Nigerian Football
Up Awo! Awoniyi fires Nottingham to historic winning return over wasteful West Ham
A first-half goal from Taiwo Awoniyi was enough to earn Nottingham Forest a 1-0 win over West Ham United on Sunday, their first victory of the new Premier League season as the City Ground hosted top-flight soccer for the first time since 1999.
Awoniyi scored Forest’s first Premier League goal in 23 years in first half stoppage time and it proved to be the difference as both teams had goals disallowed by VAR and West Ham captain Declan Rice had a second-half penalty saved.
NOTTINGHAM, England, Aug 14 (Reuters) – A first-half goal from Taiwo Awoniyi was enough to earn Nottingham Forest a 1-0 win over West Ham United on Sunday, their first victory of the new Premier League season as the City Ground hosted top-flight soccer for the first time since 1999.
Awoniyi scored Forest’s first Premier League goal in 23 years in first half stoppage time and it proved to be the difference as both teams had goals disallowed by VAR and West Ham captain Declan Rice had a second-half penalty saved.
“I’m really happy about it because it took me a long journey to get back to the Premier League and I’m very, very proud of myself,” said Awoniyi, who was at Liverpool from 2015-21 but did not make a competitive appearance and was loaned out several times.
“It was a dream for me to score and for the team to win… I believe we will have a great season.”
Steve Cooper’s side had been outclassed by Newcastle United during their 2-0 defeat on the opening day but looked at home in the top flight against West Ham, who were also looking to bounce back from a 2-0 loss to champions Manchester City.
Spurred on by a boisterous home crowd, Forest started on the front foot and kept David Moyes’ West Ham at bay in a frantic first half before Awoniyi, making his home debut, bundled home Jesse Lingard’s miscued shot from Harry Toffolo’s cross.
Moments earlier, Said Benrahma had slotted past on-loan Forest goalkeeper Dean Henderson following a West Ham counter-attack but the goal was chalked off after Michail Antonio was adjudged to have fouled Orel Mangala in the build-up.
West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals struck the crossbar seconds after the restart and the rebound fell to Tomas Soucek, whose header was clawed away by Henderson as the visitors made an electric start to the second half.
Their momentum was soon halted, however, when Forest forward Brennan Johnson – their top scorer last season with 19 goals in all competitions – beat goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski with a dinked finish in the 54th minute before being ruled offside.
On the hour mark, West Ham winger Benrahma hit the woodwork from distance before Soucek’s shot was blocked by the slightly extended arm of Forest defender Scott McKenna, resulting in a penalty for the visitors after a VAR replay.
Rice stepped up to take the spot kick but his effort, dragged low to his left, was saved superbly by Henderson to preserve the hosts’ slender lead.
In the closing stages, Forest full back Neco Williams cleared Kurt Zouma’s header off the line as Cooper’s side saw out seven minutes of stoppage time to pick up their first points of the campaign.
“This place is a fortress. The fans have been bouncing all game and they deserve this one,” Henderson said.
“I know Dec’s favourite side (on penalties) as I’ve trained with him before… I stuck with what I knew and luckily he put it there.”
-Reuters
The Nigeria National League has again wielded the big stick against erring Clubs, with Godswill Akpabio FC of Uyo and Barau FC of Barau FC of Kano severely penalised for assault and intimidation of match officials.
On its part, Uyo-based Godswill Akpabio FC was found guilty of assaulting match officials during their Matchday 15 encounter against Rovers FC of Calabar at the Uyo Township Stadium on 26th April.
The match ended 2-2, but right from the end of first half, the home team’s match officials and fans started to intimidate match officials, and a player, Austin Ajibawo, was cautioned for physical intimidation of the first assistant referee.
Further assaults were committed at the end of the match.
While they have been fined the sum of N3,000,000, which must be paid before their next match, Godswill Akpabio FC must also play their next two home games under strict closed-doors.
They will pay the sum of N250,000 as medical bills to the assaulted match officials, and Ajibawo is suspended for two matches. The Akwa Ibom State FA is also given only seven days to identify the names of assailants or show evidence of disciplinary action taken against them.
Strict closed-doors means only 20 security personnel, seven club officials per team, 12 ball boys, 10 host FA officials, match officials, accredited medical personnel, two accredited cameramen per team, and 10 representatives of the media can attend the match.
On their part, Barau FC committed the infraction during their home game against Gombe United at the Danbatta Township Stadium on 26th April.
From the first half, fans of the home team (which eventually won the match 2-0) started throwing missiles at the technical bench of Gombe United, which caused some injuries and led to the abandonment of the match for 15 minutes.
Barau FC has been fined the sum of N2,000,000, will pay the assaulted Gombe United officials the sum of N150,000 for medical bills and also play their next two home matches under strict closed doors.
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Nigerian Football
Remo Stars’ Historic NPFL Win: A Testament to GTI’s Strategic Effort on Football Development
On Sunday, April 27, 2025, Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne achieved a historic milestone by clinching their first-ever Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title in the 2024/2025 season.
After coming up short in the previous two seasons, where they finished as runners-up, this victory was a personal achievement for the club and a significant moment for the NPFL itself.
Remo Stars’ 1-0 win over Niger Tornadoes secured the title with three games to spare, marking a new chapter in Nigerian football.
This victory highlights the substantial impact of strategic partnerships, specifically with GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, which have been instrumental in the restructuring and repositioning of the NPFL.
Through their partnership with the NPFL Board, GTI has played a key role in improving the league’s competitiveness, officiating integrity, and overall management standards.
The last time a privately-owned club won the NPFL title was in 1996 when Udoji United triumphed.
Since then, privately-owned clubs have struggled to replicate that success, making Remo Stars’ achievement even more noteworthy.
Their victory came as part of GTI’s broader initiatives, including The Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF), which has introduced greater financial transparency and discipline into the league.
This partnership is reshaping the business side of Nigerian football, ensuring that clubs operate more professionally and attract greater investment.
In what can only be seen as a serendipitous moment, Remo Stars’ victory occurred on the same day that the club’s proprietor, Kunle Soname, was celebrating his birthday. What a double celebration it was!
Looking at the broader picture, this victory signals a positive trajectory for the NPFL, with increased investment, improved management, and a heightened focus on player development. The efforts of GTI Group, working alongside the current NPFL Board led by Gbenga Elegbeleye, are setting the stage for the future growth of Nigerian football.
GTI’s commitment to elevating the league is rooted in a vision of creating a more business-oriented, sustainable model for the NPFL.
By addressing the structural challenges that have historically held back Nigerian football, GTI’s efforts are aimed at attracting investments from well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies.
This strategy is not just about enhancing the quality of the league but also about providing financial returns for investors, much like what is seen in top football leagues around the world.
Remo Stars’ victory is not just a triumph for the club, but also a reflection of the broader efforts being made to improve the NPFL.
With the strategic support from GTI, Nigerian football is on a path towards greater success. The hope is that the league will continue to grow, producing more success stories like Remo Stars and eventually earning its place among the most glamorous leagues in the world.
In conclusion, Remo Stars’ historic win is a symbol of the power of strategic investment and visionary leadership. It underscores the potential of the NPFL to rise to new heights, benefiting both the clubs and the passionate fans who follow them.
With continued efforts from GTI and others committed to football development in Nigeria, the future looks bright for the NPFL.
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Nigerian Football
Like what happened to Stores earlier, another Lagos club thrown out of the Nigerian League
Another Lagos club, 1472 FC, has been thrown out of Nigeria’s second-tier league, the Nigeria National League, for failure to honour three matches in the current season.
Crowd-pulling Stationery Stores suffered a similar fate 32 years ago when they were expelled from the Nigeria Professional League.
In a press release on Tuesday, the NFF announced that 1472 FC did not honour three matches during the current season.
The matches were against Abia Comets (Match 9), Dakkada FC (Match 53) and Ijele FC (Match 74).
The NNL relied on the league’s Article 14.11 to expel the club.
In the letter signed by the NNL’s Chief Operating Officer, Danlami Alanana, 1472 FC are also fined the sum of N5 million, with the consequence that the results of all their played matches have been nullified, and those yet to be played are cancelled.
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