Nigerian Football

Now push comes to shove as the NPFL enters home stretch –

Published

2 months ago

April 4, 2024

Now push comes to shove as the NPFL enters home stretch -

BY HARRY IWUALA

All things being equal, save for outstanding matches of Rivers United, there is barely 10 match days to go before this season expires.

A section of followers of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) appear overly excited by results of away teams and are given to adjudging the league to have improved when teams win on the road. On the other hand, they hit hard at organisers when all home teams win their games.

To some analysts, wins away from home are indicative of fair and firm officiating, which they conclude is a benchmark for a developed league. And to these, total home wins on a matchday suggests that Referees have been compromised or intimidated.

None of the above scenarios are perfect and absolute as there are exceptions to all. Firstly, it has been argued by some that the major reason for home and away routines of the league is to enable all clubs that advantage of their home ground. It is for this reason that mostly exceptionally strong squads grind out results no matter where they play.

In our unique environment where several factors come to play, strong squads find themselves struggling at away games after travelling long distances on bad roads that leave them knackered.

The human error factor on the part of Referees also contributes to the blips in expectations even as it is not out of place to have manipulated officiating occasioned by home supporters shenanigans.

The stats since the resumption of the second stanza defies popular projections of what usually obtains at this time of the season. Usually, the last lap of the season sees lots of desperate acts by teams to win by all means to either place in the continental ticket bracket or escape relegation.

The most astonishing result has been those of Bayelsa United, Niger Tornadoes, Akwa United and Doma United. So far, there has been 11 away wins from Matchday 20 to 28 with Heartland, Akwa United, Doma United and Niger Tornadoes featuring in at least two defeats at home.

On the other hand, Akwa United and Niger Tornadoes have also popped up on two away wins respectively in the period under review. Plateau United which recorded the biggest away win of 5-1 against Heartland on Matchday 22 would go on to lose at home 1-2 to Akwa United on Matchday 27.

At the bottom of the log, Heartland has been the donor team of the season both in number of defeats at home and goals conceded.

Another interesting perspective to the stats from Matchday 20-28 I’d the number of drawn games which has reduced the home supremacy syndrome. There has been 20 drawn games in 82 fixtures covering Matchday 20-28. This means that home teams have not been able to win in 31 games in nine matchdays.

Chairman of the NPFL, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye described the development as evidence that “the NPFL is increasingly evolving into a very competitive league and that the zero tolerance for intimidation of Match officials is yielding expected results.

Elegbeleye commended Referees for their courage in interpreting the rules to the book, remarking that, “While we have called out those that performed below par, it is fair to also commend the rest who have been at their best.

“I am particularly proud of the officials who took charge of Heartland vs Plateau United on Matchday 22 and those in charge of Bendel Insurance vs Niger Tornadoes in Wednesday’s Matchday 28. They showed exceptional courage in the face of home supporters pressure”, declared the NPFL Chairman.

Bamidele Johnson, a follower of Shooting Stars for decades, expressed delight at the competitive direction of the league. Johnson, who played a significant role in the organisation of the hugely acclaimed Naija Super 8 tournament that drew a large crown in Lagos, would go on to praise the NPFL players for defying vociferous home crowds to post good results.

“It is a remarkable feat to travel and win amidst hostile home crowd and I am delighted that the NPFL is now having a good share of such results”, Johnson told NPFL Media.

On a post in his Facebook page, Bimbo Adeola, a core Rangers International supporter celebrated the Enugu side’s 9 games unbeaten run including five on the road. Rangers have won away at Doma United, Niger Tornadoes and Heartland with two draws, one each at home and away.

In a deplay of rare confidence in the organisation of the NPFL, Adeola, a Sports Journalist and Media Entrepreneur wrote, “We are Rangers, we win everywhere we go”.

Away Wins & Draws in 2nd Round

Matchday 20

Heartland 1-1 Kano Pillars
Sunshine Stars 1-1 Kwara United
Abia Warriors 0-0 Remo Stars

Matchday 21

Doma United 0-1 Rangers
Kwara United 1-1 Katsina United
Bendel Insurance 0-0 Enyimba
Plateau United 0-0 3SC
Akwa United 0-1 Bayelsa United

Matchday 22

Heartland 1-5 Plateau United

Matchday 23

Heartland 1-1 Sunshine Stars
Niger Tornadoes 0-2 Rangers
Doma United 0-0 Sporting Lagos
Kano Pillars 0-1 Abia Warriors
Gombe United 1-1 3SC

Matchday 24

Katsina United 1-1 Heartland
Bayelsa United 0-1 Niger Tornadoes
Rivers United 1-1 Kano Pillars
Rangers 0-0 Kwara United
Abia Warriors 1-1 Lobi Stars

Matchday 25

Doma United 0-1 3SC
Kano Pillars 1-1 Rangers

Matchday 26

Abia Warriors 0-0 Sunshine Stars
Gombe United 1-1 Akwa United

Matchday 27

Lobi Stars 1-1 Bayelsa United
Plateau United 1-2 Akwa United
Heartland 1-2 Rangers
Doma United 1-1 Gombe United

Matchday 28

Bendel Insurance 1-3 Niger Tornadoes
Sporting Lagos 1-1 Lobi Stars
Akwa United 0-1 Doma United
Gombe United 0-0 Remo Stars

Nigerian Football

Nigeria’s broadcast icon, Danladi Bako hails NFF on choice of Finidi George

Published

6 days ago

May 14, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Nigerian broadcasting icon, Dr. Nasir Danladi Bako has praised the Nigeria Football Federation for settling for former international and ex-Enyimba FC strategist Finidi George as Head Coach of the Super Eagles.

The Kogunan Sakwatto, 66, who created a plethora of famous TV programmes including Morning Ride, Mastersports and Second Chance, among others, and served as Special Adviser to a number of Sports Ministers many years ago, insisted the NFF leadership struck a bull’s eye with the appointment of the two-time FIFA World Cup star, stating that George oozes class and character, and an iron determination to succeed despite his public carapace of a quiet person.

“Finidi George has that cultured, disciplined mien and personality that makes you want to trust him with a big project. He understands the meaning of constituted authority and right from his playing days, has always displayed the attribute of a team player. He has always had that calm, collected nature even in the face of pressure or danger.

“Above all, he is not someone who thinks he is doing the nation a favour. He is grateful for the opportunity and I believe that he has all it takes to succeed. I am calling on the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, the NFF and Nigerians as a whole to support him to take the Super Eagles to brand-new heights.”

Bako, who holds a doctorate degree in development communication from the Ahmadu Bello University and was Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission between 1999 and 2002, says all hands must now be on deck to ensure victories in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic on 7 June and 11 June respectively.

“No doubt, the NFF got this one appointment right. Very much on point. Now, they should endeavour to give George all the support he needs to succeed in his task of qualifying Nigeria for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”

Nigerian Football

Nigeria’s sports minister, Enoh applauds NFF for ‘buying local material’

Published

7 days ago

May 13, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Sports Minister Enoh (left) and NFF President Gusau (right) unveil Finidi.

Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh on Monday praised the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation for settling for an indigenous Head Coach for the Super Eagles, despite the plethora of foreign tacticians who applied for the job.

Enoh, who spoke at the unveiling ceremony of the Eagles’ new substantive Head Coach, Finidi George at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, charged the NFF to give the former winger all the support to succeed, while also soliciting the support of all Nigerians for the new helmsman.

“As a student of the University of Calabar in those days, I used to go to the UJ Esuene Stadium to watch Calabar Rovers, which included Finidi George. I am excited to see him seated here as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles.”

President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau exuded delight with the ‘new chapter’ the Federation is opening about the Nigeria game, saying the football-governing body is determined to fully support George and his assistants to lead the Super Eagles to new heights.

“When we returned from the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, we began the search for a new Head Coach. There was a plethora of foreign applicants, far more than the indigenous applicants. However, we undertook a thorough process that has produced an indigenous Coach and we are very happy about that. Finidi George was part of the technical crew that came close to winning the AFCON, and we have faith in him that he will lead the team to the title next time.

“Our objective now is to ensure the enthronement of excellence at all levels of the National Teams.”

Nigerian Football

No more bench-warmers in the Super Eagles, says Finidi George

Published

7 days ago

May 13, 2024

Kunle Solaja

New man on the managerial saddle of the Super Eagles, Finidi George has stated that he will invite for international assignments, only players who feature regularly at their clubs either in Nigeria or in the diaspora, and promised that the Super Eagles will remain even more competitive in the years ahead.