Nigerian Football

Nigeria Needs Solid Defence, Says Uche Okechukwu

Published

7 years ago

May 10, 2017

BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA

Former Nigerian skipper, Uche Okechukwu, is not too happy with the defence line of the Super Eagles as the team braces up for qualification for Russia 2018 World Cup and the commencement of journey to Cameroon 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The towering central defender who was called “Gentle Giant” in his playing days has urged Coach, Gernot Rohr to keep close watch on his defence line.

The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Gold medallist in a Face book chat with Sports Village Square expressed concerns about recent developments where the team conceded some goals that are easily defensive errors.

Okechukwu who was capped 47 times for Nigeria and last donned the Super Eagles shirt in the June 27, 1998 loss to Denmark said he was not happy any time the national team let in silly goals.

“No one will be happy seeing a team like Nigeria conceding goals in almost all their recent encounters.

“I can remember, during our days at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria, we lost focus in the opening game which made us concede five goals to the hosts.

“Ever since then, we tightened up the defence and did not concede any other goal till we got to the final to face Algeria again.

“Even then, Algeria had to sweat to beat us 1-0 in their only title till date. The reason why we keep conceding goals is that we don’t have a stable defence line up in recent years.

“I could remember the last time we played 2-2 draw with South Africa in Uyo and crashed out of 2015 Africa Cup of Nations was due to defensive errors.

The goal we conceded to Egypt in Kaduna and the one in Alexandria last year were basically caused by lapses in our defence line.

“We can’t keep playing this way and expect positive result. I am not a coach but am only advising Rohr to work more on it for the good of our team.”

Nigerian Football

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

Published

14 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.