Nigerian Football
At Last Aiteo Cup Kicks Off
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The Aiteo Cup kicks off on Tuesday with 10 matches on the card. It is the first edition, but 71st national competition overall as it is an offshoot of the Federation Cup which itself sprang from the preceding national competitions of Governor’s Cup (1945-1954), Challenge Cup (1955-1995) and Coca-Cola FA Cup (1996-2008). Spots Village Square recalls that the national competition has been holding annually with the exception of 1973 which did not hold owing to congested calendar that included the football competition of the first National Sports Festival in which club players featured for the then 12 states of Nigeria which in turn had to produce three teams each of senior, intermediate and junior.
An earlier media release from the NFF was silent on whether there will be a change of trophy. If a new trophy is presented, Sports Village Square can reveal that it will be the 10th trophy to be at stake.
The original trophy that was donated by the then Governor General of Nigeria, Lord Milverton who was then known as Sir Arthur Fredericks Richards was changed in 1970.
The new trophy at the time was bought at cost of £1,000 from the firm Gerard and Company, Crown Jewellers of London. The silver trophy was to mark the silver jubilee of the competition. It was brought to Nigeria in September 29, 1970. Other change of trophies took place in 1979, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2006, 2009 and 2015.
The first on the Aiteo Cup fixtures released on Tuesday by the Communications Department of the NFF is the Minda FC versus Niger Tornadoes Feeders. The teams meet in Jos.
All the 10 matches will feature the lowly ranked teams. A record will be in the offing for the first player to score a goal in the new competition of Aiteo Cup.
Besides that, other posers to look for include the first to get yellow card or even expulsion. Record keepers will look for the first penalty kick or even the first goalkeeper to save a penalty kick.
The Tuesday Fixtures:
- Minda FC (Benue) Vs Tornadoes Feeders (Niger) – Jos
- Moyero FC (Ondo) Vs Fashmog FC (Ekiti) – Ibadan
- Young Talent (Sokoto) Vs Haifa FC (Jigawa) – Kaduna
- Ayade Babes (Cross River) Vs Lexington FC (Taraba) – Lokoja
- Kaka FC (Kaduna) Vs Potiskum Academy (Yobe) – Bauchi
- FC Galadima (Kebbi) Vs Jarma FC (Zamfara) – Sokoto
- Sam Daddy FC (Imo) Vs Coal City FC (Enugu) – Nnewi
- George Turnah FC (Bayelsa) Vs Ngwa FC (Ebonyi) – Umuahia
- Spartan FC (Lagos) Vs JCTC FC (Ogun) – Akure
- IfeanyiUbah Feeders (Nnewi) Vs Cynosure FC (Ebonyi) – Owerri
Rivers United head coach and technical manager, Finidi George, has praised young defender Ochiobi Elias following his outstanding performance in the club’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The left-back, who played the full 90 minutes, was instrumental in helping Rivers United maintain a clean sheet, marking one of his most confident outings since his promotion to the senior squad.
Finidi, visibly impressed after the match, revealed that his decision to give Elias a full game was driven by trust in the player’s potential, despite his limited minutes earlier in the season.
“I think he did well. Normally, we should have been bringing him in gradually — maybe 15 minutes before giving him a 90-minute match,” Finidi said. “But I trust him, and I’ve spoken to him. He should be relaxed, calm down, and play his football.”
The coach also highlighted a near-miss moment when Elias came close to scoring late in the game, a chance Finidi felt could have crowned his stellar performance.
“I think today he would have scored a goal at the last moment, but he still wanted to square the ball, look for somebody,” Finidi added. “I’m quite happy with his performance, and we will keep encouraging him to do better. I am very, very pleased.”
Elias, a product of the Rivers United youth team that won the NPFL Youth League in 2024, has been gradually integrated into the first team under Finidi’s guidance. His performance on Wednesday is seen as a major step forward in his development and a sign of his growing confidence.
The youngster is now expected to retain his place in the squad as Rivers United travel to Aba this Sunday for a crucial NPFL clash against Enyimba.
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Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup, GTI Group, have congratulated the football governing body on the successful hosting of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a press statement issued on Friday in Lagos, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, lauded the NFF Board under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the smooth conduct of the AGM and the significant progress made in Nigerian football development.
According to Ekejiuba, the Ibadan meeting reflected Gusau’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and strengthening unity across the football ecosystem.
“GTI Group congratulates the Nigeria Football Federation on the successful outcome of its Annual General Meeting held in Ibadan, which the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, used the occasion to demonstrate his commitment to engaging positively with football stakeholders, including state football associations, clubs and fans,” he said.
“His interactions with the various groups at the AGM showcased his impactful leadership and dedication to promoting Nigerian football and fostering a collaborative environment.”
Ekejiuba also highlighted the Super Falcons’ recent achievements and the growth of domestic competitions, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), as key milestones recorded under Gusau’s leadership. GTI serves as a strategic partner of the NPFL, supporting its structural and commercial transformation.
The statement further expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for their hospitality and support during the AGM. Ekejiuba noted the governor’s commendation of the improved standard of refereeing in the NPFL under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye.
However, GTI also used the opportunity to express disappointment over the early exit of Kwara United and Abia Warriors from the CAF Confederation Cup, urging Nigerian clubs to raise their competitive standards on the continental stage.
“It is unfortunate that both Kwara United and Abia Warriors crashed out at the preliminary phase of the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend. This clearly shows that Nigerian clubs must raise their game in order to compete favourably,” the statement read.
“The future remains bright, but that is why GTI has been calling on Corporate Nigeria to invest more in our football, just as is done in thriving leagues across the world.”
Ekejiuba also extended words of encouragement to Remo Stars and Rivers United, who are still flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Champions League.
“We encourage them to dig deep and remain focused to ensure successful campaigns. They should give Nigerian football fans something to cheer this season because we understand how demanding continental competitions can be,” he concluded.
GTI Group reaffirmed its continued commitment to working closely with the NFF to advance football development, promote professionalism, and attract sustainable investment into the Nigerian game.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has queried Warri Wolves following reports of the suspension of their head coach, Aluma Napoleon, faulting the club’s failure to comply with established procedures for contracting and registering technical officials.
In a letter titled “Notarization and Registration of Contracts” and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body directed the Delta-based club to regularize all contractual documentation with its technical and management staff in line with NPFL regulations.
The NPFL’s letter stated:
“Information reaching us from the media space suggests that the Delta State Sports Commission has suspended your head coach, Mr. Aluma Napoleon, with immediate effect.”
Citing Sections B, Articles 6 and 11 of the NPFL 2025/26 Framework and Rules, the league reminded Warri Wolves that all clubs are required to submit notarized contracts of their officials for registration and record purposes.
“You are, however, in breach of these sections as Warri Wolves FC have not submitted the contracts of its officials to the League Board. You are hereby requested, within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, to submit all relevant contracts of your technical team, including that of the assumed suspended head coach, Mr. Napoleon Aluma, to the NPFL Secretariat,” the letter warned.
The NPFL further cautioned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including restricting Warri Wolves’ technical crew from accessing the bench in subsequent league matches.
“Note that failure to comply with this instruction will lead to the restriction of your technical team from accessing the technical area in future NPFL matches,” the league stated.
In a related statement to NPFL Media, COO Davidson Owumi stressed that the Warri Wolves case was not isolated, adding that all clubs yet to register the contracts of their technical officials must do so without delay.
“I must admonish all coaches to get hold of their contracts and lodge a report with the NPFL when there is a violation of the terms. It is the responsibility of the aggrieved to petition the league at all times,” Owumi emphasized.
The NPFL has been tightening administrative controls in recent seasons to ensure transparency, professionalism, and adherence to contractual obligations across all participating clubs.
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