After playing out a disappointing goalless draw against Bendel Insurance last weekend, left back Ikouwem Udo Utin is looking forward to a response from his Enyimba team when they face Kwara United in Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League fixture. Enyimba’s privilege of playing consecutive matches on home turf presents the chance to make amends for […]
via IKOUWEM UDO EXPECTS ENYIMBA BOUNCE BACK AGAINST KWARA UNITED — finixsportsblog
The IAAF today announced the appointment of Jon Ridgeon as its new CEO following approval by the IAAF Council on the first day of its 215th Council Meeting in Monaco. Ridgeon, 51, has spent his life in sport, starting out as an athlete competing in both the 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles between 1984 and […] […]
Concerned stakeholders have continued to express optimism about the future of Bendel Insurance in Nigerian football. The gunners as the once high riding team are known has continued to languish in the lower rungs of Nigerian league. And not even the renewed interest shown by the state government in the just concluded season, was enough […]
via Bendel Insurance Shall Bounce Back – Edeoghon — newfanzoneblog
ABIA COMETS’ PROMISE SCORES FASTEST GOAL AS NNL ACTIONS RESUME…,Kogi United wallops Kaduna United 4-1 in Lokoja
Abia Comets’ Promise Ogu at the weekend scored what has been officially confirmed to be the fastest goal in the 2014/2015 season of the Nigerian National League (NNL) as his less than one minute strike set the host on course to grind out a 2-1 victory over visiting Ikorodu United FC at Umuahia Township Stadium.
Ogu breached Ikorodu United’s tight defence in 26 seconds when he sneaked into the opponent’s box to tuck the ball into the net to the surprise of the visitors and even the home fans that were still making their way into the stands before the goal was scored. NNL secretary, Lawrence Katken confirmed Ogu’s goal as the fastest so far in the league.
Although Ikorodu United got one goal back, Comets scored the second goal to pick the three maximum points on offer to ensure their dream of gaining promotion to the Premier League division at the end of the NNL season.
Meanwhile, NNL actions resumed at the weekend with Kogi United whitewashing Kaduna United 4-1t Lokoja Township Stadium just as Plateau United walloped Supreme Court FC of Abuja 3-0 in Jos to maintain its top position in Division A1.
Elsewhere, Jigawa Golden Stars beat their opponents Spotlight FC 1-0 at Hadeija Township Stadium while FRSC FC defeated struggling Gombe United 1-0 at Area 3 Sports Ground in Abuja. Also, troubled Go-Round FC piped Crown FC of Ogbomosho 1-0 at Krisdera Stadium in Omoku, Rivers State.
Prime FC at the Ede Polytechnic, Ede in Osun state compounded the woes of Bussdor FC with a lone goal victory while travelling MFM FC of Lagos grinded out a 1-1 draw with Atiba United at Soun Stadium, Ogbomosho.
But First Bank FC of Lagos hammered Nembe City 2-1 at Agege Township Stadium while GateWay FC beat Julius Atete 1-0 in Abeokuta at the MKO Abiola Stadium.
NNL WEEK 8 RESULTS
DIVISION A1
Kogi Utd 4 vs 1 Kaduna Utd
Jigawa Stars 1 vs 0 Spotlight FC
Plateau Utd 3 vs 0 Supreme Court FC
DIVISION A2
FRSC FC 1 vs 0 Gombe Utd
DIVISION B1
Go-Round 1 vs 0 Crown FC
Prime FC 1vs 0 Bussdor FC
Abia Comet 2 vs I Ikorodu Utd
DIVISION B2
Firstbank 2 vs1 Nembe City
Gateway Utd 1 vs 0 J. Atete FC
Atiba Utd 1 vs 1 MFM FC
Akwa Starlet 0 vs 0 Bendel Insurance
It was a sweet victory for many home teams at the weekend with Julius Atete FC and Mountain of Fire (MFM) FC defeating their opponents with wide goals margins to consolidate their positions on the league table as the Nigeria National League (NNL) goes on a two weeks break.
Promotion-seeking J. Atete ran goals riot against hapless Gateway FC of Abeokuta as the host beat the visiting team 4-1 in what could be described as a one-sided match of the weekend.
Also, MFM which has the full compliments of its players who went on national duties with Flying Eagles went goals berserk by scoring three un-replied goals against Atiba United at the Agege Township Stadium, Lagos.
Elsewhere, Bendel Insurance FC thrashed Akwa Starlets FC 2-1 to grab the three full points to brighten their chances of getting to the top of their group at the end of the season.
In Ogbomosho, Crown FC humbled fumbling Go-Round FC of Omoku 1-0 to compound the woes of the team which has not had a good season while Ikorodu United FC piped travelling Abia Comets FC by the same score line.
It was not a good weekend for Kogi United FC which travelled to Kaduna but was conquered by their host. The Confluence Boys were beaten 1-0 by Kaduna United in a tie which the Match Commissioner, Lurwanu Idris described as peaceful.
The sole goal was scored by Shamsudeen Hamisu in the 24 minutes of the encounter.
Meanwhile, after a hectic seven weeks of top football hostilities, the Nigeria National League (NNL) 2014/2015 has gone on two weeks break as the first stanza of the abridged league ended at the weekend.
The league has produced a lot of thrills and frills in the past weeks as teams struggle to win vital points to finish top of their groups to stand a good chance of picking promotion ticket at the end of the season.
In a release signed by the NNL secretary, Lawrence Katken, the league will go on two weeks break because of the financial difficulties faced by the clubs, pointing out that the two weeks recess is to allow the clubs ample time to source for funds to execute their matches in the second stanza of the league.
He promised that the League Management is making frantic efforts to alleviate some of the financial burdens of the participating clubs.
NNL WEEK SEVEN RESULTS
J.Atete 4 v 1Gateway
MFM 3 v 0 Atiba
B.Insurance 2 v 1 Akwa Starlets
Ikorodu 1 v 0 Go-Round
Kaduna 1 v 0 Kogi
The quest by First Bank Football Club of Lagos to gain promotion to the elite division has continued to yield positive results with yet another victory at the weekend after the team grinded out a 2-1 win over visiting Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin City.
This is coming on the heels of last week 2-2 draw with arch-rivals- Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) FC which added to the victory on the Match Day 1 of the Nigeria National League (NNL) has seen First Bank rake in 7 points in the three-week league.
Also, newly promoted NNL campaigners; Julius Atete Football Club at the weekend beat their more illustrious MFM 2-1 in the Match Day 3 of the on-going national league season while in Lokoja, Kogi United FC thrashed visiting Yobe Desert Warriors 3-0, the same margin Jigawa Stars walloped Adamawa United in Dutshe.
In deed, it was a sweet victories for most host teams as Gateway FC in Abeokuta beat Akwa Starlets 2-1 just as Prime defeated Abia Comets 2-0 and Nembe beat Atiba United 2-0 too.
NNL WEEK 3 RESULTS
FIRST BANK 2 VS 1 BENDEL INSURANCE
KOGI UTD 3 VS 0 YOBE
JIGAWA STARS 3 VS 0 ADAMAWA
FRSC 0 VS O NIGER TORNADOES
PRIME 2 VS 0 ABIA COMETS
GO-ROUND 0 VS 0 IKORODU UTD
NEMBE CITY 2 VS 0 ATIBA
GATEWAY 2 VS 1 AKWA STARLETS
J.ATETE 2 VS 1 MFM
Newly promoted Nigeria National League (NNL) campaigners; Julius Atete Football Club at the weekend humiliated their more illustrious Nembe City Football Club 4-0 in the Match Day 2 of the on-going national league season.
Nembe City which was relegated to the second tier when it could not withstand the toughness of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at the end of last season failed to put up a good performance against the new comers as the Chief Victor Rumson Baribote-financed club were disgraced by Atete Boys who posted a humiliating 4-0 win over the team from Bayelsa state.
Elsewhere, Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) and city rivals, First Bank FC settled for a 2-2 draw after none of the teams could claim victory at the beautiful Agege Township stadium in Lagos.
But it was a game to remember by fans as match titled Battle Royale lived up to the expectations of the stakeholders and management of the two city rivals. Both clubs have shown impressive performances a week earlier by recording victories in Match Day 1.
In Umuahia, Abia Comets FC beat visiting Remo Stars 1-0 the same score line was recorded by Spotlight FC against Kaduna United, Niger Tornadoes FC versus FC Zamfara in Minna, Adamawa United against Plateau United while Crown FC of Ogbomosho picked an away victory over Bussdor United in Owerri.
Other results are listed below:
WEEK 2 RESULTS
DIVISION A1
SPORTLIGHT 1 VS 0 KADUNA UNITED
SUPREME COURT 1 VS 1 KOGI UTD.
YOBE DESERT 0 VS 0 JIGAWA STARS
ADAMAWA UTD 1 VS 0 PLATEAU UTD
DIVISION A2
MIGHTY JETS 0 VS 0 FRSC
TORNADOES 1 VS 0 ZAMFARA
DIVISION B1
BUSSDOR 0 VS 1 CROWN FC
IKORODU UTD 2 VS 0 PRIME FC
ABIA COMETS 1 VS 0 REMO STARS FC
DIVISION B2
J. ATETE 4 VS 0 NEMBE CITY
MFM FC 2 VS 2 FIRST BANK FC
BENDEL INSURANCE 0 VS 0 GATEWAY FC
It promises to be a week of consolidation for the front runners in the Nigeria National League (NNL) this weekend as Plateau United and other victorious teams will go for three points at stake to improve their lot on the league table.
Plateau United, MFM, Jigawa, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) were among the early league leaders after they recorded wins over their opponents last weekend.
MFM of Lagos had defeated host, Gateway United by a lone goal at MKO Abiola stadium, Abeokuta while in Jos, home team, Plateau United FC showed class by thrashing visiting Yobe Desert Warriors 2-0.
Also, in Abuja, FRSC walloped guest Sokoto United 3-1 at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja just as Jigawa Golden Stars FC of Dutse defeated Supreme Court FC of Abuja by a lone goal and Kogi United FC and Spotlight FC played out a 1-1 draw in Lokoja.
But it will be a battle royale in Lagos where city rivals MFM will host First Bank FC at Agege Stadium. Both clubs have shown impressive performances last weekend with victories hence they will strive to maintain the status quo.
Plateau United will play away to Adamawa United in a match the Tin City Boys will try hard to win to show their seriousness towards picking a ticket to return to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) next season.
Elsewhere, there will be tough match-up involving rival clubs and familiar enemies in the league with fans the better off for it.
WEEK 2 FIXTURES
DIVISION A1
SPORTLIGHT VS KADUNA UNITED
SUPREME COURT VS KOGI UTD.
YOBE DESERT VS JIGAWA STARS
ADAMAWA UTD VS PLATEAU UTD
DIVISION A2
SOKOTO UTD VS GOMBE UTD
MIGHTY JETS VS FRSC
NIGER TORNADOES VS COURT OF APPEAL
ABS VS RANCHES
DIVISION B1
BUSSDOR VS CROWN FC
EKITI UTD VS GO-ROUND FC
IKORODU UTD VS PRIME FC
ABIA UTD VS REMO STARS FC
DIVISION B2
J. ATETE FC VS NEMBE CITY FC
MFM FC VS FIRST BANK FC
BENDEL INSURANCE VS GATEWAY FC
AKWA STARLETS VS ATIBA UTD FC
This year’s Men Federation Cup competition hits the Round of 16 stage on Thursday with a number of interesting fixtures, including three ties involving Premier League teams.
Two former champions, El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri and Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt will lock horns at the Lafia Township Stadium, while two-time African champions Enyimba FC of Aba trade tackles with Nembe City at the Akure Township Stadium in Akure.
The Enyimba International Stadium, Aba will host the clash between Crown FC of Ogbomoso and Nasarawa FC of Lafia.
Sharks FC of Port Harcourt and Dynamite of Benin City will battle the Kayode Oluyemi Stadium in Ado-Ekiti; Giwa FC, conquerors of Enugu Rangers in the last round will try to get the better of Bendel Insurance in Ilorin and; Lobi Stars of Makurdi take on Plateau United of Jos at the Minna Township Stadium.
Bayelsa United, which pipped FRSC of Abuja 2-1 to get to this stage, will seek a quarter final ticket at the expense of Gateway FC of Abeokuta at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja, with Prime FC of Osogbo also up against First Bank of Lagos at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES (THURSDAY, 17TH JULY)
Enyimba FC Vs Nembe City – Akure
Sharks FC Vs Dynamite FC – Ado-Ekiti
Crown FC Vs Nasarawa United – Aba
Bendel Ins. Vs Giwa FC – Ilorin
Lobi FC Vs Plateau United – Minna
El-Kanemi FC vs Dolphins FC – Lafia
Bayelsa United Vs Gateway FC – Goal Project, Abuja
First Bank Vs Prime FC – Benin City
3SC
After one week break, the Nigeria National League (NNL) will resume this weekend with all the participating teams fighting to either consolidate their places at the top or swim out of the relegation waters as the competition hits the home stretch.
League action was halted after the first stanza of the competition came to an end a fortnight ago even as the period was observed as a second transfer window to allow clubs add more players to their squad for the task ahead. It ran for 12 days and will close midnight of Friday, May 23, 2014.
But the NNL has ordered all the weeks 16, 17 and 18 matches will hold on May 24, 31and June 7 before the league will go on recess again during the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 which kicks off on June 12.
In Division A, promotion chasing Kwara United Football Club will ensure it defeats visiting Supreme Court Abuja to move closer to runaway Wikki Tourists and Adamawa United at the top of the log while relegation threatened FRSC will host leaders, Wikki.
Also in Division B, troubled Unicem Rovers of Calabar will tackle frontrunners, Shooting Stars in a tricky match which both teams need to win to further their course of gaining promotion to the premier league next season.
Stationery Stores
NNL WEEK 16 FIXTURES
DIVISION A
KWARA UTD VS SUPREME COURT FC
SOKOTO UTD VS RANCH BEES FC
KOGI UTD VS TEAP FC
DSS FC VS SPOTLIGHT FC
MIGHTY JETS VS PLATEAU UTD
PRISONS FC VS ADAMAWA UTD
FRSC FC VS WIKKI TOURISTS
JIGAWA STARS VS NIGER TORNADOES
COD UNITED
DIVISION B
GABROS FC VS FIRST BANK
ABS FC VS EKITI UTD
AKWA FC VS MFM FC
UNICEM FC VS 3SC
REMO STARS VS GATEWAY UTD
COD UTD VS ABIA COMETS
STORES VS PRIME FC
GO-ROUND VS BENDEL INSURANCE
After the successful hosting of the second 10km Okpekpe race, which will soon get IAAF Golden rating, Edo Football Association have become the first to recognize one its own and initiator of the programme, and a the Honorary Adviser to Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Sports, Mr Mike Itemuagbor. Itemuagbor, was given a gold plated plaque for his efforts so far, even as the FA say they expect more from their great son.
The Edo State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Mobilisation, Hon Chris Okaeben has also spoken favourably of Edo Sports, the FA and plans to reposition the state away from the current manner where thuggery and other anti-sports activities which he said are the order of the day.
“We must be civil and take sports as entertainment not quarrel or fight every time we have a match at the Ogbe Stadium, there must be a winner and a loser or at worst a drawn game. We want to attract sponsorship and the current attitude will not help us”, Okaeben said at the closing ceremony of the Edo FA Cup, which was won 1-0 by Bendel Insurance over Dynamite Force FC also of Benin City.
At the occasion proper, few Edo indigenes who have contributed to sports development and football were awarded honorary plaques. Among them was the Sports Commissioner Hon Okaeben, Mr Mike Itemuagbor, an established sports marketing guru, for his outstanding role in Edo and Nigerian sports development, Secretary to the Edo State Government, Pro Julius Ihonvbere, and one time Green Eagles top striker, Emmanuel Obasuyi alias Shakara, who recently retired as Head Coach of Edo FA and Barr BE Onuwabhagbe as well and Coach Solomon Ogbeide.
Edo FA Chairman, High Chief Abel Ehigie, abley assisted by his vice, Frank Ilaboya, assured that Edo FA, will surely bring back the glory days of football through adequate partnership with government and the private sector. The highly entertaining Edo Fed Cup final was watched by a sizeable crowd with Governor Oshiomhole represented by state SSG, Prof Ihonvbere.
NFF Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has praised the Football Associations of the 36 States and the Federal Capital
Territory for concluding their State preliminaries of the 2014 Federation Cup competition on Sunday, 4th May, as scheduled.
“The NFF is happy with the States for complying with our directives and concluding their Federation Cup competitions on schedule. Thi will enable us to keep strictly to the timetable and conclude the competition on the date earlier announced,” Sanusi stated.
Sanusi however wondered why the Benue State Football Association would insist on taking the final match between Lobi Stars and Apa United to extra time when the rules of the competition are clear.
“We don’t understand why they decided on extra time, instead of penalties straight-away as the rules say. This matter will be
investigated.”
With the States preliminaries concluded, all is set for the national preliminaries, with the Rookies’ clash coming up on 13th and 14th May.
ALL THE RESULTS
FCT (FC Abuja 0 FRSC 1);
Bauchi (Wikki Tourists 2 Young Elephants 1);
Edo (Bendel Insurance 1 Dynamite Force 0);
Cross River (Leopards 5 Atlantic 4: penalties after 1-1);
Ondo (Sunshine Stars 3 Indigen FC 0);
Abia (Enyimba 1 Abia Warriors 0);
Ogun (Gateway 2 Remo Stars 0);
Imo (Heartland 2 Baton 0);
Enugu (Rangers 5 Ingas 4); Oyo (Crown 6 3SC 5, after penalties);
Zamfara (Dallatu 1 Mafara United 0);
Anambra (Okagbue Academy 1 Ikpeazu 0);
Niger (Niger Tornadoes 3 Tornadoes Feeder 1);
Lagos (First Bank 3 AS Racine 4, after penalties);
Ekiti (Ekiti United 5 JKF Boys 4);
Kebbi (Zara Studio 4 Jega United 2, after penalties);
Rivers (Sharks 6 Dolphins 7, after penalties);
Benue (Lobi 1 Apa United 1; unresolved);
Adamawa (Banani FC);
Jigawa (Golden Stars 2 CBN Cashless 0);
Yobe (Desert Stars);
Borno (El-Kanemi Warriors 1 El-Kanemi Babes 0);
Ebonyi (Ebonyi United 4 Bright Star 0);
Gombe (Yarmalight 1 Gombe United 3);
Nasarawa (Nasarawa United 3 Police Machine 1);
Katsina (Spotlights 2 Dan Buran 0);
Plateau (Plateau United 5 Giwa 4, after penalties);
Sokoto (Sokoto North 1 Liverpool 0);
Kwara (Kwara United 5 ABS 6, after penalties);
Kano (Kano Pillars 4 Sky Academy 1);
Taraba (Jalingo United 1 FC Taraba 2);
Delta (Warri Wolves 1 Bobbies 0);
Osun (Prime 1 Ajiroba 0);
Kogi (Kogi United 3 Lokoja 2);
Akwa Ibom (Akwa United 1 Ibom Youth 0);
Kaduna (Ranch Bees 3 Kaduna United 1);
Bayelsa (Bayelsa United 4 Nembe City 5, after penalties).
WOMEN: Edo (Edo Gus 2 Martins White 1);
Ondo (Sunshine Queens 4 Rising Queens Academy 0);
Lagos (FC Robo 3 COD United 0)
newfanzone 