Nigerian Football
Curtain Falls on Nigerian Women’s Football League
BY PROMIX BLUE.
The Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) will come to an end this midweek with little to play for in Group A, but it gets intense in Group B as two teams slug it out for two Super Four spots.
GROUP A
In Group A, the verdict was already out even with games to spare. Leaders Bayelsa Queens, who face Ibom Angels are through to the Super Four tournament, alongside defending champions Rivers Angels, who ended their campaign last week with a 2-0 loss against Sunshine Queens.
Meanwhile, Sunshine Queens, who are sure of finishing third are guest to Abia Angels.
STAR MATCH: FC Robo VS Heartland Queens
This is a direct duel between FC Robo Queens and Heartland Queens to confirm the team that will be relegated in this group.
FC Robo, who are without a win in the second stanza of the season need a draw to secure their status, while Heartland Queens will need to win by a four goal margin to survive.
GROUP B
The last game week in this group decides who plays in the Super Four competition, with all top four teams playing a direct rival.
Nasarawa Amazons Vs Adamawa Queens
Leaders Nasarawa Amazon have the upper hand as a home win will see them join the big ladies in the Super Four.
Only an away win can help third-placed Adamawa Queens, after they further damaged their chances with a 3-0 loss to Edo Queens in an outstanding game on Sunday.
Delta Queens Vs Osun Babes
This is a clash of second placed facing the fourth side as Delta Queens entertain Osun Babes. Just like Nasarawa Amazon, Delta Queens will confirm a place in the Super Four with a home win, while Osun Babes need an outright win to have any chance.
Just two points separate all the four teams as they head into this make or mar final round of games.
In other games, Confluence Queens will hope to end the campaign in grand style when they host Pelican Stars, while Edo Queens host relegated Sa’adatu Queens.
WEEK 14 FIXTURES
WEDNESDAY
GROUP A
Ibom Angels vs Bayelsa Queens
FC Robo Queens vs Heartland Queens
Abia Angels vs Sunshine Queens
GROUP B
Confluence Queens vs Pelican Stars
Nasarawa Amazons vs Adamawa Queens
Delta Queens vs Osun Babes
Edo Queens vs Saadatu Amazon
Teams through to Super Four: Bayelsa Queens, Rivers Angels and two others.
Teams relegated: Sa’adatu Amazon and one other
Promoted Teams: Taraba Queens and Sure Babes of Ilorin.
The miserable run of Akwa United and Ikorodu City came to an end after six games in the Nigerian Premier League this season. Both teams were initially glued at the bottom of the league table.
They now got respite as Akwa United beat Kano Pillar by 2-0 while Ikorodu City even did what could be considered an upset, beating Bendel Insurance 3-0.
Remo Stars bounced back to the top of the log after a 3-0 defeat of Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars are yet to get their rhythm this season, playing a barren draw with Enyimba in Ibadan.
Kwara United who got their first full points of the season last week after a 1-0 defeat of Remo Stars could not consolidate as they were beaten 1-0 by Abia Warriors.
Heartland under Emmanuel Amuneke are gradually recovering as they got a valuable away draw against El-Kanemi Warriors.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is 75 years since Nigeria’s national football team first played an international match. That was on 8 October 1949 when the first set of Nigeria’s assembly on their return voyage stopped over in Freetown and engaged Sierra Leone in an international football match. Nigeria won 2-0, setting a chain of positive results on 8 October.
The country never lost any competitive duel on that date. More significantly, the Super Eagles first qualified for the World Cup on an 8 October date.
That was in 1993 when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria in the quest for USA ‘94 World Cup.
Nigeria became the first English-speaking African country to qualify for the World Cup. Another significance of the October 8 match at the July 5 Stadium, Algiers is that Nigeria were unbeaten for the first time by Algeria at home.
The only deviation from the 8 October Magic was in 2015 when Nigeria lost 2-0 to Congo in a friendly match.
Twenty-six years after Nigeria’s debut international match, one of Africa’s biggest football nations, Egypt fell to the October 8 magic, losing 4-0 to Nigeria in the last stage of the triangular World Cup qualifying series for Argentina ’78.
Up till October 15, 2013, when Ghana beat Egypt 6-1 in Kumasi, the October 8, 1977 duel with Nigeria remained Egypt’s biggest loss in a World Cup qualifying match.
Before the 1977 duel, Nigeria in 1963 played a friendly match with Liberia in Monrovia. The October 8 magic was active, even in an away match. Nigeria drew 2-2 in their very first encounter with Liberia. It was shortly after the team had, through a protest, upturned a victory by Guinea to pick Nigeria’s very first African Nations’ Cup ticket.
Little wonder then that when FIFA suspended Nigeria in 2010, the world governing body provisionally lifted the ban on October 8!
Nigeria on 8 October
- 1949 – Freetown (Friendly) Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria
- 1963 – Monrovia (Friendly) Liberia 2-2 Nigeria
- 1977 – Lagos (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 4-0 Egypt
- 1993 – Algiers (World Cup qualifier) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria… qualify for USA ‘94.
- 2005 – Abuja (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 5-1 Zimbabwe
- 2010 – FIFA, in apparent respect to the 8 October magic, provisionally lifted a ban imposed on Nigeria.
- 2011 – Abuja (African Nations Cup qualifier) Nigeria 2-2 Guinea. Although undefeated, Nigeria failed to make it to the 2012 African Nations Cup.
- 2015 – D.R. Congo beat Nigeria 2-0 in Visé, Belgium. The ‘October 8 Magic’ is finally broken.
Rivers United have launched themselves to the top of the log at the end of the match day 5 of the Nigeria Premier League. The Port Harcourt side beat Akwa United 2-1 to go afloat after initial leaders, Remo Stars crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.
It was Remo Stars’ first defeat in the season. Rivers United are now with 13 points. Stephen Mayo put Rivers United ahead after 31 minutes. But it turned a temporary lead as Akwa United bounced back almost at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the second half.
Friday Apollos levelled up for Akwa United before Ndifreke Effiong Udo scored the winner in the 85th minute.
Sunday Results
- Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
- Rivers United 2-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
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