Nigerian Football
CARL IKEME CONDUCTS ENGLISH FA CUP DRAW
BY APESIN ADEMOLA.
Super Eagles former goalkeeper Carl Ikeme will on Monday night determine the fate of teams that survived the third round of the 2018/19 English FA Cup (officially known as The Emirates FA Cup).
The ex-Wolves keeper will conduct the competition’s fourth round draw along with Robbie Keane, ex-Wolves and Tottenham forward, immediately the last third round fixture between Wolves and Liverpool is concluded at Molineux Stadium.
Ikeme, who spent his entire career at Wolves and made 207 appearances for the club, played a prominent role in the Super Eagles between 2015 and 2016 until his battle with acute leukaemia truncated his career for club and country.
Although Ikeme was eligible to play for England as well, he chose to identify with his fatherland and waited for eight years between his first call-up to the national team before his debut against Tanzania on September 5, 2015 in a qualifier for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Dar-es-Salam, which ended goalless.
Ikeme held on to the No 1 position and featured three times for the Super Eagles in the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but missed the final tournament in Russia due to his health crisis, which coach Gernot Rohr described as his “greatest regret.”
Wolves had announced on July 6, 2017 that Ikeme had been diagnosed of acute leukaemia during a pre-season check-up. As a result, he couldn’t feature in the club’s triumph in the English Championship that season, which led to their return to the English topflight.
Last July 27, Ikeme announced his retirement from football at age 32 on medical grounds. In his honour, Wolves’ new keeper Rul Patricio left the No 1 jersey vacant and chose No 11 instead.
In the English FA fourth round draw, Sheffield United will go into the hat as the lowest ranked club left in the oldest recognised football tournament in the world. This is the 138th edition of the tournament.
The “big” teams still on course include defending champions Chelsea, last season’s runners-up Manchester United, the most successful club in the competition Arsenal and Premier League title holders Manchester City.
Leicester City were the biggest exit in the third round. The 2015/16 Premier League champions were eliminated by League 2 side Newport County.
The other Premier League teams that failed so far are: Bournemouth, Cardiff City, Fulham and Huddersfield Town.
The fourth round matches will come up between January 25 and 28.
Fourth round draw numbers
1. Bolton Wanderers
2. Millwall
3. Gillingham
4. Brentford
5. Sheffield Wednesday or Luton Town
6. Manchester United
7. Everton
8. Tottenham Hotspur
9. Doncaster Rovers
10. Newcastle United or Blackburn Rovers
11. Chelsea
12. Crystal Palace
13. Derby County or Southampton
14. Accrington Stanley
15. Bristol City
16. Newport County
17. Oldham Athletic
18. Shrewsbury Town or Stoke City
19. Arsenal
20. Manchester City
21. Brighton & Hove Albion
22. West Ham United
23. Watford
24. Burnley
25. Queens Park Rangers
26. Barnet
27. Portsmouth
28. AFC Wimbledon
29. West Bromwich Albion
30. Middlesbrough
31. Wolverhampton Wanderers or Liverpool
32. Swansea City
Nigerian Football
What a day as Southwest Stars see stars!
Remo Stars were beaten by a two-goal margin as they lost 3-1 to Plateau United. The same fate befell their western neighbours, Shooting Stars who lost 2-0 to Rivers United in Port Harcourt.
Both results meant that the leadership of the league is captured by Rivers United, pushing Remo Stars to the second position after seven matches.
For Remo Stars destiny was shaped by the rampaging Franklin Anthony whose hattrick gave Plateau United their victory.
Plateau United struck early in the match, shooting ahead in the fifth minute and completed the rout in the second half through goals in the 64th and 70th minutes.
Remo Stars only stalled the tide through Jabbar Malik in the 83rd minute.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers United prevailed over Shooting Stars with a 2-0 win. After a goalless first half, Aniekeme Okon put the home side in the lead in the 50th minute and Ndifreke Effiong Udo doubled the lead in the 65th minute.
The result lifted the side into the top spot with 17 points and a better goal difference of eight which is the highest by any team in the ongoing season.
In Benin, Bendel Insurance bounced back from Ikorodu City’s defeat last weekend in Lagos and recorded a resounding 3-0 win against visiting Bayelsa United in the early kick-off tie.
Kayode Oke Solomon opened the score for the home side in the 17th minute and Nnamdi Anthony doubled the lead in the 78th minute before Micheal Enaruna scored the third goal in added time.
In Owerri, coach Emmanuel Amuneke of Heartland FC had to work harder and salvaged a point at home against resurgent Ikorodu City who scored first in the 5th minute via Salaudeen Taiwo but Chukwuma Agor secured parity for the home side in a 1-1 scoreline in the 66th minute.
Katsina United pipped Akwa United by a lone goal scored by Azeez Falolu in the 27th minute.
Action resumes this weekend as leaders, River United will play away ay at Niger Tornadoes while Remo Stars will host Bendel Insurance in Ikenne just as Shooting welcomes Katsina United and Ikorodu City will host Lobi Stars.
El-Kanemi Warriors will continue their season’s unbeaten run as they host Enyimba while Bayelsa United will host Heartland of Owerri and Akwa United will welcome Enugu Rangers in Uyo.
Ahmed Musa’s Kano Pillars will hope to continue their winning streak as the host Kwara United and Sunshine Stars will host Nasarawa United and Abia Warriors will host Plateau United in Abakaliki.
Nigerian Football
The rise and rise of Nigeria Premier Football League
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is on the rise and has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, largely thanks to the unwavering commitment of strategic partners to the NPFL, GTI Group. By laying down robust structures for transparency and accountability, GTI Group has significantly helped to improve the integrity and reputation of the elite league, ensuring that every dime from sponsors and investors of The Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF) are meticulously utilised and accounted for.
GTI’s initiative to enhance transparency in the NPFL goes beyond mere intentions; it involves concrete actions that laid the groundwork for accountability. This commitment not only bolsters the league’s financial health but also promotes confidence among stakeholders, including fans, sponsors and players.
One of the critical challenges that faced the NPFL before the coming of GTI Group in the 2022/2023 season was crowd violence. However, the financial investment firm and the NPFL Board led by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye have worked harmoniously and tackled this issue head-on by implementing measures to curb this menace at match venues.
The placement of trained security personnel, implementation of zero tolerance to crowd violence and the issuance of fines against erring clubs cum their fans have fostered a safer environment for lovers of the beautiful game in the country. As a result, match attendance has astronomically increased, allowing for a more vibrant and supportive atmosphere.
The enhanced transparency in match operations by NPFL has also sparked renewed hope and a sense of friendly competition among clubs. With the increase in fair play and adherence to regulations, fans and players alike are experiencing a new wave of excitement. This was exemplified on Match Day 3 of the ongoing 2024/2025 season, where the league witnessed an impressive display of five-star performance: five away wins, three draws, and two home wins. This feat has never happened in the history of the elite league and reflects the blossoming football economy of Africa’s most populous nation.
GTI Group and NPFL’s relentless effort has laid the foundation for a prosperous league that attracts local and international talents from neighboring countries in the round-leather game. By focusing on transparency, infrastructural development and security, GTI and NPFL are not just transforming the league but creating a sustainable environment where football can thrive.
As we celebrate these positive changes, it is essential to acknowledge the role of every stakeholder in this journey. The NPFL is no longer just a platform for entertainment; it is a thriving business-oriented industry with the potential to inspire future generations.
The transformation of the NPFL, championed by GTI Group, reflects a brighter future for Nigerian football. With the ongoing commitment and collaboration, the NPFL will continue to flourish, bringing glory to clubs and excitement to fans across the world.
Nigerian Football
Enugu Rangers crumble at home in seven-goal thriller with Kano Pillars
Nigerian champions, Enugu Rangers have been beaten 4-3 by visiting Kano Pillars in the Match Day 7 of the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The visitors went into the lead in 15th minute when Rabiu Ali converted a penalty kick. They doubled the lead in the 28th minute through Zulkifilu Rabiu before Rabiu Ali extended the lead to 3-0 in the 37th minute after converting another penalty kick.
The game turned into a nightmare for Rangers as Ahmed Musa made it 4-0 in the first minute of the added time.
Rangers began a fight back in the opening minutes of the second half as Isaac Saviour pulled a goal back in the 47th minute. Twelve minute later he scored a second goal to reduce the tally to 4-2. Emmanuel Silas Nenrot made the score line a more respectable for Rangers when he scored a third goal in the added time.
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