Nigerian Football
Akwa Utd Targets Fifth Win
BY MFON PATRICK
With four wins and two draws in their opening six home matches this season in the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL, Akwa United will be gunning for their fifth win of the season when they engaged Sunshine Stars of Akure on Match Day 13 this Sunday in Uyo.
The Promise Keepers will be brimming with confidence going into the match having been undefeated at home this season. A win for Akwa United could see them move into the top six on the log if Lobi Stars and Niger Tornadoes fail to win their respective matches.
Coach Abdul Maikaba has a full strength squad to choose from for the match but he and the fans will greatly miss the services of midfielder Alhassan Ibrahim who is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards.
The midfielder who has scored five goals in twelve marches was booked in the games against Katsina United (away), Gombe United (away), Enyimba International (away) Nasarawa United (away) and El Kanemi Warriors (home).
With Alhassan suspended, fans will look up to Christian Pyagbara, Musa Newman, Ubong Friday, Moses Ebiye, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Cyril Olisema to get the goals.
The promise Keepers who are ranked 8th on the log will be hoping for their fans support as they go for all three points against Sunshine Stars who are 11th on the table with 15 points.
Last season, both Akwa United and Sunshine Stars managed two points apiece following draws over two legs in the league.
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
Storm in CAF over proposed statutes amendments
UEFA threatens to ban England
CAF Champions League: Travelling teams secure victories on the road
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
AFCON5 days agoSuper Eagles lead Afcon Group D qualifiers despite Benin’s defeat of Libya
-
AFCON4 days agoAustin Eguavoen remains the ‘Big Boss’, says NFF
-
AFCON5 days agoWhy I benched Osimhen again – Eguavoen
-
AFCON3 days agoRwanda newspaper gives 5 lessons gleaned from Rwanda-Nigeria clash
-
Nigerian Football4 days agoWesterhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job
-
AFCON5 days agoNigeria’s managerial crisis resumes as Eguavoen reportedly declines to continue
-
AFCON1 week agoHurray, Super Eagles back to winning ways!
-
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL1 week agoWhat a goal-laden day for Nigeria; Falconets also win with wide margin!