Nigerian Football

Bet9ja Nigeria National League Rues CHAN Snub

Published

7 years ago

July 15, 2017

The chairman of the Bet9ja Nigeria National League, Chidi Ofor-Okenwa, is disappointed that no player from the second tier Nigerian football league was called for the Nigerian domestic league assembly in preparation for qualification for the Kenya 2019 African Nations Championship, which is otherwise called CHAN.

In a press statement sent to Sports Village Square by Amar Ignis, the Media Officer of the lower league, the second-tier league boss urged Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Salisu Yusuf to look beyond the elite Nigeria Professional Football League in his selection of national team players.

According to Okenwa, the national team selectors should give opportunity to some good players in the NNL.

“There is only a thin layer between NPFL and the NNL, players who can hold their own abound in the NNL and need CHAN as a chance to explode,” remarked Okenwa.

“We should not miss out the need to tap from the reservoir in NNL and its competitiveness which has kept the players vibrant currently”.

Okenwa further stated that players from lower Leagues like the English Championship in England that produced Carl Ikeme have proved that there is also “gold and diamond” elsewhere.

He illustrated his point by pointing at some players who featured in the lower leagues abroad but made impact in the previous Nigerian national teams.

He gave as examples, players like Samuel Okwaraji, Clement Temile then playing for Markwada Hawks a non premier side and Ruben Agboola – all not playing for elite clubs.

He then pointed out that the Bet9ja NNL boasts of players like John Chukwudi of Gateway FC and Michael Ohanu of Kwara United who are the leading goal scorers in the current season.

Others pointed out for possible considerations are Odinaka Ohaeke of Heartland, Lokosa Sewanu of First Bank, Success Chigozie of Papillo FC and William Ukeme of Bendel.

Nigerian Football

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

Published

4 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.