Nigerian Football
Shooting Stars, Ifeanyi Ubah Set Ibadan Agog
BY JUBRIL AROWOLO
Some fresh legs are expected to be injected into the Shooting Stars side as they face IfeanyiUbah in a reversed fixture of the last match of the first phase of the league.
Such new boys include Adamu Abubakar, Tambe Charles and Uweru Michael all part of the new signings during the break. Expectations are high from the ever demanding supporters of the Shooting Stars.
Already, Ibadan, the homestead of the club is bubbling with excitement to herald the resumption of the second stanza of the Nigerian Professional Football League after a break.
As such the excitement is in the air in expectations of one of the week 20 fixtures involving the Shooting Stars and FC Ifeanyi Ubah at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba Sunday afternoon.
Both teams closed the first round with the visitors’ 2-1 win in Nnewi few weeks ago.
The recess has afforded both teams the chances to reassess their set up with necessary amendments and that’s what will be on display as they slug it out for the three maximum points.
For Shooting Stars, it is much more than three points as they must put to a stop to the continued dominance of FC IfeanyiUbah in their last five meetings in Nnewi and Ibadan.
Freshly in mind was the manner in which the Ibadan team lost 1-2 in Nnewi during the week 19 tie despite Sunday Faleye’s early minute goal before a red to Ayobami Junior and two penalty kick awards changed the tide in favour of Anambra Warriors!
Many believed that the outcome of the match did not justify real situation and time is now for Fatai Amoo and his technical crew to prove that in front their ever reliable home fans!
The team is fortified with five new players and with the bulk of the first team players still intact, the coaches have full arsenal to fight this battle of Warriors!
“We have our old players back and they are blending with the team. Full house now and we only need to take our chances and Ifeanyi Ubah will be in for it”, quoting Technical Adviser, Fatai Amoo, ahead of today’s game.
A check by www.3sc.com.ng reveals a team in high spirit and buoyed by the Friday event inside the University of Ibadan courtesy of 3SC-UI Supporters Club, the players must give the teeming home fans sweet victory!
On the other hands, FC IfeanyiUbah are in Ibadan making a loud noise about their determination not to leave the stadium empty handed!
However, it a make or mar for the two teams but Shooting Stars should give it all to emerge victorious and swim out of its current 17 position with just 22 points after the first round!
Enugu Rangers on Sunday beat Plateau United 2-0 to hold on at the top of the Nigeria Premier League. They extended their point haul to 57, two points ahead of their Oriental brothers, Enyimba who also beat Katsina United 1-0 to keep the chase for the title very hot.
Initial second placed team, Remo Stars dropped to the third position but still in contention for either the title, but at worse a continental ticket for next season.
Following Shooting Stars 2-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars in a South West derby, the top four positions of the are now held by the South East and South West as the league gets into its closing stage.
While Rangers and Enyimba are first and second at the moment, Remo Stars, though with an outstanding home game are third while their fellow westerners, Shooting Stars are fourth.
The weekend’s results:
Rivers United 2-0 Katsina United
Remo Stars 3-0 Niger Tornadoes
Doma United 0-0 Kwara United
Bendel Insurance 1-0 Heartland
Enugu Rangers 2-0 Plateau United
Shooting Stars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
Akwa United 3-0 Kano Pillars
Enyimba 1-0 Katsina United
Gombe United 3-2 Lobi Stars
Sporting Lagos 4-2 Abia Warriors
Remo Stars on Friday inch closer to achieving their first ever title in the Nigeria elite division league after beating visiting Niger Tornadoes 3-0 to move second on the log and just a point behind league leaders, Enugu Rangers.
Remo Stars are now with 53 points and still have an outstanding home game to play.
Friday’s win which comes on the eve of the proprietor’s birthday has put the team back into contention for the title.
They have progressively become prominent in the Nigerian premier league having placed third two seasons ago and second last season.
Top finish this season will confirm their progression and also a third consecutive continental outing.
Top scorer, Sikiru Alimi launched them of victory path as his 28th minute penalty kick heralded their return to high scoring ways.
It has been a while since they scored high in the league. Barely three minutes later, Sikiru, a contender for the top scorer award increased the tally to two.
Ahmed Akinyele completed the route in the 75th minute.
Nigerian Football
Nigeria face tough defence as Burkina Faso lie in wait at U17 WAFU B AFCON qualifiers
Defending champions Nigeria have been handed a difficult path to the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations finals after being drawn in the same group as Burkina Faso for next month’s WAFU B qualifying tournament in Ghana.
The Golden Eaglets, who won the last edition of the regional championship in 2022, will also face Togo and Niger in Group B of the competition which runs from 15-28 May.
Hosts Ghana find themselves in Group A alongside Cote d’Ivoire and Benin in a tough-looking section of the competition to be played in Accra.
The draw was conducted by 1970s Ivorian football legends Kobenan Kouman and Die Foneye at the Ivorian FA headquarters in Abidjan on Friday.
Nigeria claimed their WAFU B U17 AFCON title by defeating Burkina Faso 2-1 in the regional final in Ghana two years ago.
However, they will need to overcome some familiar foes if they are to defend their crown and with the Burkina Faso finishing third at the last TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations, some exciting matches are expected.
Arch-rivals Nigeria and Ghana are among the two favourites and could meet in the final in Accra on 28 May, should they top their respective groups and make it through the semi-finals.
Ghana also have pedigree at this level, having the World Cup in 1991 and 1995 as they bid to reach the U17 AFCON finals on home soil.
The top two teams from the WAFU B tournament will qualify for next year’s U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Groups:
Group A: Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin
Group B: Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Togo, Niger.
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