Nigerian Football
Nigeria’s NNL gathers momentum at Match Day 17 –
BY PATRICK NGWAOGU
The jungle rumbles In Lafia, as Nasarawa United hosts Elkanemi Warriors. The Matchday 16 Midweek matches were interesting in all ramifications with 29 goals in 18 matches, though with only one away win.
However, as the league gradually gets to an end, teams will endeavor to continue to cover their home front in Matchday 17
CONFERENCE A
Coal City vs Edel
Coal city is hosting their next door neighbors Edel FC. The visitors would be all out to grab the points to improve their chances of going into the Super 8 playoff. But, the home team will also be out to consolidate on their position. But, the end will justify the means.
Abia Comets vs Stomers
An interesting encounter will play out at the Umuahia Township Stadium this weekend. Abia Comets 11 matches unbeaten runs started against the Stomers in Abeokuta in Week 6. Since then, the Umuahia side has remained unbeaten till date. Stomers will try to put a stop to that record, but it will be very difficult for them as Coach Kelvin Ejeh and his boys are going all out to grab the maximum points.
Madiba vs 1472
Madiba will extend their leadership in Group A after this encounter. The guest are not in the right frames of mind, if what happened during the midweek is anything to go by. Though, the match is a local derby one, but the Surulere boys will get more than they bargained for.
Beyond Limit Vs Smart City
This is a match to watch. It will be an end- to -end encounter involving two ball playing teams. Beyond Limit who are on the verge of getting a play off slot will be all out tp out smart the Lagos boys who can pull a surprise any time, any day.
Ekiti Utd vs Dakkada
Ekiti Utd may not have an easy run over Dakkada FC in Ado Ekiti this weekend. The visitors who are experienced enough, having played in the Premiership last season, will be a hard nut for their host to crack. But, at the end, the home team will smile.
CONFERENCE B
FC One Rocket vs Gateway
Gateway takes their unbeaten runs to Uyo. Against FC One Rocket, there is every possibility that the record maybe smashed this weekend.
Ikorodu city vs Tradesafe
Ikorodu city will not spare their visitors at the Mobolaji Johnson stadium this weekend, as their dream of playing in the super eight lies much in this match. The visitors will not go down without a fight, but the home team will smile at last.
Giant Brillars vs Warri Wolves
The seasiders are taking a short trip to Enugu to meet the Giant Brillar boys. The outcome of the match may not have any impact on the group standing, but it would increase the fortunes of both sides.
Crown Vs Solution
Can Solution from Soludo’s home state find solution to their problems in Ibadan, that is the million naira question that will be answered at the end of the ninty minutes at the Lekan Salami Stadium Adamasingba, Ibadan.
Ijebu Utd vs Osun Utd
Coach Festus Allen experience will come to play this weekend in his new job, as his team Ijebu Utd confront high riding Osun United. The Ataoja boys are not ready to drop their guards, unless the unexpected happens in Ijebu ode. A positive result will be a moral booster for Coach Allen on his new job.
CONFERENCE C
ABS vs EFCC
This is a match for two teams that are on the drop zone. Too bad for both teams, as they once played in the Premiership. With few matches to the end of their regular season, both teams can pull a surprise against each other.
NAF vs Mighty Jets
NAF is one of the FCT teams that are relegation bound, unless the unexpected happens. The Air Force boys has alot to play for, but the Jet team is on a familiar terrain in Abuja, and many will not be surprised if the away team run away with a positive result.
Nasarawa Utd vs Elkanemi Warriors
This is the star match of the group. The two top contenders, and the result of the match may likely decides who tops the group. The solid miners will want to remain solid at home, while the visitors will be a hard nut to crack. Lafia City Stadium is the best place to be this weekend.
Wikki Tourists vs Yobe Stars
The home team verge of going for the playoff lies very much in this match. Wikki will be all out to pick the maximum point, while waiting for the results of others.
CONFERENCE D
Mailantariki vs City
A local derby by every standard. Both teams play their matches at the Area 3 playing pitch in Abuja, and more agonizing is that both of them are in the drop zone. So, a positive result for any of the sides may improve their fortune at the end of the day.
Jigawa Golden stars vs Sporting Supreme
Sporting Supreme has a herculean task to accomplish against Jigawa Golden Stars.
The home team are in the red zone, and they will want to escape the drop zone, and this is a match they will want to use in proving that. However, the Sporting Boys from Abuja are respecter of nobody. and I doubt if Jigawa will survive them
Adamawa Utd vs Sokoto Utd
Sokoto United is expected to solidify their play off space this weekend in Gombe. Any slip may see them delaying their celebration till the last day. Adamawa United, will want to use the match to consolidate their position in the league.
Nigerian Football
Remo Stars in jinx-breaking win over Rivers United
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Remo Stars recorded a rare win against Rivers United in what was their first ever defeat of the Port Harcourt side in 10 matches spanning seven years. Monday evening 2-1 win was their first since their maiden encounter with Rivers United in 2017.
Before now, Rivers United had won seven times while three other encounters ended drawn.
The win on Monday put Remo Stars a point behind the table-toppers, Enugu Rangers who will be under severe pressure as Remo Stars aim for their first ever Nigerian Premier League title.
Conceding a last minute goal against Rivers United in last season’s Super 6 encounter was one of the factors that cost Remo Stars the title. Now they put pressure on Enugu Rangers as the race gets to the anchor leg.
Yet it was not an easy win for them as their former star, Andy Okpe was the one that put Rivers United ahead through a penalty kick. He famously scored the winning goal for Rivers United when in the first stanza of the league last year.
He appeared to be hunting his former club again when he was called upon to take the penalty kick after his teammate, Deputy Echeta was fouled in the penalty box in the 18th minute.
The smart kick beat Kayode Bankole to the wrong side and extended Okpe’s goal tally against his former employers after the superb goal in the first leg in Port Harcourt which Rivers United won by two nil.
In the second half, Remo Stars were all over the game with more area covered and it was not a surprise when Haruna Hadi broke the deadlock in the 68th minute to give the home fans a lot to celebrate.
With the match inching towards the final minute, Togolese import, Kwame Mawuena headed home from a corner kick by Adams Olamilekan in the 83rd minute to give the home side the maximum points.
With Monday’s win, Remo Stars moved a point within leaders, Enugu Rangers.
Remo Stars v Rivers United: Past Encounters
3 May 2017 Rivers United 1-0 Remo Stars
13 Aug 2017 Remo Stars 1-3 Rivers United
16 Nov 2017 Rivers United 1-0 Remo Stars
30 Jan 2019 Rivers United 1-0 Remo Stars
31 Mar 2019 Remo Stars 0-1 Rivers United
30 Jan 2022 Remo Stars 1-1 Rivers United
22 May 2022 Rivers United 1-0 Remo Stars
5 May 2023 Rivers United 1-0 Remo Stars
12 Oct 2023 Rivers United 2-0 Remo Stars
Nigerian Football
Nigeria football oxygen provider, GTI congratulates Finidi, new Super Eagles coach
Renowned financial investment firm, GTI Group has joined many well-meaning football-loving Nigerians in congratulating the newly appointed Super Eagles Head Coach, Finidi George. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) recently announced the former Super Eagles winger as substantive head coach of the senior national football team, Super Eagles, following the expiration of Jose Peseiro’s contract in March 2024.
As strategic partners to the NFF on the President Federation Cup and the Nigeria Premier Football League respectively, GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited will continue to play a vital role in helping to reposition and restructure Nigeria’s football ecosystem using international best practices.
“The recent appointment of George is a golden opportunity for another indigenous coach to prove his mettle with our senior national team after Stephen Keshi of blessed memory successfully guided the Super Eagles to the 2013 AFCON triumph in South Africa. Therefore, we call on all stakeholders of Nigerian football to rally round George to ensure his tenure is successful,” said GTI Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba.
It could be recalled that George assisted former coach Peseiro for 20 months during which the Eagles reached the final of the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, but the team lost narrowly to the hosts by 2-1 in the final game.
Renowned for his attacking prowess and deft touches at the wings during his playing days, George began his club football from the local scene, featuring prominently for Calabar Rovers FC of Calabar and Sharks FC of Port Harcourt before heading to Europe. He won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.
George also won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.
Prior to his appointment, Finito as he is fondly called by football fans was in charge of two friendly matches in the March 2024 FIFA window where the Super Eagles edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 2-0 to Mali in the second game.
His first official game will be Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in June and will be followed by the second game against Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively. These are must-win ties for the Super Eagles who are lagging in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.
Nigerian Football
WAFU B U17 Championship: Garba insists technical crew on course to raise formidable squad
Head Coach Many Garba has told thenff.com that the technical crew of Nigeria’s U17 boys, Golden Eaglets that he heads, is firmly on course to raise a squad capable of doing Nigeria proud at the forthcoming WAFU B U17 Championship in Ghana.
The 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup-winning team lead strategist has told Nigerians to discountenance stories of large failures of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests in his team and rather believe that his crew will put together a squad that will do the job of winning a ticket to next year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations from the tournament in Ghana.
“Let me clear the air on this matter. The genuine U17 players, according to their official document made available to the NFF and the MRI tests conducted by the football body are still in the camp preparing for the WAFU B U17 tournament. When the camp opened last month, the very sincere football academies had to withdraw their players after the MRI tests they conducted showed that their players were on Grade 5. These players had to leave the camp immediately.
“Those who were not sincere and thought they could find a way through one way or the other have been exposed after the NFF conducted its own MRI a few days ago, and found the results earlier presented by their players before entering the camp did not tally with the requirements of the NFF. The NFF insists on players whose results are between Grade 1 – 4. Players on Grade 5 have been asked to leave the camp.
Garba denied that his camp had been thrown into confusion due to results of the MRI tests.
“The good news is that most of the players recorded good grades in their MRI results done at the NFF-approved medical centre, and the team is looking forward to a favourable outing at the WAFU B U17 tournament in Accra, Ghana.”
Another MRI test will be conducted by the medical team of the Confederation of African Football before the beginning of the tournament.
The five-time world champions, who are title holders of the WAFU B U17 Championship, will begin the defence of their title against Burkina Faso on the 16 May.
The team has so far played nine friendly games, winning six, drawing two and losing one.
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