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Tag: NPFL

  • NPFL: MFM FC plots Rangers fall in Agege

    NPFL: MFM FC plots Rangers fall in Agege

    There are high expectations by Lagosians of their darling team, MFM FC, ahead of the critical match against the Rangers International of Enugu on Sunday, with their coach, Tony Bolus, saying the team will launch all attacking instincts to win the game.

    Basking from the euphoria of picking a hard-fought away point secured in the Match Day 4 encounter against Uyo-based Dakkada, Bolus said that a maximum points against second placed Rangers was non-negotiable.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Olukoya Boys will trade tackles with the Flying Antelope in the Match Day 5 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the soccer Temple, Agege Stadium at 4 p.m.

    Bolus in an interview with NAN on Saturday said he had taken time to study the pattern of play of the visitors, hence, he expects a positive result.

    “We have a positive mind as far as the game against Rangers International is concerned.

    “Like what we promised at the start of the league that we will not bargain our maximum points in our home ground, we want to get our three points.

    “We are promising our fans good play, goals and winning the game, so they should keep supporting us. We are not relenting because it is our home match.

    “We will be going all out with attacking instincts and we will be using five strikers from the wings because we have studied our opponents pattern of play,” he said.

    Bolus added that he would deploy attackers that could outrun his opponents defence line to create chances and score goals.

    “We are promising a good game and a good result,” he said.

    NAN reports that MFM had bagged seven points from the four matches played so far.

    The Olukoya Boys played a 2-1 win over Warri Wolves in the opening fixtures of the NPFL 2020/2021 season, but lost by a lone goal in the Match Day 2 to Lobi Stars at Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.

    The Match Day 3 regarded as a South-West derby, saw the Olukoya Boys pip archrivals, Sunshine FC 1-0, at the Soccer Temple Agege, Lagos, and a well-deserved 1-1, an away point against Dakkada in Uyo.

    MFM currently occupy the 7th position of the NPFL table.

    Rangers on the other hand have nine points from four matches and placed 2nd on the NPFL table.

    The flying Antelope won its first match of the season 1-0 against Akwa United at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu in the Match Day 2 encounter.

    The Salisu Yusuf-tutored side, however, lost its outstanding Match Day 1 fixture against Rivers Utd. by a lone goal, but bounced back to pick a vital away point against Jigawa Golden Stars which ended 1-0.

    The Flying Antelope spanked Ifeanyi Uba FC at home 2-1 in the Match Day 4 encounter.

  • Match Day 4 results in 2020/2021 NPFL

    Match Day 4 results in 2020/2021 NPFL

    Following are the results of Match Day 4 fixtures in the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), played on Wednesday:

    Abia Warriors 1-3 Jigawa Golden Stars

    Adamawa United 0-0 Nasarawa United

    Dakkada FC 1-1 MFM FC

    Rangers International 2-1 FC IfeanyiUbah

    Heartland FC 2-0 Enyimba International

    Kano Pillars 1-0 Plateau United

    Kwara United 1-1 Akwa United

    Sunshine Stars 2-2 Lobi Stars

    Warri Wolves 3-0 Katsina United

    Wikki Tourists 1-0 Rivers United

  • Results of Match Day 3 fixtures in 2020/2021 NPFL

    Results of Match Day 3 fixtures in 2020/2021 NPFL

    Below are the results of Match Day 3 fixtures in the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), played on Sunday:

    Katsina United 2-0 Adamawa United

    Nasarawa United 1-1 Kano Pillars

    Plateau United 3-0 Heartland

    Enyimba International 1-0 Wikki Tourists

    Rivers United 3-0 Kwara United

    Jigawa Golden Stars 0-1 Rangers International

    MFM FC 1-0 Sunshine Stars

    Lobi Stars 3-0 Warri Wolves

    FC Ifeanyiubah 0-1 Dakkada FC

    Played on Saturday:

    Akwa United 2-1 Abia Warriors

  • Match Day 2 results in 2020/2021 NPFL

    Match Day 2 results in 2020/2021 NPFL

    Following are the results of Match Day 2 fixtures in the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), played on Sunday:

    Kano Pillars 2-0 Katsina United

    Heartland FC 1-2 Nasarawa United

    Rangers International 1-0 Akwa United

    Dakkada FC 2-1 Jigawa Golden Stars

    Sunshine Stars 1-0 FC IfeanyiUbah

    Lobe Stars 1-0 MFM FC

    Warri Wolves 1-0 Adamawa United

    Played on Saturday:

    Abia Warriors 0-1 Rivers United

    Postponed till Jan. 4, 2021:

    Wiki Tourists vs Plateau United

    Postponed till Jan. 20, 2021:

    Kwara United vs Enyimba International

  • Rohr must now consider NPFL players for Super Eagles – Kazeem

    Rohr must now consider NPFL players for Super Eagles – Kazeem

    Tunde Kazeem, a former Director of Sports in Kwara, has urged Super Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr to consider using players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in the senior national team.
    Kazeem told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that this was quite necessary now in view of recent performances by the Super Eagles.
    NAN reports that Kareem spoke against the background of the team’s goalless draw away to the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers.
    The Leone Stars had also forced the Eagles to a 4-4 draw on Friday, after the home side had led 4-0..
    A very disappointed Kazeem said the results were embarrassing, pointing out that Tuesday’s draw in Freetown showed that the team and its officials needed to brace up.
    “I am not impressed at all. I was thinking they (the team) were going to Freetown to redeem their image, not knowing they will come out with this kind of result.
    “The coach and the players should brace up. I have really not seen any technical input he (Rohr) has impacted in that team. I don’t see any reason why we can’t beat Sierra Leone.
    “I think it is best for Rohr to look inwards. If the foreign-based players cannot give us what we want, I am sure the home-based will.
    ” The foreign-based players are more focused on their clubs, but we have hungry and talented boys at home. What then is the essence of the NPFL?
    “Rohr should consider the players in the NPFL,” Kazeem said.
  • Rangers FC intensifies training ahead of NPFL kick off

    Rangers FC intensifies training ahead of NPFL kick off

    Rangers International FC of Enugu has intensified its training session ahead of the Dec. 6 kick off of the Nigeria Professional Football League, an official has said.

    The Media Officer of the club, Norbert Okolie, made this known to newsmen on Tuesday in Enugu.
    Okolie said that the fixture released by the League Management Company (LMC) showed that Rangers would trade tackles with Rivers United of Port Harcourt in the first week of the league.

    He said, “All the players penciled down to defend the colours of the the club went through the training under the watchful eyes of the Technical Adviser, Salisu Yusuf, and his deputies.”

    He said that only the club attacking sensation, Shedrack Asiegbu, said to be going through a treatment regime, was exempted from training.

    Okolie quoted Nigeria-born Benin international, Loute Isaac, as saying he was hopeful that the club would be in contention on two fronts in the upcoming season.

    “Surely, it has been very tough since the start of the pre-season but we need to go through it for us to achieve success at the end of the season.

    ”With what we are being put through, I believe we are aiming for the top and we are targeting to be double champions,” he said.

    Loute said that the club needed to avoid a repeat of its experience last season in order to start and finish the league on top.

  • NPFL: Kwara United unveil Brazilian winger

    Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin on Monday unveiled Lucas Alves, a Brazilian winger, as one of their players for the upcoming 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    The unveiling ceremony was held at the club’s office inside the Kwara State Stadium Complex in Ilorin.

    Alves who last played for Seahorses LA of the U.S., expressed his happiness after being unveiled and promised to give his best performance for Kwara United in the new season.

    “I am happy at joining Kwara United and I’m here to help the club achieve the goals and targets for the coming league season.

    “The environment here is cool and thanks to the club’s chiefs who have been making me feel at home since I came to Nigeria,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that former Super Eagles and Enyimba goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba has also joined Kwara United, after returning from Israel.

    Jide Fatokun from Akure-based Sunshine Stars, Bashiru Monsuru from Nasarawa United of Lafia and Michael Ohanu from Akwa United of Uyo are also among players signed on by Kwara United recently.

  • NPFL: Coach Dogo leaves Sunshine Stars

    NPFL: Coach Dogo leaves Sunshine Stars

    Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA) has announced the departure of Sunshine Stars Coach, Kabiru Dogo.

    This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the Media Officer of Sunshine Stars, Chris Okunnuwa on Monday in Akure.

    It said that the ex-gaffer formalised his exit from the club on Monday.

    Chairman of ODSFA, Tajudeen Akinyemi and Club Director, expressed gratitude to Dogo and wished him well in his future endeavour.

    “Dogo has done his best for us, sadly we could not fight for our collective dreams till the end on the pitch in the outgone season. We are grateful for his services and time here, nonetheless.

    “He will be missed as a perfect gentleman with an impeccable character, but you know it is like that in this profession. We wish him all the best in his future adventures,” Akinyemi stated.

    Dogo on his part also thanked the entire club and people of Ondo State for making his two-year stay pleasant and memorable.

    “I want to appreciate the entire management of Sunshine Stars, the entire staff that I worked with, the fans and the good people of Ondo State for the love shown me while in charge of the team.

    “Though I have to move on, honestly I don’t regret a bit of my time in Akure; it was a lovely experience that I cherish and will surely miss. Sunshine Stars is a big team and I pray greater heights for the Club,” Dogo said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dogo joined Sunshine Stars from Nasarawa United in 2018.

  • Former Super Eagles goalkeeper joins Kwara United

    Former Super Eagles goalkeeper joins Kwara United

    Kwara United have completed the signing of former Super Eagles goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba ahead of the 2020/21 Nigerian Professional Football League season.

    At the outgone NPFL season which was canceled due to the continuous threat of Coronavirus, Kwara United were aiming to finish among the top clubs on the final standings.

    The club’s management under the leadership of Kumbi Titiloye and Bashir Badawiy are now in top gear to bolster the squad so as for the Harmony Boys to soar next term in all competitions.

    Before leaving Nigeria in 2007, Dele Aiyenugba recorded his name in the history books of the Nigerian and African football considering his awesome achievements.

    He actually started his career at Kwara stars in 1998 before his brilliant performances then made ways for him to join Enyimba in 2001.

    Aiyenugba won four NPFL titles at Enyimba in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

    He also lifted the CAF Champions League twice in 2003 and 2004 and also two African Super Cup in 2004 and 2005 and left the People’s Elephant in 2007 for a big money move to Bnei Yehuda.

  • NPFL 2019/2020 season: We finished second, not third – Rivers United insists

    NPFL 2019/2020 season: We finished second, not third – Rivers United insists

    Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Sunday said they were still not agreeing with the League Management Company (LMC) on the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) final table.
    Okey Kpalakwu, the club’s General Manager, disclosed this position in a statement, insisting that the club remained the team which finished in second place by the end of the season.
    “The NPFL final table circulated in the media space placed Plateau United, Enyimba and Rivers United in the first, second and third places respectively.
    “In that table, Rivers United and Enyimba were tied on the same number of points.
    “But a totally strange/inconclusive head-to-head consideration, affected by the same force majeure, was used to place Enyimba in the second position.
    “Nothing can be further from the truth, because such consideration can only exist in the imagination of those peddling the fake table.
    “For emphasis and to inform discerning members of the public, we have what is internationally known and even in the rule books of LMC.
    “This indicates that points are the first basis of separating teams, followed by goal difference, before head-to-head,” he said.
    According to Kpalakwu, the Points Per Game (PPG) model adopted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and LMC is a straight-forward co-efficient.
    He said this is a way of dividing the total number of points with the total number of matches played as at when the league was suspended.
    “This is in order to guarantee fairness to clubs that played less number of matches.
    “With the application of PPG , all teams are now measured equally, erasing the scenario of whether or not any club played higher number of matches than the other,” the club official added.
    The Rivers United General Manager argued that separating the tie by goal difference was to divide number of goals scored by number of matches played to arrive at a co-efficient.
    He emphasised that, based on this, it was obvious that Rivers United were the second-placed team and no amount of false narratives would deceive those who should know.
    “We have already made our position known to the NFF and LMC and we expect that justice will be served without fear or favour.”
    Kpalakwu however warned that the Port Harcourt club may be compelled to explore all legitimate means available.
    ”This may include formal petitions to the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Court of Arbitration in Sports (CAS) to ventilate our grievances and press for justice,” he said.