Nigerian Football

Goalkeeping Challenges Worry Alloy Agu

Published

7 years ago

May 9, 2017

BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA

With the glaring drought in goalkeeping talents in the country, former Super Eagles’ shot stopper and now goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agu has tasked goalkeepers to do more.

The international retirement of Vincent Enyeama and the persistent injury to Carl Ikeme opened up the reality of dearth of talents in that department of the game.

Gone appears to be the days when at least one good goalkeeper is on hand to take over from a fading one. That way, Eyo Essien was an easy replacement to Peter Fregene as the 1960s faded into the early 1970s.

The brief ‘reign’ of Eyo Essien saw the entrant of the great Emmanuel Okala in late 1972 and saw him in top flight action till the eve of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations when Best Ogedegbe took over.

Since the exit of Ogedegbe in the early 1980s there were transitions to Peter Rufai, Alloy Agu, Willie Opara, Ike Shorunmu and Dele Aiyenugba.

Agu in a telephone conversation with www.sportsvillagesquare.com, remarked that time has come for current Nigerian goalkeepers step up their game to get attention in the national team.

He said: “Nigeria is blessed with a lot of stars in the domestic league and in Europe. I notice it’s been a while the Super Eagles kept clean sheets. Rome was not built in a day. I will be glad if they can keep improving themselves in their various clubs so as to make the work of the team coach easier.

“Although they are all doing fine presently but no one will applaud a goalkeeper who concedes a goal in virtually all matches.”

Agu remarked that he is having a tough time towards appointing a goalkeeper that will suit Super Eagles next game against South Africa.

“I can’t say anything about that for now. All I am appointed to do is to train the goal keepers to a level that will suit the national team game. The likes of Ikeme, Ezenwa and host of others are not bad but I can’t say who is fit for the upcoming game against South Africa.

Nigerian Football

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

Published

16 hours 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

16 hours 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.

Nigerian Football

Remo Stars add fuel to the fire as title chase turns East – West battle

Published

1 day ago

April 17, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Added time-goal specialists, Remo Stars pulled off one of their now familiar traits, chalking up a valuable point as Skipper Nduka Junior scored in the 90+4 minute to scuttle an impending victory by Doma United on Wednesday evening.

When all-hope seemed over, Remo Stars had scored hope-reviving goals as they did against Lobi Stars, Insurance and a host of others in the Nigeria Premier League.

Getting a valuable point take them from fifth position to fourth their haul to 50, just a point below that of second and third placed Enyimba and Lobi Stars respectively.

The 1-1 scoreline also changed the complexion of the league table as their South West rivals were pushed down from their initial fourth position.

As it is, the struggle for the title is taking regional colouration as the top two- Enugu Rangers and Enyimba are from the South East while fourth and fifth – Remo Stars and Shooting Stars are from the South West.

Lobi Stars from the middle belt, stand in-between the South East and South West in the power struggle.

Remo Stars at the fourth position however still have an outstanding home game against Rivers United and that could still change the positions of the top six teams when the match is played.

Attention will now shift to match-day 31 as the league embarks on its home stretch.

On Friday, relegation-bound Heartland will be hosting rejuvenated Shooting Stars who have suddenly discovered they could return to continental competition next seasons after 25 years.

They have lately been having unbeaten runs. On Saturday, Kwara United will host desperate Akwa United who are struggling to avoid dropping into the lower league.

On the same day, Abia Warriors will be at home against Bayelsa United.

On Sunday seven matches are on the card. They are:

Kano Pillars v. Gombe United

Katsina United v. Sporting Lagos

Lobi Stars v. Bendel Insurance

Niger Tornadoes v Doma United

Plateau United v. Remo Stars

Rivers United v. Enugu Rangers

Sunshine Stars v. Enyimba