Nigerian Football
A MOUNTAIN TOO HIGH FOR COACH ILECHUKWU AND HEARTLAND
Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries (MFM) FC produced the opening shock of the 2019/20 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season when they claimed a 0-1 away win at Heartland FC in Okigwe.
But that would not diminish Plateau United’s impressive 3-1 win
over Lobi Stars in a fixture that had a former Governor of Plateau State on the
stands cheering the Jos side.
MFM FC had struggled for the most part of the pre-season after the loss of
their enigmatic head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu to Sunday’s opponent but the
Lagos based side pulled the chestnut out of the fire in stunning fashion
against their former boss.
Clement Ogwu, a player signed by Ilechukwu for MFM last season from little
known Glorious Day Academy headed home the game’s only goal on the 39th minute
from a corner kick by right back Adeyinka Najeem.
The goal indeed tore the form guide into shreds as all three
previous NPFL encounters involving both sides had ended in home wins.
It was a double-header clash between Delta and Akwa-Ibom states on Sunday with
Delta Force hosting NPFL debutants Akwa Starlets in Asaba while Warri Wolves,
on their return to the big league hosted Akwa United at the Warri Township
Stadium.
Both games ended in entertaining 1-1 draws. Samuel Amadi scored the first goal
of the new season as his second minute strike gave Wolves the lead but last
season’s joint top scorer, Mfon Udoh continued from where he left off on the
28th minute to restore parity for John Obuh’s Akwa United. Neither side could
find a winner in the second half.
At the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Starlets stunned their hosts on the 50th
minute when Isaac George gave them the lead but experienced substitute Bala
Yahuza rescued a point for Mangut Mbwas’ side twenty minutes from time.
Plateau United laid down the marker for the new season with an emphatic 3-1
dispatch of Lobi Stars in a North Central Derby at the New Jos City Stadium on
Sunday. Abdu Maikaba’s United raced to a two-goal lead courtesy of Nerot Silas’
17th minute strike and a Solomon Kwambe own-goal but Lobi halfed the deficit on
the 32nd minute through a Sikiru Alimi penalty.
Winger Amos Gyang Danladi however scored his side’s third on the 67th minute to
send the 2017 league winners to the summit of the league table after Match Day
One.
Abia Warriors also started the season on a bright note when a brace by former
Heartland star Jimoh Oni earned them a routine 2-0 win over Katsina United at
the Umuahia Township stadium.
In Nnewi, FC Ifeanyiubah edged newly promoted Adamawa United 1-0
courtesy of a spectacular strike by Samuel Kalu. Striker Chibuike Ezeh also
missed a second half penalty which could have widened the scoreline for the
Anambra Warriors.
Wikki Tourists of Bauchi were the only team that came from a goal down to win
on Sunday, a feat they achieved in their 2-1 success over newly promoted Jigawa
Golden Stars at their adopted home ground in Gombe.
Lala Abdullahi gave Jigawa a shock lead at the Pantami Stadium on the quarter
hour mark but two second half goals from Saidu Abubakar and team captain
Mohammed Idris Guda gave Ibrahim Garba’s men the maximum points.
In Kano, former champions, Kano Pillars were held to a 0-0 draw by Rivers
United at the Sani Abacha Stadium. The game which was played behind closed
doors as Pillars continue to serve punishment from their fans’ behaviour in
Lagos at the end of last season saw the Sai Masu Gida side miss a number of
scoring chances.
Two other games; Enyimba vs Nasarawa United and Rangers vs Sunshine Stars were
rescheduled due to Enyimba and Rangers’ CAF Confederation Cup games on Sunday.
The two former champions won their respective games and booked their places in
the group stage of the continental competition.
Nigerian Football
Nigerian women coaches conclude first module of CAF C-License course
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/women-coaches.png)
A total of 30 women coaches have concluded the first of a three-module CAF C-License program in the Federal Capital, Abuja and are expected to commence a two-week internship with different teams in a few days.
Peopled largely by former Nigerian internationals and other serving coaches, the group was taken through a full week of rigorous classroom and practical sessions by a team of coach educators and resource persons, in a baptism of what the next two modules are likely to entail,
NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, told thenff.com that the first module has shown that the women coaches are actually desirous of learning.
“I am very much impressed with their attitude, mannerisms and conduct through the first module. They impressed everyone, and the coach educators also told me they were impressed, and are looking forward to having them back for the second and concluding modules.
“We are grateful for the leadership of the NFF for the support and encouragement for coach-education programmes all the time.”
The participants will return to Abuja for the second module that is scheduled for 12th – 20th August, after which they will go on another two-week internship, 23rd August – 4th September. The third module, which comes with examinations for the participants, will take place 9th – 19th September.
Dr. Terry Babatunde Eguaoje, NFF’s Head of Education, is among the coach educators’ team, which also includes Coaches Isah Ladan Bosso, Wemimo Olanrewaju and Lanrence Ndaks.
Among the 30 participants are former Super Falcons’ stars Precious Dede, Joy Jegede, Esther Michael, Maureen Eke, Otas Ogbonmwan, Vera Okolo, Cecilia Nku, Taiwo Ajobiewe, Gloria Ofoegbu and Amenze Aighewi. There are also Barr. Victoria Nlemigbo and retired FIFA referee Folusho Ajayi.
Nigerian Football
Osimhen’s outburst was a moment of madness, says Amaju
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/finidi-and-osimhen.png)
Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President and a FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has expressed shock at last month’s outburst by Super Eagles’ striker, Victor Osimhen against Finidi George.
“It is very unfortunate”, Amaju Pinnick remarked on an Arise Television programme. The former NFF president said he had put a call to Osimhen who was very remorseful while the telephone conversation lasted.
“I told him he has to apologise, and I am sure he will if he has not yet done so.” Amaju remarked that he could not comprehend what went wrong as Osimhen was the most cool-headed player in the national team.
He went on to remark that Finidi George was not a personality to be disregarded like that. He has won virtually every honour available during his playing days and was a member of the Super Eagles at their peak when Nigeria ranked fifth in the world.
“I believe players should learn to respect their coaches”, said the former NFF boss.
Nigerian Football
I prefer a foreign coach for the Super Eagles, says Amaju
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/amaju-pinnick-1.png)
Nigeria’s FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has told the world that he has always been an advocate of foreign coaches for the Super Eagles. He spoke on Arise Television while fielding questions with Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni and Ayo Mairo-Ese.
His reason for being averse to indigenous coaches stemmed from lack of respect for them by the players.
“Yes, the Nigerian coaches have the requisite knowledge and the technical ability, but modern football is beyond that in managing players.
“Will the national team players respect the coach? The sad thing is that they don’t”, said Amaju Pinnick.
He however revealed that he supported the appointment of Finidi George owing to the circumstances that the NFF found itself after the exit of Jose Peseiro.
The NFF, he revealed, had no money to hire a foreign coach. The body therefore went for the most available option, Finidi to ensure a smooth transition.
“Finidi was part of the coaching crew of Peseiro and it was therefore logical to ask him to continue.
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