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Tag: NPFL

  • NPFL: Sunshine stars compound Rivers United woes in Akure

    NPFL: Sunshine stars compound Rivers United woes in Akure

    The result meant that the Akure Arsenala climbed to 17th position on the NPFL log.

    The game  ended goalless in  the first half with the home team missing so many scoring chances, with a goal by midfielder,Promise Awosanmi ruled out  for offside.

    Ibrahim Yusuf gave the home team the lead in the 68th minute of the encounter.

    Sunshine Stars Coach, Kennedy Boboye in a post match interview,  commended his players for playing to his game plan.

    “This game has come and gone, our focus now is on the next game which is the federation cup, after that, we will be playing host to Bendel insurance FC.

    “Our focus is to win our home matches and see how we will get something outside. Our major problem is how to be scoring goals, but we will continue working to improve in that area,” he said.

    Also speaking, Rivers United Head Coach, Evans Ogenyi,said his side lost the game to fatigue, noting that his team’s fixtures had not been easy.

    “It has not been easy, but we have been compelled to play five matches in 15 days,we have no choice than to play.

    “Nevertheless, We are approaching every game with all sense of seriousness and determination this one has come and gone,” he said.

  • NPFL: Rivers United fires coach Stanley Eguma

    NPFL: Rivers United fires coach Stanley Eguma

    Nigeria Premier Football League side, Rivers United have relived Stanley Eguma of his duties as the coach of the side.

    Eguma was sacked by the club immediately after Rivers United’s 2-1 defeat to Remo Stars last Sunday.

    The manager was given an Ultimatum to to win the game against Sky Blue Stars but he didn’t meet up.

    He left the Port Harcourt club in 13th position.

    His assistant Evan Ogenyi took charge of the team in the 0-0 draw against Kwara United on Thursday.

    Eguma, nicknamed ‘Capelo’, guided the club to the 2021 NPFL title win, and equally led the Pride of Rivers to second place finish in the 2016 domestic top flight, their first in the NPFL after sponsors, Rivers State Government merged Sharks FC and Dolphins FC to form what’s today known as Rivers United FC.

  • NPFL: Kwara United fined N6 Million for breach of contract

    NPFL: Kwara United fined N6 Million for breach of contract

    Kwara United football club was on Wednesday fined the huge sum of 6 million naira  by the Nigeria Premier Football League, (NPFL) for the disruption of live broadcast of their matchday 31 clash against Akwa United.

    The Ilorin based clubside was also charged for providing false information which led to a fixture adjustment.

    It would be recalled that the Harmony Boys requested that their game against Akwa United be moved from Saturday, April 20 to Sunday, April 21, citing a letter claiming that the state government had planned an event at the stadium.

    The fine was contained in a memo sent to the club.

    The statements reads: “You are in breach of Rule C1.1 of the Frameworks and Rules of the NPFL, in that on Thursday 18 April 2024, prior to your Match Day 31 Fixture: Kwara United FC vs. Akwa United FC, you brought a late application for the rearrangement of the fixture outside of the prescribed time for making such applications, basing your application on a lie and relying on falsified documents, an act capable of bringing the game to disrepute.

    “You are in breach of Rule B6.23 of the Frameworks and Rules of the Nigeria Premier Football League, in that on Thursday 18 April 2024, prior to your Match Day 31 Fixture: Kwara United FC vs. Akwa United FC, you disrupted the live broadcast of a game by making false claims about the unavailability of your home ground”.

    According to laid down rules, Kwara United have just two days to file an appeal.

  • Nigeria’s FA Cup renamed

    Nigeria’s FA Cup renamed

    The Federation (FA) Cup, a Nigerian domestic football tournament, with teams drawn from the 36 states and the FCT, has been renamed “The President Federation Cup’’.

    The renaming ceremony took place on Friday at a ceremony attended by the organisers and stakeholders at the Westhood Hotel Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The tournament which began in 1945 as Challenge Cup and later renamed the Federation Cup will henceforth be known as `The President Federation Cup’.

    The GTI Asset Management, strategic partners to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in partnership with the Ministry of Sports Development jointly renamed the Federation Cup (FA).

    Sports Development Minister, Sen. John Owan-Enoh, who applauded GTI Asset Management for taking on the responsibility of the cup, also urged stakeholders to focus on restoring the glory of the tournament.

    He said: “Nigeria have a rich football history, optimised by prestigious competition like the Challenge Cup, which has captivated the nation since 1945 which has been renamed over the years.

    “Today we gather to relaunch it as The President Federation Cup, we didn’t call it Bola Ahmed Tinubu Cup, but we want this name to be timeless by using the highest office in the land.

    “I am pleased with GTI Asset Management, by signing the agreement with GTI, we aim to re-establish the benefits of this partnership, developing the grassroots, creating employment for approximately 500,000 Nigerians engaging over 100, 000, 000 enthusiasts.”

    The minister urged the private sector stakeholders to borrow a leaf from GTI and adopt a sport to enhance all round development in sports.

    “With our enormous population, we all can’t play football, I want to urge all stakeholders to emulate what the GTI group is doing with football through the NFF and NPFL.

    “Let’s use this medium to showcase Nigeria’s greatness globally, the President Federation Cup is one of president Tinubu’s legacy of championing Nigerian football,” he said.

    Similarly, NFF’s President, Ibrahim Gusau, lauded the GTI group for daring to do the importance with Nigeria football.

    “When I heard of the GTI initiative, I had to dedicate time, I was at their office for four hours and I asked all mind-boggling questions, they were able to give me answers.

    “I applaud them for taking this on, and I wish them success as they take on The President Federation Cup to make it bigger and better,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports Development, Atinuke Watti, also appealed to stakeholders to focus more on goal driven collaboration in order to develop sports at the grassroots.

    Abubakar Lawal, the Group Managing Director of GTI Asset Management, said signing the deal made him a happy man.

    Lawal, who also applauded the minister and NFF’s president, pledged his unflinching support to football development in Nigeria.

    “I’m the happiest man on the planet. I’d like to thank the minister for his believe in us, his support to ensure that this partnership happens. My gratitude also goes to Alhaji Gusau for creating time to listen to us and supporting us.

    “Football has gone beyond entertainment we are driving towards the business aspect of it, this is what will make our vision result oriented, we want our leagues to be better for it and the result is evident even on our rating table, it’s not business as usual.

    “The President Federation Cup is set to witness a revolution, history is about to be made and we are happy about it,” he said.

  • NPFL: Shooting Stars edge Kano Pillars 2-1 at Sani Abacha Stadium

    NPFL: Shooting Stars edge Kano Pillars 2-1 at Sani Abacha Stadium

    Oyo State based clubside, Shooting Stars of Ibadan on Monday  recorded a 2-1 away win against Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium on match day 29.

    Pillars who initially suffered a 5-0 bashing in the hands of Enyimba in the previous week were the better side in the opening few minutes of the encounter.

    Rabiu Ali struck after four minutes to hand the home team the lead.

    Shooting Stars fought back immediately after the break with Taye Murtala netting the equaliser.

    Former Flying Eagles striker Christian Pyagbara scored the winning goal for the visitors in stoppage time.

    Shooting Stars are now sixth on the table with 46 points, three points behind Remo Stars, who are in third position.

    Four-time NPFL champions Pillars are eighth on 41 points.

  • NPFL: Remo, Lobi keep title hopes alive, Enugu Rangers, Enyimba suffer defeats

    NPFL: Remo, Lobi keep title hopes alive, Enugu Rangers, Enyimba suffer defeats

    Lobi Stars  of Makurdi on Sunday equalled NPFL table toppers Enugu Rangers on points but still second on goal difference.

    The Markurdi based clubside defeated front runners Enyimba 1-0 in Lafia while Rangers push for the championship suffered a setback at Katsina United as they lost 4-3 in Katsina.

    Alao Danbani was the second-half match winner for Lobi, who now have 51 points from 29 games, same as Rangers but with superior goal difference.

    Remo Stars are third in the standings courtesy of a 2-1 home win over Akwa United Friday.

    At the other end of the table, Gombe United woes continued when they fell 5-0 to the resurgent Niger Tornadoes.

    Clinton Jephtha fired a brace for the ‘Ikon Allah’ boys.

    Gombe United remain rock bottom with 22 points from 29 matches.

    Heartland beat Sporting Lagos 3-1, but that has not improved their standings as they are still second from bottom on 25 points.

    Stephen Chukwudi’s brace with Chukwudi Esobe’s strike ensured the Nazi millionaires secured maximum points even after Junior Lokosa’s equaliser.

    Bayelsa United and Sunshine Stars shared the spoils after Muniru gave  Bayelsa the lead in the 38th minute and Tunde Adeniji ensured that Sunshine Stars left with at least a point.

    Kwara United and Bendel Insurance also played out a draw as Ejeh Isiah’s penalty goal cancelled out Azeez Falolu’s sixth minute opener as the Benin Arsenals move to 11th position.

    The loss at Katsina United ended Rangers nine-game unbeaten run.

    Alao Danbani scored the decisive goal two minutes before the hour mark.

    Lobi Stars moved to second position on the table following the win.

    NPFL Results

    Sunshine Stars 1-1 Bayelsa Utd

    Lobi 1-0 Enyimba

    Heartland 3-1

    Sporting Lagos

    Katsina Utd 4-3 Rangers

    Kwara Utd 1-1 Bendel Insurance

    Tornadoes 5-0 Gombe Utd

  • NPFL: Enyimba, Pillars in supremacy battle in Aba

    NPFL: Enyimba, Pillars in supremacy battle in Aba

    Nigeria Premier Football League sides, Enyimba and Kano Pillars, will slug it out in Aba on Wednesday night.

    Both teams have won 13 titles between them as the clash is already tagged a supremacy battle.

    In their previous 23 games, Enyimba won 10 while Pillars triumphed in 11, including the first leg this season, while two other games have ended in draws.

    Coming into today’s encounter, both teams currently sit out of the continental spots on the log (Enyimba – 45 fourth and Pillars – 41 sixth), and the result will go a long way towards propelling their ambitions with just four points between them.

    Speaking ahead of the game, Pillars captain, Rabiu Ali told newsmen that the fixture is one of the biggest rivalry of Nigeria football while stressing the urge by the Northern clubside to play on the continent next season.

    His words “The biggest rivalry game I have played for Pillars was our match against Enyimba in 2006. The match was played at our home, Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, but was later taken to Lokoja because of pitch invasion from the home fans,”

  • NPFL: Relegation battling Tornadoes end Shootings Stars unbeaten run in Minna

    NPFL: Relegation battling Tornadoes end Shootings Stars unbeaten run in Minna

    Ibadan based football club, Shooting stars’ six game unbeaten run came to an end on Monday night as they lost 2-1 to Niger Tornadoes at Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

    The much anticipated encounter r lived up to expectations, with both teams fighting hard to secure maximum points.

    Christian Pyagbara put the visitors into the lead with a 36th minute shot but two goals in the second half ensured 3SC left Minna with zero points.

    .Although, 3SC lost their striker, Pyagbara has now scored four goals in his last four league outings for the Ibadan side.

    Tornadoes, who are fighting hard to escape relegation, rallied to win the game in the last 14 minutes.

    Clinton Japhet equalised for the home team in the 76th, while Ikenna Ofor grabbed the winning goal deep into stoppage time.

    Tornadoes moved out of relegation following the win, while Shooting Stars remain in eighth position on the log.

     

     

     

  • NPFL: Rangers go top, Kwara United pip Enyimba in Ilorin, Akwa United record away victory

    NPFL: Rangers go top, Kwara United pip Enyimba in Ilorin, Akwa United record away victory

    Rangers Football club of Enugu on Sunday climbed to the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League standing following a 2-1 win over Heartland in Aba.

    Emmanuel Onyebuchi and Kalu Nweke scored the goals that catapulted Rangers to the top of the league.

    Meanwhile, at the New Jos Stadium, Akwa United recordd their first away win of the season with an emphatic 2-1 win over host plateau united.

    Cameroon defender Gerome Heutchou opened the scoring for the visitors in the 10th minute, while Sunday Anthony equalised for Plateau United from the spot 13 minutes from time.

    Sani Suleiman, however, netted the winning goal from another penalty in stoppage time.

     

    FULL RESULTS

    Katsina Utd 2-1 Abia Warriors

    Heartland 1-2 Rangers

    Lobi Stars 1-1 Bayelsa Utd

    Kwara Utd 2-1 Enyimba

  • Why we lost to Kwara United in Ilorin – Enyimba assistant coach, Yemi

    Why we lost to Kwara United in Ilorin – Enyimba assistant coach, Yemi

    Yemi Olanrewaju the Enyimba of Aba assistant coach, yesterday expressed with  officiating in the club’s 2-1 loss against Kwara United.

    According to Yemi, the home team was given undue advantage by the match officials

    Although he  commended both teams for showing impressive football artistry in the game.

    The young tactician, alongside Chigozie Chilekwu and Desmond Ojietefian were red carded in the game.

    Emmanuel Ogbole bagged a brace for Kwara United.

    Ikenne Cooper was on target for the defending champions.

    “I won’t blame my players for the defeat, the first half was good but the second half was something else,” he said in a press conference.

    “The referee messed up the whole game in the second half, where we got nine yellow cards and three red cards, including mine.

    “I only asked why the sudden change in the second half, he gave me a second yellow card which was automatically a red card and he also showed a red card to two of my players, it’s crazy.

    “The first half was very good, which was the standard.

    “But it is what it is, the game against Kwara United is gone, we move on to the next game against Kano Pillars.”