Nigerian Football

Udechukwu’s Heroics Humble Rivers United

Published

7 years ago

April 28, 2017

BY SAMMY WEJINYA

Rivers United failed to turn on the style on Thursday, losing 0-2 to Katsina United in a rearranged Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game decided at the Kardkanda Stadium, Katsina.
Chinedu Udechukwu was the match winner for the hosts as he struck twice, either side of the break in identical fashion to give the new boys a win over the vice-champions of the NPFL.
His first on nine minutes was a header off an Isah Abdulrahman delivery while his second in the 63rd minute was also a header, this time off an Eric Gwammy cross.
United were second best for large parts and deserved to lose. The however had isolated moments of liveliness which ought to have fetched more joy.
The first was just before half time when striker, Godbless Asamoah hit a wild volley well wide from six yards with just the Katsina United goalkeeper, Yinka David to beat.
The second was probably the nadir; Bolaji Sakin firing into Orbit from three yards following good work by Emeka Ogbugh when he had an open goal at his mercy.
Chief Coach of Rivers United, Willy Udube was left to ponder what might have been in his post-match assessment to the media.
“We had good chances but failed to convert any. If we had, especially when the score was just 1-0 in their (Katsina United’s favour), it might have been a completely different game,” he told our official website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng.
Baldwin Bazuaye, the head coach of Katsina United also took the time to discuss his side’s performance at the Karkanda Stadium.
“I watched carefully how Rivers United play domestically and on the continent and found some tricks to beat them.
“I told my team to put pressure on them because Rivers United does not like pressure being applied on them,” he said.
The win took Katsina United up to 10th on the NPFL standings with 25 points from 19 matches. Rivers United is in 16th place with 21 points from 17 matches.

Nigerian Football

GTI enlarges coast…spreads from League fund-raising to Federation Cup

Published

8 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation, GTI Asset Management and Trust Ltd has expanded their scope of operations from fund sourcing for the Nigeria Premier League to adding the responsibility of getting the national cup competition back into its glamorous days.

The MD of the company, Abubakar Lawal at the unveiling a revamped Federation Cup which has been renamed President Federation Cup remarked that his company decided to take a bold step to support the national cup.

“I am the happiest man today, he said in the opening remark of the rebranding of the national cup through signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Sports and the NFF.

“Our company is also strategically involved in ensuring that the President Federation Cup is given necessary attention to thrive using The Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF) as our vehicle to actualise this dream.

“Therefore, it is our vision that the oldest domestic football event becomes one of the best organised football events in the world in no distant future.”

Nigerian Football

Ikenne’s Beyond Limit Football Academy top goal chart as NNL releases vital statistics

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The secretariat of the Nigeria National League has released the match statistics of the four conferences of the 2024 season.

With 198 matches so far played in Conferences A and B, 426 goals were scored, with 125 home wins and 26 away wins, representing 63.1%, & 26% respectively. There were 47 draw matches, representing 23.7% of matches. 299 home goals were scored, and 127 home goals.

Beyond Limit FC scored the highest goals of 33 goals, with Stormers FC and Ekiti United conceeding the least goals of 28 goals. Tradesafe and Solution FC scored the least numbers of goals of 11 goals and Osun conceded the least numbers of goals of 8.

In group C & D, 209 goals have been scored in the 106 so far played, with 70 home wins and 14 won away representing 66. 3% and 13.1% respectively.

Teams drew 31 matches representing 29.2% of the matches played. Wikki Tourists scored the highest numbers of goals, with 23 goals, while EFCC FC conceded the least numbers of goals. They conceded 18 goals. Nasarawa United’s 8 goals conceded made them the team that conceded the lowest numbers of goals, while ABS scored the least number of goals of 5 goals.

Nigerian Football

Heartland back to their homeland as they host Shooting Stars

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY TOSIN OMOJOLA, OWERRI

The uncertainty surrounding our Matchday 31 encounter against Heartland FC of Owerri, has been cleared with the game eventually slated to hold at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, the home ground of the host team

The Nigeria Premier League has given the approval to the stadium after an inspection was carried out on Wednesday afternoon.

The Oluyole Warriors have since arrived the Imo State capital and have settled down ahead of Friday’s clash which will be be shown live on cable television.

Meanwhile, the Technical Adviser of the Ibadan soccer lords, Gbenga Ogunbote, while addressing the players on arrival at their hotel, urged them not to be distracted by the development.

“I want to apologise to you on the change of venue. We got to know about it some hours ago, but be that as it may, I want us to remain focused as and get the desired results we needed”.

In the same vein, the players of the Ibadan soccer lords, said they are not in any way moved by the change of venue, expressing their readiness to get the maximum points, not minding the venue.