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Tag: NPFL

  • NPFL: Akwa United, insurance share spoils in Benin

    NPFL: Akwa United, insurance share spoils in Benin

    Akwa United FC on Saturday played out a goalless draw at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City to earn their first away point of the 2023/2024 NPFL season.

    Akwa United were languishing at the relegation zone of the current NPFL season after series of poor results.

    Manager of the side, Osho made four changes to his starting XI for the game with Edidiong Ezekiel , Anthony Anosike, Uche Collins and Opamoye Gbenga getting their first start of the season.

    In the match, Akwa United FC had the first sight on goal when Nigerian International , Edidiong Ezekiel put pressure on Insurance FC defender, Sunday Anyanwu to play the ball out for the first corner-kick of the game.

    Akwa United FC left-back David Philip took the resultant corner which was met by a header from young defender Wisdom Ndon but goalkeeper Anas Obasogie was alert to stop the goal bound ball.

    Former Remo Stars forward, Edidiong Ezekiel was a pain In the neck of the Bendel Insurance FC defenders while at the other end, youngster Wisdom Ndon was in good form alongside the Akwa United FC defenders to secure their first clean sheet on the road this season.

    All efforts to score a goal in the match proved abortive as they both fired blanks and went off with a point apiece at the expiration of regulation time with scores tied at 0-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

    The result meant that the Uyo based side will keep searching for their first away win of the season in matchday 6 coming up next weekend.

     

     

  • NPFL season 2023/24 to kick start Sept 30

    NPFL season 2023/24 to kick start Sept 30

    The season  2023/24 of the Nigeria Professional Football League season will kick start on September 30 the NPFL board has confirmed..

    The NPFL board made the announcement in an official communication to all 20 clubs.

    The league management body also declared that all the clubs will receive a take-off grant of 20 Million Naira each.

    Matches involving CAF Confederation Cup campaigners Rivers United FC and Bendel Insurance FC will be put on hold, due to the continental engagements this weekend.

    Rivers United will welcome visiting Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso in the second leg of their second round at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday, while Insurance of Benin will make a trip to Morocco for their second-leg encounter with RS Berkane of Morocco.

     

    NPFL Statement reads: ”Saturday, September 30 has been officially announced as the commencement date for the 2023/24 season of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
    ”In a letter dated Monday, September 25, Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer also notified the 20 participating Clubs that the champions of the season would receive ₦150m which is a 50% increase from last season’s prize money.
    ”Another highlight of the letter to the clubs is the payment of start-off grants of a total of ₦200m to the 20 clubs.
    “The 20 clubs will, as was done last season receive a take-off grant of Ten Million Naira (₦10,000,000) each to smoothen your operations as the season starts.
    “We are therefore expecting the Clubs to as a matter of urgency forward their respective account details to the NPFL Secretariat for the transfer of the said amount as the season is set to commence on Saturday, September 30, 2023”, Owumi stated in the letter addressed to all Club Chairmen and General Managers.
    On the prize money, the letter read; “after due deliberations by the Chairman and our Strategic Partners, it was agreed that the Prize money, since that is what connotes the true value of the league, be reviewed upwards to ₦150million”.
    The letter also addressed some of the Marketing concerns and assured the clubs that the NPFL Board would at all times take decisions and enter into contracts that serves the best interest of the league and the clubs.
    “Be rest assured that we will at all times be guided by the very best interest of our league and by implication, the participating Clubs”, the COO explained while adding that discussions are still ongoing with a company that proposed a ten-year partnership for broadcast rights.
    “We remain very hopeful that they or other prospective partners will show up since talks are still ongoing. Any success achieved, will enlarge the economic frontiers of the league and by extension the clubs as we progress”, he concluded.

     

    See Matchday  one Fixtures
    Rivers United Vs Remo Stars
    Katsina United Vs Kwara United
    Sunshine Stars Vs Kano Pillars
    Heartland Vs Lobi Stars
    Sporting Lagos Vs Gombe United
    Rangers United Vs Doma United

    Bayelsa United Vs Akwa United
    Shooting Stars Vs Plateau United
    Abia Warriors Vs Niger Tornadoes
    Enyimba Int’l Vs Bendel Insurance

  • NFF approves change of name for Nigerian Football League

    NFF approves change of name for Nigerian Football League

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ratified the change of name of the Nigeria Professional Football League to the Nigeria Premier Football League in preparation for the start of next season.

    The ratification was effected at the 79th general assembly of the country’s football governing body on Sunday in Uyo

    “The congress approved the change of name of the Nigeria Professional Football League to the Nigeria Premier Football League,” NFF said in a communique.

    The new board of the NPFL had paraded the league as the Nigeria Premier Football League, launching a new logo and new name for the league but the NFF had also insisted that only the congress has the power to change the name.

    Recall that the NPFL season was billed to kick start on the 9th of September but suffered another postponement owing to sponsorsip exigencies.

    According to the league’s board, a new date will be communicated soon.

     

     

  • NPFL to deploy VAR at match venues from next season – Zubair

    NPFL to deploy VAR at match venues from next season – Zubair

    President of the Nigeria Referees Association Sanni Zubair has revealed that plans are underway to deploy video assistant referees in the Nigeria Professional Football League starting from next season.

    The 2023/24 season is expected to start on Sunday, September, 4 with the opening fixture between 3SC and Plateau United holding in Ibadan.

    Zubair explained that the introduction of VAR will further enhance the performance of the referees, even now that most of the matches in the league will be streamed with newly procured AI cameras.

    “There are talks around it. We thought we would have got it this time around but maybe before the start of the league or when the league is on. I know they are working towards it and we are aware of that and since we are going to be having our matches streamed live,” Zubair posited.

    “Football is now being played with technology and we must move with the pace of the world as well. If the NFF provides VARs in some centres, it will help the performance of our referees as well,” NRA president, Zubairu told our correspondent.

    “On our own, according to our plans, we will ensure the adequate training of our referees to meet up with the best global practices.”

    Zubair, a retired FIFA-badged referee also raised hopes about improved officiating in the incoming season.

    “The league is commencing this weekend and we are ready for it. We already had our 10-day seminar for referees and assistants referees to improve them technically and physically. We also updated them on the laws of the game in line with global practices.

    “We don’t expect less from what they did last season in terms of performance and confidence from our referees,” Zubair said.

  • NPFL releases 2023/24 season fixtures

    NPFL releases 2023/24 season fixtures

    Nigeria Premier League champions,  Enyimba have been drawn against Bendel Insurance in the opening fixture of the 2023/24 Nigeria Professional Football League season.

    The draw was held in Abuja on Tuesday .

    NPFL’s Runner up, Remo Stars, wilL face Rivers United for their opening fixture.

    League’s Debutant, Sporting Lagos will trade tackles  with Heartland.

    The new season is expected to kickstart on September 9.

     

    MATCH DAY ONE FIXTURES
    Bayelsa United Vs Akwa United
    Shooting Stars Vs Plateau United
    Abia Warriors Vs Niger Tornadoes
    Enyimba Int’l Vs Bendel Insurance
    Rivers United Vs Remo Stars
    Katsina United Vs Kwara United
    Sunshine Stars Vs Kano Pillars
    Heartland Vs Lobi Stars
    Sporting Lagos Vs Gombe United
    Rangers United Vs Doma United.

  • NNL Super 8: Sporting Lagos gain promotion to NPFL

    NNL Super 8: Sporting Lagos gain promotion to NPFL

    A Lagos based football club, Sporting Lagos have gained promotion to elite division of the Nigerian league, two seasons after featuring in the lower division.

    Sporting Lagos secured promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League, (NPFL) after defeating Stormers FC in their second game of the Nigeria National League playoffs in Asaba on Monday.

    Rivio Ayemwenre scored the first goal for Sporting 55 minutes into the game, while Okon Saturday scored a dying minute winner to ensure qualification for the Lagos-based side.

    Paul Offor’s side are the first team in the NNL Super 8 to confirm their status ahead of next season. Their last group game is against Heartland on Wednesday and the former NPFL champions must avoid defeat if they hope to join Sporting in the NPFL.

    After playing a goalless draw in their first game against Stormers on Sunday, Heartland recorded their first win of the playoffs with a 1-0 win over FC One Rocket on Monday.

    In the northern conference, former NPFL champions Kano Pillars are within a point of securing promotion back to the topflight after recording a 2-0 win over DMD FC of Maiduguri at the ongoing playoffs in Asaba.

    Mubarak Sanni opened the scoring for Pillars in the first half and a second half beauty by Abdullahi Haruna sealed the second win of the NNL Super 8 for Evans Ogenyi’s side.

    The four-time winners of the NPFL now require at least a draw in their last round-robin game against fierce rivals Katsina United on Wednesday, as they hope to return to the topflight, one year after they were relegated to the second tier.

     

  • NNL Super 8: Kano Pillars face EFCC as battle for promotion to NPFL begins today

    NNL Super 8: Kano Pillars face EFCC as battle for promotion to NPFL begins today

    The battle to secure promotion to the Nigeria professional football League (NPFL) will begin today as eight teams will compete in the Nigeria National League Super Eight playoffs in Asaba Delta state.

    Kano Pillars will battle EFCC in the opening match of the Nigeria National League Super Eight playoffs on Sunday (today).

    The match is billed for 9am at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

    In another match in the Northern Conference group, DMD of Borno will take on Katsina United at 11am.

    In the Southern Conference, FC One Rocket will begin their campaign against Sporting Lagos at 2pm, while Abeokuta Stormers will face Heartland at 4pm.

    Two teams will qualify from each group to the Nigeria Premier League next season.

  • Ighalo considers joining Nigerian premier League

    Ighalo considers joining Nigerian premier League

    Former Super Eagles point man, Odion Ighalo says he would be interested to play in the Nigeria Premier League again.

    Recall that Ighalo has left the Saudi Arabian league after two years of playing for Al Hilal

    The 34-year-old played for local clubs Prime FC and Julius Berger before starting his professional career in Europe in 2007.

    “I said if security is guaranteed, good coverage is assured and better officiating. Of course, [I will play],” the forward told Elegbete TV.

    “I have played in the league before, and it will be a great privilege for me to play again for another six months or one year before I end my career.”

    It would be recalled that Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa featured briefly for Kano Pillars in 2021 after severing ties with Saudi club, Al Nassr.

  • I want to win the CAF Champions League with Enyimba next season – Finidi

    I want to win the CAF Champions League with Enyimba next season – Finidi

    Enyimba head coach, Finidi George has noted that he will be interested in winning the CAF Champions League for for the Aba based club next season.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Finidi led Enyimba to win the 2022/23 NPFL season in Lagos during the just concluded play-off at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium.

    The Peoples’ Elephant last tasted success on the continent in 2004 when they defeated Tunisian club, Etoile du Sahel on penalties in the final.

    Enyimba head coach, Finidi George says his next target is to win the CAF Champions League.

    Finidi guided the Aba giants to their ninth Nigeria Premier League title after a 1-1 draw against Rivers United on Sunday.

    The Peoples’ Elephant last tasted success on the continent in 2004 when they defeated Tunisian club, Etoile du Sahel on penalties in the final.

  • NPFL: Rivers United captain, Nwagua begs fans for not finishing in top two

    NPFL: Rivers United captain, Nwagua begs fans for not finishing in top two

    Following Rivers United’s inability to win the Nigeria Professional Football League in the just concluded Super Six tournament in Lagos,  captain Nyima Nwagua has begged his teammates to look forward to having a successful Nigeria Premier League campaign next season.

    Similarly, the captain also begged the fans for not making it to top two finish in the league.

    The Pride of Rivers failed to defend the NPL title they won last season after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Enyimba in the final match of the Super Six playoffs.

    Although they finished the Super Six Play-offs with same points with Enyimba and second place Remo stars, the Rivers based club side lost out on Champions League placement by a goal difference.

    Enyimba won the 2022-23 NPL season at the expense of Rivers United.

    Nwagua expressed disappointment as they missed out on the Premier League title.

    “I feel gutted we couldn’t bring the trophy home, but I’m however proud of this team, we fought till the end,” he told Pressmen.

    “We look forward to next season in the league and on the continent.

    “I want to thank the good people of Rivers State, our supporters and well wishers for their unflinching support.”

    Rivers United and either Rangers or Bendel Insurance will compete in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup next season.

    League winners Enyimba and Remo stars will compete in the CAF Champions League.