Nigerian Football

Not Dead Yet, Shooting Stars Still on Life Support Machine!

Published

7 years ago

September 11, 2017

Seventeenth positioned Shooting Stars in the just concluded Nigerian Professional Football League may have their hope of surviving relegation on life support machine as the team anxiously awaits the outcome of the unconcluded Gombe United versus Wikki Tourists match.

On field results as at Saturday sealed the relegation visa to lower division for Shooting Stars. But one of the 10 matches of the day which result may alter the final table standing appeared to have offered hope for the ever struggling Shooting Stars.

Sports Village Square gathered that the Gombe United versus Wikki Tourists match was abandoned after 27 minutes. “On a clear term, we are not relegated yet”, a WhatsApp message from the official handle of Shooting Stars informed Sports Village Square.

Official score line as at the time match was abandoned was 1-0 in favour of Wikki Tourists. Shooting Stars will need Wikki Tourists to lose by at least a two goal margin to escape relegation if a continuation of the match is ordered.

Meanwhile, the media unit of Shooting Stars informed Sports Village Square that the technical adviser to the team, Fatai Amoo has refuted the news making the rounds that he blamed the management for the team’s 0-2 loss to Niger Tornadoes in Lokoja on Sunday.

The loss put the club in a precarious position on the league table and Amoo was quoted to have blamed the management for poor handling of players’ welfare.

But in swift reaction, the coach said there was no time he faulted the management in the course of the interview but the players who embarked on a needless strike few days before the game!

“I was misquoted in the report and that was quite different from what I said”. Fatai Amoo, the former U 23 assistant coach recalled what he actually said in the interview when he was asked why his players didn’t not give a good fight.

“They can’t fight because they have fought their selves by embarking on a stupid strike and when you don’t train, what you have is what you give! And now they have seen the result of what they did”, he said.

He singled out the old members of the team for spearheading the strike. “And I think the so called big players have decided to take the team to relegation.

“So, the team will now think of what to do whether they still have to keep them. They did the same thing last year if not for God.

“And you allowed such players to still be in the team when they are owed a month salary that’s delayed and they decided not to train and we saw the result here, so the management can hear me out”, Amoo concluded.

Nigerian Football

Plateau United’s Doyeni is first scorer of Season 2024/25

Published

11 hours ago

September 8, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Olawale Doyeni braces up for the NPFL's first goal of the season via penalty kick

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 65^th , 70^th and 73^rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.

Nigerian Football

Three away wins mark the opening phase of Nigeria’s Season 2024/25

Published

12 hours ago

September 8, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The Nigerian Premier Football League burst into life this Sunday with eight matches on the card and contrasting results. Three of the eight matches resulted in away wins signalling level playing field of the league.

It is a sharp departure from the past seasons when it is almost predictable that home teams would win. Remo Stars, Enyimba and Niger Tornadoes have away wins and with scoring multiple goals.

Remo Stars won against Abia Warriors by 2-0. Enyimba came from a goal down to win 3-1 against Heartland while Niger Tornadoes beat Kwara United 2-1 away from home.

Kwara United 1-2 Niger Tornadoes

Sunshine 3-0 Bayelsa: Saidu Salisu

Bendel Insurance 0-0 Rivers United

Heartland 1-3 Enyimba

Abia Warriors 0-2 Remo Stars

Plateau United 1-0 Katsina United

Kano Pillars 3-0 Ikorodu City

Nasarawa United 1-1 Shooting Stars

Nigerian Football

NPFL 2025 Season goes into full swing this Sunday

Published

20 hours ago

September 8, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The Nigerian football fields are set agog again as the Nigeria Premier Football League gets underway with the Season 2024/25.

The opening matches are not staggered as in the previous seasons. Rather, all the matches will be played simultaneously at 4 pm.

Sunshine Stars are hosting Bayelsa United. Bendel Insurance will host Rivers United.

Bendel Insurance begin another title race to see if they can be crownd Nigerian champions. They last won the Nigeria topmost league in 1979.

Former Enyimba and Super Eagles’ coach, Finidi George opens his bew adventure in Port Harcourt with a home game of Rivers United against Bendel Insurance.

Crowd-pulling Kano Pillars will clash with new comers, Ikorodu City. Kano Pillars, with a passionate home crowd, are always a formidable opponents.

Kwara United will look to dominate at home as they host Niger Tornadoes.

The Oriental Derby will be in Owerri as Heartland FC, lucky escapee into the top league will host Enyimba FC. Heartland which took the place of Beyon Limit Academy of Ikenne be looking to make a strong start at home after re-invigorating their squad with new signings and trimming old legs.

Their coach, Emmanuel Amuneke will also have to prove his mettle in the club.

Other matches on Sunday include Abia Warriors versus Remo Stars, Nasarawa United versus Shooting Stars, and Plateau United will host Katsina United.

Lobi Stars who are consistent performers will aim to secure an early win against Akwa United on Monday.

Akwa United struggled and escape relegation last season. But the team has re-energised their squad with new signings.