The stand out fixture of the 2019 AITEO Cup quarter finals will be played on Friday, June 27 at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode. Eight sides, Kano Pillars, Rivers United, Aklosendi, Lobi Stars, Niger Tornadoes, Smart City, Bendel Insurance and Calabar Rovers are still in the running to claim the prestigious diadem but only one […]
The Nigeria Football Supporters Club have sent condolence messages to the Nigeria Football Federation and Lobi Stars of Makurdi on the death of veteran soccer tactician, Solomon Ogbeide who passed on Monday in Makurdi. Before his sudden demise, Ogbeide was reported to have complained of not feeling well before he slumped and died on Monday […]
The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed deep shock over the death on Monday of Head Coach of Nigeria Professional Football League club, Lobi Stars of Makurdi, Solomon Ogbeide. “We are heartbroken about the death of Coach Solomon Ogbeide. Words are inadequate to describe the sense of loss. There was no doubt that he was among […]
The management of Phoenix Athletics Sports Club has recalled young sensation Tolulope Ojo from NPFL 2018 champions- elect Lobi Stars. The player who was a product of the Ekiti based club was transfered to Lobi Stars on agreement of N2 million to be paid in two instalments. According to the letter of intent to withdraw […]
Chris Broad today became only the second member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees to reach 300 ODIs when he walked out for the toss in the third ODI between India and the Windies in Pune. Even though Broad made his ODI debut as an official in Auckland in 2004, 11 years […]
The mid-season friendly encounter between NPFL table topping side, Lobi Stars and seven time Nigerian league champions, Rangers International F.C at the ‘Cathedral’, Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Enugu, ended in a 1-1 draw. Rangers shot into the lead on 25 minutes when attacking sensation, Ifeanyi George ghosted his way past the backline of Lobi and his […]
Rivers United have enjoyed their best ever start to a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season this term after amassing eight points from a possible 12 from their first four games of the campaign. On Sunday, the Pride of Rivers will look to continue with the good habit of amassing maximum points at home when […]
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football club of Lagos returned to training on Tuesday morning after their 3-0 win over Akwa United Footbll Club in match day 14 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) as they prepare for this weekend’s game against Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi, venue was the Agege Township […]
Kennedy Boboye of Abia Warriors and Frederick Obomate of Rivers United have been named winners of the Manager and Player’s awards respectively in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) by the League Bloggers Awards (LBA).
Both men emerged as top performers for the month under review after impressive team and individual outings in the top division in Nigeria.
Boboye was clearly the frontrunner in the race for the manager’s award for February after masterminding an unbeaten run for his club, Abia Warriors, from the dugout. That run without a loss included a 1-0 win on the road at Heartland in the southeast derby as well as a 1-1 draw to new boys, Ikorodu United, at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos.
He also led Abia Warriors to edge a plucky El-Kanemi Warriors 2-1 on February 24 at home to complete their unbeaten streak last month. Boboye edged a field of managers in Fidelis Ilechukwu of MFM FC, Godwin Uwua of Lobi Stars and Mohammed Baba Ganaru of Kano Pillars.
Obomate had to fend off the trio of Michael Olaha of Abia Warriors, Wasiu Jimoh of Shooting Stars, Anthony Okpotu of Lobi, who were closely challenging for the player’s award.
The Rivers United midfielder scored three goals in three games and chipped in an assist to put himself ahead of the pack in contention for the February award. He also had telling contributions in the four goals his club scored in the month under review.
Boboye and Obomate will be presented their awards as manager and player respectively for February by the LBA on a later date.
The League Bloggers Awards (LBA) has named four players and four managers as its nominees for the Player and Manager in the Nigeria Professional Football League in the month of February.
In the player’s category, Rivers United attacking midfielder Frederick Obomate, Anthony Okpotu of Lobi Stars, Michael Olaha of Abia Warriors and 3SC hat-trick hero, Wasiu Jimoh, are in the running for the February edition of the LBA.
Obomate has scored three in three games for Rivers United winning them six points from nine while Jimoh’s three goals put new boys, Mountain and Fire Miracles (MFM) FC, to the sword earning 3SC their first full points of the season.
Okpotu has scored twice in three appearances in the month under review and helped his Lobi team notch up three points in their 2-1 win over Sunshine Stars.
Olaha has featured thrice for Abia Warriors this term and all three from the bench in which he scored twice against El-Kanemi Warriors and Heartland. His goals have secured six points for Warriors so far.
The quartet of Fidelis Ilechukwu of MFM FC, Kennedy Boboye of Abia Warriors, Mohammed Baba Ganaru of Kano Pillars and Godwin Uwua of Lobi Stars will tussle for the manager’s award.
Boboye has guided Warriors to top spot after they claimed seven points from nine, including three points from a 1-0 win on the road against Heartland while Baba Ganaru, Ilechukwu and Uwua have helped their teams to six points each. Unlike Baba Ganaru’s Kano Pillars, the teams of Ilechukwu and Uwua have won a game apiece on the road.
The winners of both categories will be announced later this week.
The Nominees
PLAYERS
Fred Obomate (Rivers United)
Wasiu Jimoh (3SC)
Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars)
Michael Olaha (Abia Warriors)
MANAGERS
Kennedy Boboye (Abia Warriors)
Godwin Uwua (Lobi Stars)
Fidelis Ilechukwu (MFM FC)
Mohammed Baba Ganaru (Kano Pillars)
Nigerian Premier League new boys Ikorodu United recorded their first victory of the season when they defeated high-flying Lobi Stars 1-0 at the Onikan Stadium on Sunday.
The only goal of the match came in the 11th minute when a cross from Egbune Harrison was converted by Balogun Kabir.
Edema Benson’s men now have four points from their first two matches and they are in eight position on the Premier League table while Lobi Stars drop to fifth position on the table.
Speaking after the Game, Ikorodu United Coach Edema Benson praised his wards for putting up a good display, Benson expressed his joy at securing the 3 points on offer after playing a 1-1 draw against Abia Warriors in their first NPFL game last week.
On his own part Lobi Stars Technical Adviser Godwin Uwua took the defeat in good faith but pointed out that his team’s game play was affected by the “small size of the Onikan pitch” and the grass surface because his team is accustomed to training and playing on artificial turfs.
Lobi Stars will host El-Kanemi Warriors in their next league fixture on Wednesday while Ikorodu United will travel to Aba to play league champions Enyimba.
With The Commencement of the 2016 Nigeria Professional Football League a virtually every club in the League has been busy in the off season Buying and selling players and even coaches. While Some Players have gone after the proverbial Greener pastures outside the shores of Nigeria, We have also witnessed the arrival of a few “non Nigerian” players while some new ones have come through the junior ranks for the new season.
Some Grounds have been upgraded while some teams will be making their debut in Nigeria’s Top flight for the first time. After what seems like “forever” Lagos will be represented by not one but two premier league teams. MFM FC and Ikorodu United FC.
Just like last season when we witnessed the metamorphosis of Gabros into Fc Ifeanyi Ubah Dolphins Fc and Sharks Fc have also become Rivers United.
The League Management Company has come up with some innovation geared towards making the NPFL more exciting and indeed it promises to be an exciting Season.
To help football fans better understand the status of their teams and to further help those who would like to find out more about their clubs we (with the help of Nigerian League expert Dumnodi Okonta) have attempted to compile useful information about most of the the teams plying their trade in Nigeria’s Top League.
We hope you find it useful and we would welcome feedback or contributions to fanzone.fans@gmail.com
NPFL- KNOW YOUR CLUBS
NIGER TORNADOES
NICKNAME: IKON ALLAH
MAIN HOME GROUND: BAKO KONTAGORA STADIUM, MINNA
TEMPORARY HOME GROUND: CONFLUENCE STADIUM, LOKOJA COACH: ABDULLAHI BIFFO
ADMINISTRATOR: ALIYU ADAMU
COLOUR: YELLOW, WHITE
TWITTER HANDLE: @NIGERTORNADOES
2015/2015 NPFL
NIGER TORNADOES: PLAYERS IN
SAMUEL TSWANYA (BAYELSA UNITED)
JACKSON DANIEL (SHARKS)
EBENEZER ODEYEMI (WIKKI TOURISTS)
IKECHUKWU GABRIEL (RANGERS)
GODWIN INAMOTO (AKWA UNITED)
BASSEY EFFIONG (NORWAY)
NPFL- KNOW YOUR CLUBS
PLATEAU UNITED NICKNAME: PEACE BOYS
MAIN HOME GROUND: RWANG PAM STADIUM, JOS COACH: ZACHARY BARAJE
ADMINISTRATOR: PIUS ENWAN
COLOUR: YELLOW, GREEN
2015/2015 NPFL
PLATEAU UNITED: PLAYERS IN
VICTOR NAMO (AL-AHLY BENGHAZI, LIBYA)
SALOMON JUNIOR (BAYELSA UNITED)
BENJAMIN TURBA (EL-KANEMI WARRIORS)
NPFL- KNOW YOUR CLUBS
MFM FC NICKNAME: OLUKOYA BOYS
MAIN HOME GROUND: AGEGE STADIUM, LAGOS COACH: FIDELIS ILECHUKWU
ADMINISTRATOR: GODWIN ENAKHENA
COLOUR: PURPLE, CORONA
TWITTER HANDLE: @MFMLAGOS
WEBSITE: MFMLAGOS.COM (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
2015/2015 NPFL
MFM FC: PLAYERS IN
MUSA NEWMAN (SUNSHINE STARS)
OLADELE OSHOBE (PFC HASKOVO, BULGARIA)
ATU IRUMENKHAI (ABIA WARRIORS)
NPFL-KNOW YOUR CLUBS
GIWA FC
NICKNAME: JOS ELEPHANTS
HOME GROUND: RWANG PAM STADIUM, JOS COACH: GBENGA OGUNBOTE
ADMINISTRATOR: CHRIS GIWA
COLOUR: WHITE, BLUE
2014/2015 POSITION: 5TH
TWITTER HANDLE: @GIWAFCJOS
NPFL-KNOW YOUR CLUBS
RIVERS UNITED FC NICKNAME: PRIDE OF RIVERS
HOME GROUND: LIBERATION STADIUM, PORTHARCOURT COACH: STANLEY EGUMA
ADMINISTRATOR: OKEY KPALUKWU
COLOUR: GREEN, WHITE, BLUE
2014/2015 POSITION: 16TH
2015/2016 NPFL
PLAYERS IN
YUSUF JAYEOLA (SHARKS)
GABRIEL OLALEKAN (SHARKS)
FREDRICK OBOMATE (SHARKS)
HENRY AYODELE (SHARKS)
ODINGA ODINGA (SHARKS)
ONYEKACHI OKAFOR (WARRI WOLVES)
FELIX BENJAMIN (BAYELSA UNITED)
CHIBUEZE NWAIGBO (GABROS)
NPFL- KNOW YOUR CLUBS
EL-KANEMI WARRIORS
NICKNAME: BORNO ARMY
MAIN HOME GROUND: EL-KANEMI SPORTS CENTRE, MAIDUGURI
TEMPORARY HOME GROUND: KARKANDA STADIUM, KATSINA COACH: LADAN BOSSO
ADMINISTRATOR: MOHAMMED MALA ZANNA
COLOUR: YELLOW, GREEN, WHITE, BLUE
2014/2015 POSITION: 13TH
2015/ 2016 NPFL
EL-KANEMI WARRIORS: PLAYERS IN
EBINPERE DENGO (BAYELSA UNITED)
WEST SOBOMABO (BAYELSA UNITED)
BUHARI MUSA (KANO PILLARS)
ZANGO UMAR (KANO PILLARS
LUCKY IRIMIYA (FC TARABA)
BISHOP ONYEUDO (FC TARABA)
OLUSHOLA AJALA (FC TARABA)
HASHIMU HALIRU (FC TARABA)
MOHAMMED ZUBERU (NIGER TORNADOES)
KAWA HAMIDU (NIGER TORNADOES)
SAMUEL MARTINS (WIKKI TOURISTS)
THOMPSON EZEKIEL (DOLPHINS)
NPFL- KNOW YOUR CLUBS
ABIA WARRIORS
NICKNAME: THE WARRIORS
HOME GROUND: UMUAHIA TOWNSHIP STADIUM COACH: KENNEDY BOBOYE
ADMINISTRATOR: EMEKA INYAMA
COLOUR: RED, WHITE
2014/2015 POSITION: 10TH
TWITTER HANDLE: @ABIAWARRIORS
NICKNAME: PRIDE OF BENUE
HOME GROUND: APER AKU STADIUM, MAKURDI COACH: GODWIN UWUA
ADMINISTRATOR: MIKE IDOKO
COLOUR: RED, BLACK, WHITE
2014/2015 POSITION: 14TH
TWITTER HANDLE: @LOBISTARS
2015/ 2016 NPFL
LOBI STARS: PLAYERS IN
SOLOMON KWAMBE (WARRI WOLVES)
OKIEMUTE ODAH (WARRI WOLVES)
CYRIL ORIAKHU (DOLPHINS)
ISAAC HELE HELE (KANO PILLARS)
DANIEL ATSAKA (UNATTACHED)
DAVID TYAVKASE (US BITAM, GABON)
PAUL ONOBI (SUNSHINE STARS)
ENEJI OTEKPA (KANO PILLARS)
NPFL- KNOW YOUR CLUBS
WIKKI TOURISTS
NICKNAME: SAI WIKKI
HOME GROUND: ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA STADIUM, BAUCHI COACH: ABDUL MAIKABA
ADMINISTRATOR: ISA MATORI
COLOUR: RED, WHITE, YELLOW, BLACK
2014/2015 POSITION: 4TH
TWITTER HANDLE: @WIKKITOURISTFC
NICKNAME: NAZE MILLIONAIRES
HOME GROUND: DAN ANYIAM STADIUM, OWERRI, IMO STATE COACH: BETHEL ORJI
ADMINISTRATOR: OSCAR KEKE
2014/2015 POSITION: 7TH
TWITTER HANDLE: @HEARTLANDFC_NG
2015/2016 NPFL
HEARTLAND FC: PLAYERS IN
ISAAC LOUTE (KANO PILLARS)
EMEKA ATULOMA
IYKE BRANDON (KOGI UNITED)
NPFL- KNOW YOUR CLUBS
SUNSHINE STARS
NICKNAME: OWENA WAVES
HOME GROUND: ONDO STATE SPORTS COMPLEX, AKURE COACH: SAMSON UNUANEL
ADMINISTRATOR: JOHN OLA MAFO
2014/2015 POSITION: 6TH
TWITTER HANDLE: @SUNSHINEFCAKURE
NICKNAME: FLYING ANTELOPES
HOME GROUND: NNAMDI AZIKIWE STADIUM, ENUGU STATE COACH: IMAMA AMAKAKPABO
ADMINISTRATOR: PAUL OZOR
2014/2015 POSITION: 12TH
TWITTER HANDLE: @ENUGURANGERSFC
2015/2016 NPFL
ENUGU RANGERS: PLAYERS IN
BRIGHT ESIEME (ENYIMBA)
CHIMEZIE AMANFOR (ENYIMBA)
JOLLY OSAS (FC IFEANYI UBAH)
CHIAMAKA MADU (SHARKS)
NPFL KNOW YOUR CLUBS
ENYIMBA FC NICKNAME: PEOPLES’ ELEPHANT
2014/2015 POSITION- CHAMPIONS
HOME GROUND- ENYIMBA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM. ABA, ABIA STATE COACH: PAUL AIGBOGUN
ADMINISTRATOR: FELIX ANYANSI-AGWU
JERSEY COLOURS: WHITE, BLUE
TWITTER: @ENYIMBAFC
WEBSITE- ENYIMBAFC.NET
2015/2016 NPFL
ENYIMBA FC: PLAYERS IN
UGOCHUKWU LEONARD (NASARAWA UNITED),
DARE OJO (KWARA UNITED)
OLUFEMI OLADAPO (KWARA UNTED)
THEOPHILUS AFELOKHAI (KANO PILLARS)
CHRISTIAN PYAGBARA (SHARKS)
JOSEPH OSADIAYE (WARRI WOLVES)
IKECHUKWU IBENEGBU (WARRI WOLVES)
STEPHEN CHUKWUDE (FC IFEANYI UBAH)
IKE THANKGOD (ABIA WARRIORS)
NPFL KNOW YOUR CLUBS
WARRI WOLVES NICKNAME: WARRI SEASIDERS
2014/2015 POSITION: 2ND
HOME GROUND: WARRI CITY STADIUM, DELTA STATE
COACH: PETER NIEKETEN
ADMINISTRATOR: MOSES ETU
JERSEY COLOURS: BLUE, YELLOW
TWITTER: WARRI_WOLVES_FC
2015/2016 NPFL
WARRI WOLVES: PLAYERS IN
SOLOMON BABATUNDE (ENYIMBA FC)
PAUL GODWIN (WIKKI TOURISTS)
DELE AJIBOYE
KING OSANGA
MARKSON OJOBO (ENYIMBA FC)
BERNARD OKORONWATA (ENYIMBA FC)
AZEEZ SHOBOWALE (KANO PILLARS
BOBBY ABEL (FC TARABA)
SOLOMON OKPAKO
EFE YARHERE (EL-KANEMI WARRIORS)
NPFL KNOW YOUR CLUBS
KANO PILLARS
NICKNAME: SAI MASU GIDA
2014/2015 POSITION: 8TH
HOME GROUND: SANI ABACHA STADIUM, KANO COACH: MOHAMMED BABA-GANARU
ADMINISTRATOR: KABIRU BAITA
JERSEY COLOURS: YELLOW, GREEN
TWITTER HANDLE: @PILLARSFC
2015/2016 NPFL
KANO PILLARS: PLAYERS IN
CHRIS MADAKI (GIWA FC)
CHARLES HENLONG (GIWA FC)
AMOS GYANG DANLADI (GIWA FC)
PRINCE AGGREY (SUNSHINE STARS)
JONATHAN ZIKIYE (DOLPHINS FC)
OMO JOHNSON (DOLPHINS FC)
TIJANI ADAMU (DOLPHINS FC)
IFEANYI MATHEW (EL-KANEMI WARRIORS)
JAMIU ALIMI (3SC)
SADIQ YUSUF (FK HAUGESUND, NORWAY)
MANIR UBALE (NASARAWA UNITED)
IBRAHIM PIUS (NASARAWA UNITED)
NPFL KNOW YOUR CLUBS
AKWA UNITED
NICKNAME: PROMISE KEEPERS
2014/2015 POSITION: 15TH
HOME GROUND: NEST OF CHAMPIONS, UYO COACH: MAURICE COOREMAN
ADMINISTRATOR: NSE UBEH
JERSEYS: BLUE, WHITE
TWITTER HANDLE: AKWAUNITED_FC