    But Sunday’s win over the visiting Jos-based Plateau United returned Remo Stars to top spot with 11 points from a possible 15.

    Enyimba International are in third place behind Rivers United after a 1-0 win over the Shooting Stars of Ibadan in Aba, after an 87th minute goal by Emmanuel Godwin.

    Rangers International drew 1-1 with hosts Kwara United of Ilorin to stay in fourth place, one spot ahead of the Afonja Babes.

    The Enugu side are however only ahead on goals difference, as they both have eight points each.

    All Match Day 5 Results:
    Remo Stars 1-0 Plateau United
    Lobi Stars 1-0 Akwa United
    Katsina United 2-1 Gombe United
    Enyimba International 1-0 Shooting Stars
    Sunshine Stars 3-0 Kano Pillars
    Kwara United 1-1 Rangers International
    MFM FC 2-1 Abia Warriors
    Heartland FC 1-0 Wikki Tourists
    Dakkada FC 2-1 Nasarawa United
    Niger Tornadoes 0-0 Rivers United
  • Match Day 3 results in 2021/2022 NPFL

    Match Day 3 results in 2021/2022 NPFL

    Following are some results from Match Day 3 fixtures in the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), played on Wednesday:

    Akwa United 1-0 Gombe United

    Lobi Stars 2-1 Shooting Stars (3SC)

    Enyimba International 0-1 Rivers United

    Sunshine Stars 0-0 Rangers International

    Kwara United 1-0 Wikki Tourists

    MFM FC 1-0 Plateau United

    Heartland FC 1-0 Dakkada FC

    Remo Stars 0-0 Nasarawa United

    To be played on Thursday:

    Niger Tornadoes vs Abia Warriors

    Katsina United vs Kano Pillars

  • Match Day 2 results in 2021/2022 NPFL

    Match Day 2 results in 2021/2022 NPFL

    Following are the results of Match Day 2 fixtures played in the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Sunday:

     

    Rangers International 0-1 Enyimba International

    Shooting Stars 1-1 Akwa United

    Kano Pillars 0-0 Lobi Stars

    Rivers United 3-0 Katsina United

    Abia Warriors 1-0 Sunshine Stars

    Wikki Tourists 1-0 Niger Tornadoes

    Plateau United 1-0 Kwara United

    Dakkada FC 2-0 MFM FC

    Remo Stars 3-0 Heartland FC

    Nasarawa United 1-1 Gombe United

  • NPFL: Imo govt. bans Heartland FC fan over assault

    NPFL: Imo govt. bans Heartland FC fan over assault

    Imo government has directed the immediate ban of one Ikenna Egbujor, a popular supporter of Heartland Football Club of Owerri, from attending the club’s home games.

    The state’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Dan Agu, told newsmen on Monday in Owerri that the fan was banned over an assault on the club’s Media Officer, Solomon Onu.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident was recorded on Sunday during Heartland FC’s first game of the 2021/2022 season in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    The match against Nasarawa United of Lafia had ended in a 3-3 draw.

    Egbujor, a member of the “Colombian Heartland Supporters Club”, allegedly attacked the club’s media officer with a sharp object leading to what many onlookers regarded as serious internal injuries.

    However, his reason for attacking Onu could not be ascertained as the suspect fled the scene immediately.

    The media officer, who is also a member of the state chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) became unconscious immediately he was attacked, before being revived later.

    Agu said the state government has directed the club’s General Manager, Promise Nwachukwu, to inform the Imo Football Association about the ban.

    The commissioner assured Imo SWAN members that he would strengthen security at the stadium during Heartland FC’s home games to further guarantee the safety of journalists and others.

    Meanwhile, while speaking with NAN, Onu said the incident happened at the stadium on Sunday when he was arranging an interview between journalists and the Heartland FC coach immediately after the match.

    All efforts to speak with Egbujor have so far not been successful as his phone was switched off when a NAN reporter tried to get his reaction.

  • Jubilation as 3SC return to Nigeria Professional Football League

    Jubilation as 3SC return to Nigeria Professional Football League

    Prominent Nigerians and supporters on Sunday lauded the promotion of Ibadan-based Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    3SC on Saturday regained promotion to the elite division of the Nigerian league after securing seven points in the Nigeria National League Playoff.

    3SC, popularly known as Oluyole Warriors, was relegated to the lower division of the league (NNL) in 2017 and had since struggled to return to the NPFL.

    The club on Saturday dazed Ekiti United FC 6-0 in the Group B Conference, after defeating Bendel Insurance 3-0 and drawing 1-1 with Remo Stars.

    Sen. Teslim Folarin (APC-Oyo Central) hailed the 3SC players and management on the promotion to NPFL, saying they deserved to be part of the nation`s elite league.

    Folarin in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Yekeen Olaniyi, charged the team to strive harder and double its efforts at winning the NPFL.

    The lawmaker, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, said the club unites the people of Oyo State just like football unites the world.

    Prof. Adeolu Akande, Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) also congratulated the 3SC management and players on the club’s promotion to the premier league.

    Akande expressed joy that Oluyole Warriors were back to the elite position in the Nigerian football league where they rightly belong.

    The NCC boss expressed optimism that 3SC would re-enact its winning streaks of years past by qualifying and winning both national as well as continental laurels in the nearest future.

    Also, Mr Rasheed Balogun, the 3SC General Manager, said the return of the Oluyole Warriors to NPFL was made possible by the commitment of Gov. Seyi Makinde.

    Balogun commended football stakeholders in the state, including administrators, supporters, ex-3SC players and fans for their patience as well as support.

    The 3SC boss said he was short of words to describe the warriors who fought and conquered the battle.

    “The coaches, players and all the staff have made me proud; they have made my day. I can’t explain how grateful I am to these guys. They are simply fantastic,’’ he said.

    3SC would on Sunday play the Group A Northern Conference leader, Niger Tornadoes FC of Niger, to determine the overall winner of the 2020/21 Nigeria National League.