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Enugu Rangers open four-point lead

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Enugu Rangers open four-point lead

As Doma Utd drops into the bottom four

 

Doma United FC

 

Rangers took advantage of the slip by Remo Stars who were in second place before the start of Matchday 33 in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to go four points at the top of the standings on Sunday, George Akpayen reports for the NPFL.

 

The Flying Antelopes saw off Bayelsa United 3-0 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu but Remo Stars despite their late rally to salvage a result at Kwara United fell short 2-3 on the day.

 

Godwin Obaje helped himself to a double when he scored on 41 and 66 minutes before Chiedozie Okorie netted in the 68th minute to complete the rout over Bayelsa United. Rangers now have 60 points, four ahead of the chasing pack.

 

It was not a good day in the office for Remo Stars as they saw their ambition of a first-ever league title suffer a setback. Daniel Ogunmodede’s men trailed to two goals off Wasiu Alalade and Isaiah Ejeh at the break.

 

Things got worse for Remo Stars five minutes to full-time when Ahmed Akinyele scored an own goal to make it three-nil to Kwara United before late goals from Franck Mawuena and Dayo Ojo only offered the Sky Blue Stars a respectable 3-2 scoreline.

 

Titleholders Enyimba jumped into second place after edging past Abia Warriors 1-0 in the Abia Derby. Bernard Ovoke came off the bench to score the winner inside the final 20 minutes of the game at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

 

Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) remained in fourth place after a thrilling 2-2 draw at Katsina United. Gbenga Ogunbote’s team was seconds away from a third win on the road before Michael Egbe scored late in added time to deny them the full points.

 

Moses Effiong opened the scoring on 15 minutes for Katsina United before 3SC turned things around through Daddy Abdulrahman and Mustapha Agba’a on 32 and 61 minutes respectively.

 

At the Lafia City Stadium, Akwa United put up a brilliant performance to inflict a first home loss on Lobi Stars this season. Akwa United won 2-1 through Sani Suleiman’s brace of goals on 20 and 68 minutes before Abubakar Aliyu scored for Lobi 15 minutes to the end of the game. The win moves the Promise Keepers out of the drop zone.

 

The other game of the matchweek that produced five goals saw Rivers United thrash Sporting Lagos 4-1. Andy Okpe scored twice while Ghanaian Samuel Antwi and NPFL Youth League star Seiyefa Jackson got among the goals. Tochukwu Michael scored for Sporting Lagos.

 

In the bottom-two fixture, Heartland overcame Gombe United 3-0. Promise Anyanwu scored twice and Chukwudi Esobe completed the scoring.

 

Mustapha Ibrahim Yuga, Ibrahim Babawo, and Suleiman Idris scored in the Kano Pillars’ 3-1 win over Doma United, who have now fallen into the bottom end of the table after their impressive start to this season. Usman Musa scored for Doma United.

 

Two games ended goalless. Sunshine Stars and Bendel Insurance played out a scoreless draw in Akure while Sunday Anthony will rue his penalty miss for Plateau United who could not breach the backline of Niger Tornadoes.

 

NPFL Youth League star shines

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NPFL Youth League star shines

 Seiyefa scores in senior debut for Rivers Utd

 

Top scorer of the last edition of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Youth League, Seiyefa Jackson got his senior career off to a flyer when he came off the bench to score in Rivers United’s 4-1 win over Sporting Lagos on Sunday, George Akpayen reports for the NPFL.

 

Seiyefa was named in Rivers United’s matchday squad by Rivers United head coach Evans Ogenyi after he impressed during the buildup to the Matchday 33 fixture against Sporting Lagos.

 

The youngster started from the bench and at some point, it looked like his senior debut would be put on hold after Sporting Lagos held Rivers United to a 1-1 draw at the break after Tochukwu Michael scored from the spot to cancel Samuel Antwi’s strike for United.

 

However, two goals from in-form striker Andy Okpe before the final 20 minutes handed Rivers United a two-goal cushion and Ogenyi decided to throw Seiyefa into the mix.

 

Five minutes after coming off the bench to replace his captain Nyima Nwagua, the youngster scored his first NPFL goal on his debut to make the scoreline 4-1 to Rivers United.

 

Seiyefa showed why he finished the NPFL Youth League in March this year as the top scorer with four goals that helped play a major part in ensuring Rivers United won the youth league championship.

 

Rivers United’s number 38 is likened to former Nigerian international Obafemi Martins for his pace and power.

 

 

NPFL Matchday 33 set for action

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NPFL Matchday 33 set for action

Match officials & TV schedule

 

 

All 10 fixtures for this match week will hold on Sunday including an early kickoff in Jos, where Plateau United play host to Niger Tornadoes. The Final Stretch of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season is now activated. There will be six LIVE matches altogether for this game on NPFL-Live and StarTimes. Here are the match officials appointed for Matchweek 33.

 

Sunday, May 26, 2024

RANGERS v BAYELSA UNITED

Referee: Alfa Sadiq

Assistant Referee 1: Shehu Isah

Assistant Referee 2: Musa Hussaini Talle

Fourth official: Friday Abu

Kick-off: 4 pm

Venue: Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu

 

RIVERS UNITED v SPORTING LAGOS

Referee: Precious Kalu

Assistant Referee 1: Zango Mohammed

Assistant Referee 2: Chidiebere Amachaghi

Fourth official: Darlington Nwauzobilom

Kick-off: 4 pm

Venue: Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt

 

ABIA WARRIORS v ENYIMBA (Live on StarTimes & NPFL-Live)

Referee: Qaudri Adejumo

Assistant Referee 1: Austine Onyika

Assistant Referee 2: Damilola Oloyede

Fourth official: Ikechukwu Taiwo

Kick-off: 4:15 pm

Venue: Umuahia Township Stadium, Umuahia

 

KATSINA UNITED v 3SC (Live on NPFL-Live)

Referee: Ahmed Lamido

Assistant Referee 1: Yakubu Garba

Assistant Referee 2: Amos Onuwho

Fourth official: Friday Francis

Kick-off: 4 pm

Venue: Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina

 

SUNSHINE STARS v BENDEL INSURANCE

Referee: Oscar Iwuamadu

Assistant Referee 1: Madugu Aliyu

Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Ezeobele

Fourth official: Abdullahi Shuaibu

Kick-off: 4 pm

Venue: Akure Stadium, Akure

 

HEARTLAND v GOMBE UNITED (Live on NPFL-Live)

Referee: Mustapha Alhassan

Assistant Referee 1: Anu Balogun

Assistant Referee 2: Sani Kassim

Fourth official: Ismaila Rasheed

Kick-off: 4 pm

Venue: Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri

 

LOBI STARS v AKWA UNITED

Referee: Bawa Buhari

Assistant Referee 1: Ghadafi Abubakar

Assistant Referee 2: Abba Dada

Fourth official: Blessing Aransonwa

Kick-off: 4 pm

Venue: Lafia City Stadium, Lafia

 

KANO PILLARS v DOMA UNITED (Live on NPFL-Live)

Referee: Donald Magashi

Assistant Referee 1: Jerry Pam

Assistant Referee 2: Gogo Isah

Fourth official: Gerard Ayam

Kick-off: 4 pm

Venue: Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano

 

KWARA UNITED v REMO STARS (Live on NPFL-Live)

Referee: Abdulmajeed Saidu

Assistant Referee 1: Lukman Mudashiru

Assistant Referee 2: Ifeanyi Ebeneme

Fourth official: Moses Alayemola

Kick-off: 4 pm

Venue: Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin

 

PLATEAU UNITED v NIGER TORNADOES (Live on StarTimes & NPFL-Live)

Referee: Abdulmalik Madaki

Assistant Referee 1: Abba Abubakar

Assistant Referee 2: Yazid Bashir

Fourth official: Sani Abdullahi

Kick-off: 2 pm

Venue: New Jos Stadium, Jos

 

 

Cote d’Ivoire beats Nigeria again

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Cote d’Ivoire beats Nigeria again

WAFU B U17 Championship: Hosts Ghana, Eaglets crash out in semi-finals

 

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Five-time world champions Nigeria and three-time world champions Ghana were eliminated from the WAFU B U17 Championship at the semi-final stage on Saturday, with Burkina Faso getting the better of the host nation and the Baby Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire narrowly sending the Eaglets packing.

 

Burkina Faso was the first team in the final after a 2-1 defeat of the Black Starlets. In the second semi-final, rampaging Cote d’Ivoire scored through Youbah Coulibaly off a defensive mix-up by Nigeria in the 54th minute and that strike separated both teams at the University of Accra Stadium.

 

It was a tough battle for the Eaglets as the Baby Elephants showed greater composure and hunger for the final ticket, and goalkeeper Dominic Chinedu came to the Eaglets’ rescue on several occasions.

 

The result means that the Golden Eaglets have failed to qualify for next year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations, where Africa’s flag-bearers at next year’s FIFA U17 World Cup finals will emerge.  

 

 

NPFL returns for the final stretch

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NPFL returns for the final stretch

Amid battles for the league title & relegation

 

 

By George Akpayen

 

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) returns with a full cast of fixtures this Sunday and it comes with mouthwatering matches involving clubs in the race for survival, title, and continental places.

 

Table-toppers Rangers are the only top-four sides that will play at home this matchweek when they play hosts to Bayelsa United at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu. Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men hold the best form guide in the last six matches alongside Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) going into this matchday (W4 L2). In the reverse fixture, Bayelsa United won 2-0 through goals from Kehinde Malik Lawal and Ekeson Okorie but the Yenagoa club has failed to avoid defeat in their last three visits to Enugu though have scored on all three occasions.

 

Fourth-placed 3SC dropped points against Katsina United the last time out in Ibadan when they played out a 1-1 draw. Gbenga Ogunbote will however lead 3SC to the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium without their influential captain Taofeek Malomo who is suspended for this fixture. Andrew Idoko is the man to watch in this contest as he has scored in all of Katsina United’s last four home matches which they have won.

 

Chasing a first title, Remo Stars will make a trip to Ilorin to face Kwara United, who are undefeated in their last five matches (W2 D3). The Sky Blue Stars who currently sit in second place with 56 points, one behind leaders Rangers, will be relieved that they will go head-to-head with Kwara United without their top scorer this season, Emmanuel Ogbole who is suspended. Last time out, Olamilekan Adedayo and Samad Kadiri scored to ensure Remo Stars won 2-0.

 

Titleholders Enyimba start the matchday in third place and four points behind the leaders. The People’s Elephant will begin life without Finidi George in the saddle after he got appointed as Nigeria’s head coach by the country’s football federation. His assistant, Yemi Olanrewaju Daniel steps in as head coach till the end of this campaign. They make the short trip to city rivals, Abia Warriors for the Abia Derby. Enyimba have dominated the head-to-head of this derby, losing just once in their last 10 league meetings (W8 D1 L1). When both teams met this season, Abia Warriors lost 1-2 after Chimezie Njoku managed a late goal for them after their more decorated opponents took a two-goal lead through Eze Ekwutoziam and Chidiebere Nnachi.

 

At the other end of the standings, the bottom two sides, Heartland and Gombe United go head-to-head at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri. Already NPFL pundits have written off both clubs’ chances of beating the drop. Heartland is 10 points below safety while Gombe United is 14 points adrift. In the first meeting this season, Gombe United defeated Heartland 2-0 with Umar Abba and Chijioke Alaekwe scoring the goals. The Savannah Scorpions will head to Owerri undefeated in their last five league meetings with Heartland (W3 D2) including drawing in their last two visits. It will be another wonder of the World if both teams survive relegation in the competitive NPFL.

 

Champions in 2021, Akwa United, find themselves below the red line and in trouble of being relegated. They play on the road at Lobi Stars where they have failed to avoid defeat in their last 12 trips. The Promise Keepers have a Herculean task at hand but will draw inspiration from the fact that Lobi has struggled in their last seven NPFL games, winning just once (W1 D3 L3). Akwa United head coach, Mohammed Baba Ganaru, who worked with Lobi last season before leaving, is confident of helping the Uyo club avoid the drop.

 

“We are confident going to face them (Lobi Stars),” began Baba Ganaru. “I have worked with Lobi so I know them and about Akwa (United) going on relegation that won’t happen. We will play in the NPFL next season, I can assure the fans that.”

 

Four other matches will also take place on Sunday in the NPFL including an early kickoff in Jos where Plateau United plays host to Niger Tornadoes.

 

MATCHDAY 33 FIXTURES

Rangers v Bayelsa United

Rivers United v Sporting Lagos

Abia Warriors v Enyimba (Live on StarTimes & NPFL-Live)

Katsina United v 3SC (Live on NPFL-Live)

Sunshine Stars v Bendel Insurance

Heartland v Gombe United (Live on NPFL-Live)

Lobi Stars v Akwa United

Kano Pillars v Doma United (Live on NPFL-Live)

Kwara United v Remo Stars (Live on NPFL-Live)

Plateau United v Niger Tornadoes (Live on StarTimes & NPFL-Live)

 

 

Eaglets cruise into semi-finals

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Eaglets cruise into semi-finals

WAFU B U17 Championship: Set to face Baby Elephants

 

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets sailed majestically into the semi-finals of the ongoing WAFU B U17 Championship in Ghana with a 3-0 whiplash of Togo’s Baby Sparrow Hawks, that catapulted them to the top of group B and set the stage for a last-four confrontation with the Baby Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire. The match, which should have been played on Wednesday evening, was postponed to Thursday morning after the venue became water-logged following a heavy downpour.

 

Forward Abdulmuiz Adeleke came up big in the morning encounter with a brace, while Rapha Adams did his rising reputation no harm with his second of the tournament.

 

Adeleke fluffed an opportunity to put Nigeria ahead in the 6th minute, but made no mistake five minutes later with an assist from Abdulmuiz Oladimeji, to emburden a Togolese side that had lost its previous two games in the championship.

 

Adams, the scorer of the lone goal that earned the five-time world champions all the points against the Niger Republic on Sunday, got close in the 20th minute off a pass from Oladimeji, but his hit missed the target.

 

The forward would make no mistake 15 minutes later, nodding home a sublime pull-out by captain Simon Cletus.

 

Adeleke got his brace and Nigeria’s third in the 57th minute, off another assist from captain Cletus.

 

The forward should have made it a hat-trick but fluffed a penalty kick awarded to the Eaglets in the 68th minute.

 

Nigeria’s Edward Ochigbo was selected as Player of the Match.

 

The victory meant the Golden Eaglets finished as group B winners, following Burkina Faso’s 1-0 defeat of Niger Republic in the other match of the pool.

 

Nigeria will now clash with Cote d’Ivoire in the second semi-final on Saturday evening (7 pm Nigeria time), after the first semi-final between Ghana and Burkina Faso.

 

Eaglets face Togo in crucial tie

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Eaglets face Togo in crucial tie

WAFU B U17 Championship: Manu insists Nigeria will gun for three points against a familiar foe

 

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Coach Manu Garba has reiterated that Nigeria’s U17 ream will go for a win in Wednesday’s group B final encounter in Accra even though a draw will be good enough to see the five-world champions through to the semi-finals.

 

“We are not here to be drawing matches. I am not happy that we drew our first match against Burkina Faso. We should have scored several goals, especially towards the end but we cannot cry over spilt milk.

 

“We got the three points against Niger Republic, and we have to keep at the winning mentality. We cannot afford to gamble; a win is what we are going for. Even though they lost their first two matches, we cannot afford to under-rate the Togolese. They got two goals against Niger Republic, even though they eventually lost, so they are not a team to be taken for granted.”

 

Cup holders Golden Eaglets will finish top of the pile if they win against the Togolese at the Accra Sports Stadium and fellow group leaders Burkina Faso fail to get the better of Niger Republic at the University of Accra Stadium in games that will be played simultaneously.

 

Victory for Nigeria, and draw or defeat for the Burkinabes, will mean the Eaglets avoid in-form Black Starlets of Ghana, who are expected to top group A, in the last-four confrontations.

 

President Federation Cup: Enters round of 32

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President Federation Cup: Enters round of 32

Big teams face minnows in acid-test matches across the nation

 

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Several teams in the top-tier Nigeria Premier Football League countenance exit from this year’s President Federation Cup as the Round of 32 matches are held across the country on Wednesday and Thursday.

 

Former champions Lobi Stars and Shooting Stars battle in Awka while holders Bendel Insurance are up in arms against Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as Plateau United and Sunshine Stars test might also in Abuja.

 

Katsina United squared up to Bayelsa United in Abuja as well, while CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finalists Rivers United threw their weight up against Niger Tornadoes.

 

Giant-killers Hammola FC and Inter Lagos are at each other’s jugular in Ibadan. At the same time, former CAF Champions League winners Enyimba must guard their loins against free-scoring FC One Rocket in Yenagoa. Enugu is the battleground for the confrontation between Warri Wolves and Kwara United.        

 

MEN’S ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES

 

Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) – Abuja Area 3 – 22/05/24 – 4pm

EFCC FC (FCT) Vs Edel FC (Anambra) – Ilorin – 22/05/24 – 4pm

ABS FC (Kwara) Vs Kebbi United (Kebbi) – Abuja Goal Project – 23/05/24 – 4pm

Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara) – Abuja Bwari – 23/05/24 – 4pm

Gombe United (Gombe) Vs El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) – Kaduna – 22/05/24 – 4pm

Lobi Stars (Benue) Vs Shooting Stars (Oyo) – Awka – 22/05/24 – 4pm

Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Coal City (Enugu) – Benin City – 23/05/24 – 4pm

Hammola Int’l (Osun) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos) – Ibadan – 22/05/24 – 4pm

Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Kwara United (Kwara) – Enugu – 22/05/24 – 4pm

Abia Warriors (Abia) Vs Sporting Supreme (FCT) – Benin City – 22/05/24 – 4pm

Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Sokoto United (Sokoto) – Kano – 22/05/24 – 4pm

FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) Vs Enyimba FC (Abia) – Yenagoa – 22/05/24 – 4pm

Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Sunshine Stars (Ondo) – Abuja Goal Project – 22/05/24 – 4pm 

Rivers United (Rivers) Vs Niger Tornadoes (Niger) – Auchi – 22/05/24 – 4pm

Katsina United (Katsina) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) – Abuja Bwari – 22/05/24 – 4pm

Doma United (Gombe) Vs Kano Pillars (Kano) – Bauchi – 22/05/24 – 4pm

 

Pep Guardiola replies Jurgen Klopp

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Pep Guardiola replies Jurgen Klopp

 After Liverpool’s boss brought up Manchester City charges

 

Pep Guardiola has led Manchester City to four successive Premier League titlesPep Guardiola has led Manchester City to four successive Premier League titles (Image: Getty Images)

 

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola had some kind words for Jurgen Klopp after the Liverpool boss completed his final match in charge of the side at Anfield on Sunday, Scott Trotter reports for The Mirror.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola paid an emotional tribute to departing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, as he was moved to tears when discussing the German coach.

 

Klopp took charge of Liverpool for the final time on Sunday, as Manchester City won their fourth consecutive title, and Guardiola took the time to provide a heartfelt answer about his longtime rival. The City chief’s voice almost broke as he highlighted how significant Klopp’s role has driven him forward.

“I will miss him a lot,” Guardiola said, “Jurgen has been an essential part of my life. He brought me to another level as a manager. We respect each other incredibly.

 

“I have the feeling he will be back and thank you so much for his words but he knows that behind me there is a lot that this club provides me with, otherwise alone I can’t do it. I’m humble enough to understand that.

 

“He helps me with his team, he has been a huge competitor in my life. I didn’t discover the way I can punish them like I can find for other teams. With him, it has been so difficult.

 

“I’m sure Mikel [Arteta] will continue his legacy to drive us to another level. I wish him all the best and hope his final game was special, he deserved it.

“He made Liverpool recognized with his stamp and the incredible pride of being a Liverpool fan. It’s not just about titles, there are personalities that when they arrive in one place they stay forever and Jurgen and Liverpool will be part of the level of Shankly and Paisley and these incredible legends.”

 

Klopp had likewise paid compliment to Guardiola heading into the weekend. The Reds boss suggested the ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager was the best in the world.

The 56-year-old reckons only Guardiola could achieve what he has with Manchester City. “Everybody knows about the 115 charges, but I have no clue what that means,” said Klopp.

 

“I only know the number. Whatever has happened at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world – and that is important.

 

“If you put any other manager in that club, they don’t win the league four times in a row. That’s down to him and his boys. Does that mean they can do what they want? No. But I don’t know what they did – if they did anything – and I’m not here to say they have.

 

‌“We will see. Of course, I would like to know (if City are guilty) one day. Everyone wants to know. But I will be somewhere else. The quality of Pep makes the difference so I don’t worry about these things. We will see. It’s not my problem and I am fine with what we have and what we’ve achieved.”

 

 

Manchester City lifts Premier League trophy

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Manchester City lifts Premier League trophy

As Arsenal settles for less again

 

 

By Ed Emeanua

 

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are again champions of the English Premier League becoming the first team to win the title four times on the trot on Sunday evening.

 

City’s 3-1 defeat of West Ham at the Emirates helped them finish two points ahead of Arsenal who came from behind to hand Everton a 2-1 loss at the Emirates on the final day of the 2023-2024 Premier League season.

 

It was a feature of contrasting fortunes at the Etihad and the Emirates as City reveled in their latest success in sheer joy just as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal gnashed their teeth in sorrow with another distant second-place finish.

 

The City side made certain of not being denied as they set out in style by hammering ahead through Phil Foden’s early first-half brace of goals in the 2nd and 18th minutes at the Etihad against an insipid West Ham defense.

 

Mohammed Kudus halved the lead in the 42nd for the Hammers before Rodrigo Hernández Cascante or Rodri for short, restored the two-goal lead for the champions on the 59th-minute mark of the tie.

 

Meanwhile, at the Emirates, Arsenal posed a less convincing challenger allowing Everton to run amok with Idrisa Gueye finding the net for the visitors in the 40th minute of play.

 

Takehiro Tomiyasu evened the scoreline for the home side in the 43rd minute of play before Kai Havertz’s 89th-minute goal secured the victory for the Gunners.

 

However, City risks a possible points deduction with a likely incident of pitch encroachment by their ecstatic fans who appeared to have encircled the pitch moments before the referee’s final whistle.

 

 

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