Nigerian Football
Ola Aina’s Dad Thrilled Watching His First Ever Football Match In Ikenne, His Home Town –
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Super Eagles’ player, Ola Aina is from Ikenne, the base of Nigeria Premier League title contender, Remo Stars. Although the player has never been to Ikenne since he was born in Southwark, South London on 8 October 1996, the third anniversary of Nigeria’s first World Cup qualification and also the 47th year since Nigeria’s first ever international match, his father, Olufemi Aina was Ikenne on Saturday to watch what he later revealed as his first ever match in his home town.
He was not disappointed. His home town team Remo Stars achieved a double over visiting Bayelsa United win 1-0 to follow up with an earlier 2-1 away win.
This is awesome, an elated Olufemi Aina remarked. Earlier, when Sports Village Square contacted him to enquire about Ola Aina’s ancestral home, he was shocked to be informed that Nigeria’s top tier league matches are also being played in Ikenne.
Before the Remo Stars versus Bayelsa match which was played under floodlights, Ola Aina’s dad went round the facilities at the Remo Stars Stadium.
The first point of call was the office block which is equipped with panoramic lift to first-floor which is the table tennis centre.
On getting inside, he exclaimed, saying he never imagined such a facility could exist in Nigeria, let alone his own small town of Ikenne.
More astonishing to him was the fact that the facility is owned by an individual, Kunle Soname.
This is comparable to what I am used to at the Chelsea academy in London, said Mr. Aina who also remarked that he never knew there could still be another rich man in Nigeria who has tremendous passion for football.
“I thought it was only the late MKO Abiola that has the capability of putting together a facility of this nature.
“This man, (Soname) earns my maximum respect.”, said Mr. Aina who at that point had never met the Remo Stars proprietor.
“I am used to sports facilities having been the one taking Ola to different academies when he was a teenager. “This place reminds me of Chelsea facilities.”
In the block were a gym, clinic, indoor swimming pool, hydrotherapy chamber, boardrooms and clinic.
Next point of call was the restaurant being used by the pupils at the Beyond Limits Football Academy. The aroma and ambience was breathtaking. On the walls were messages of inspiration to the pupils and footballers.
He met some of them at the common room where they were playing computer games. Mr. Aina introduced himself and told them of the tremendous privileges the players are enjoying and admonished them to make the best of the opportunity.
Mr. Olufemi Aina, father of Super Eagles ace wingback, Ola Aina speaks with some players of Beyond Limits Football Academy, Ikenne
The matron later informed Mr. Aina of the daily routine of the players and the level of discipline they are are exposed to.
Ola Aina himself had earlier told Sina Okeleji in a report published in Aljazeera of the sacrifices his dad had made to ensure he had a blossoming football career.
His parents often worked several jobs. At one time, his mother Esther had four just to put food on the table for her four sons – Michael, Ola – the second born, Jordan and Benjamin.
When Ola started playing with Chelsea, his dad would pick him up in his shabby car from training after their work shifts, getting back home just before midnight.
Ola would be up for school again the next morning.
The situation got worse when his dad, unable to hold onto jobs because of his commitments to his Ola’s training, lost their house.
“A bleak time for the whole family, and for me,” said Ola told Aljazeera. “That was a life lesson.”
As the Remo Stars versus Bayelsa United match was on, Olufemi Aina while soaking the tension of the duel was also monitoring on-line the proceedings in the English Premier League encounter of Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.
Ola did not feature in the match as he is still nursing the injury he had during the Africa Cup of Nations last month, his father was still interested in the son’s club’s fortunes.
He later called him while Ola was in the club’s bus returning to the hotel after their 1-0 home loss.
Ola’s father said that knowing that top flight football is now played in his home town is enough encouragement for him to often come home. “Ola too, will be here to see what is happening in our ancestral home, Mr Aina said.
Rivers United head coach and technical manager, Finidi George, has praised young defender Ochiobi Elias following his outstanding performance in the club’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The left-back, who played the full 90 minutes, was instrumental in helping Rivers United maintain a clean sheet, marking one of his most confident outings since his promotion to the senior squad.
Finidi, visibly impressed after the match, revealed that his decision to give Elias a full game was driven by trust in the player’s potential, despite his limited minutes earlier in the season.
“I think he did well. Normally, we should have been bringing him in gradually — maybe 15 minutes before giving him a 90-minute match,” Finidi said. “But I trust him, and I’ve spoken to him. He should be relaxed, calm down, and play his football.”
The coach also highlighted a near-miss moment when Elias came close to scoring late in the game, a chance Finidi felt could have crowned his stellar performance.
“I think today he would have scored a goal at the last moment, but he still wanted to square the ball, look for somebody,” Finidi added. “I’m quite happy with his performance, and we will keep encouraging him to do better. I am very, very pleased.”
Elias, a product of the Rivers United youth team that won the NPFL Youth League in 2024, has been gradually integrated into the first team under Finidi’s guidance. His performance on Wednesday is seen as a major step forward in his development and a sign of his growing confidence.
The youngster is now expected to retain his place in the squad as Rivers United travel to Aba this Sunday for a crucial NPFL clash against Enyimba.
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Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup, GTI Group, have congratulated the football governing body on the successful hosting of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a press statement issued on Friday in Lagos, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, lauded the NFF Board under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the smooth conduct of the AGM and the significant progress made in Nigerian football development.
According to Ekejiuba, the Ibadan meeting reflected Gusau’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and strengthening unity across the football ecosystem.
“GTI Group congratulates the Nigeria Football Federation on the successful outcome of its Annual General Meeting held in Ibadan, which the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, used the occasion to demonstrate his commitment to engaging positively with football stakeholders, including state football associations, clubs and fans,” he said.
“His interactions with the various groups at the AGM showcased his impactful leadership and dedication to promoting Nigerian football and fostering a collaborative environment.”
Ekejiuba also highlighted the Super Falcons’ recent achievements and the growth of domestic competitions, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), as key milestones recorded under Gusau’s leadership. GTI serves as a strategic partner of the NPFL, supporting its structural and commercial transformation.
The statement further expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for their hospitality and support during the AGM. Ekejiuba noted the governor’s commendation of the improved standard of refereeing in the NPFL under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye.
However, GTI also used the opportunity to express disappointment over the early exit of Kwara United and Abia Warriors from the CAF Confederation Cup, urging Nigerian clubs to raise their competitive standards on the continental stage.
“It is unfortunate that both Kwara United and Abia Warriors crashed out at the preliminary phase of the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend. This clearly shows that Nigerian clubs must raise their game in order to compete favourably,” the statement read.
“The future remains bright, but that is why GTI has been calling on Corporate Nigeria to invest more in our football, just as is done in thriving leagues across the world.”
Ekejiuba also extended words of encouragement to Remo Stars and Rivers United, who are still flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Champions League.
“We encourage them to dig deep and remain focused to ensure successful campaigns. They should give Nigerian football fans something to cheer this season because we understand how demanding continental competitions can be,” he concluded.
GTI Group reaffirmed its continued commitment to working closely with the NFF to advance football development, promote professionalism, and attract sustainable investment into the Nigerian game.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has queried Warri Wolves following reports of the suspension of their head coach, Aluma Napoleon, faulting the club’s failure to comply with established procedures for contracting and registering technical officials.
In a letter titled “Notarization and Registration of Contracts” and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body directed the Delta-based club to regularize all contractual documentation with its technical and management staff in line with NPFL regulations.
The NPFL’s letter stated:
“Information reaching us from the media space suggests that the Delta State Sports Commission has suspended your head coach, Mr. Aluma Napoleon, with immediate effect.”
Citing Sections B, Articles 6 and 11 of the NPFL 2025/26 Framework and Rules, the league reminded Warri Wolves that all clubs are required to submit notarized contracts of their officials for registration and record purposes.
“You are, however, in breach of these sections as Warri Wolves FC have not submitted the contracts of its officials to the League Board. You are hereby requested, within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, to submit all relevant contracts of your technical team, including that of the assumed suspended head coach, Mr. Napoleon Aluma, to the NPFL Secretariat,” the letter warned.
The NPFL further cautioned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including restricting Warri Wolves’ technical crew from accessing the bench in subsequent league matches.
“Note that failure to comply with this instruction will lead to the restriction of your technical team from accessing the technical area in future NPFL matches,” the league stated.
In a related statement to NPFL Media, COO Davidson Owumi stressed that the Warri Wolves case was not isolated, adding that all clubs yet to register the contracts of their technical officials must do so without delay.
“I must admonish all coaches to get hold of their contracts and lodge a report with the NPFL when there is a violation of the terms. It is the responsibility of the aggrieved to petition the league at all times,” Owumi emphasized.
The NPFL has been tightening administrative controls in recent seasons to ensure transparency, professionalism, and adherence to contractual obligations across all participating clubs.
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