Nigerian Football
AS 2ND ROUND KICKS OFF MFM, IFEANYIUBAH, ENYIMBA, AKWA UNITED AIM AT SUPER 6
BY APESIN ADEMOLA
The second phase of the 2018/19 Nigeria Professional Football League, which started on Saturday with Group A leaders MFM losing to Insurance in Benin 0-1, will get into full swing on Sunday with matches in eight centres.
In Group A, Enyimba, who are second on the log, will have the chance to close the gap on leaders MFM. The Lagos side retain a six-point gap at the summit, while FC Ifeanyi Ubah top Group B.
Enyimba have won all but one of their home fixtures this season, the only one being a goalless result against defending champions Lobi Stars on Matchday 3, while their visitors Sunshine Stars have won one game away (versus Wikki Tourists) and drawn another (versus Kwara United) out of five matches on the road. At some point in the season, the Akure Gunners were in second spot but have since dropped three steps down.
Lobi Stars, who were at the foot of the table while accumulating domestic fixtures during their now failed continental campaign, have since been catapulted to No 3. The Pride of Benue have the venues of their back-to-back encounters against bottom placed Niger Tornadoes swapped to avoid too many away matches in their schedule. Therefore, rather than host Tornadoes this Sunday for Matchday 12, they journey to Minna for Matchday 11 game.
Katsina United, in No 4, travel to Ilorin to engage a disappointing Kwara United. The Harmony Boys of Ilorin started the season with purpose and led the group on Matchday 3 but have failed to sustain the tempo, a situation that has now dragged them into the relegation four.
Their opponents Katsina United are among the front runners, and if they maintain their consistency, the Changi Boys may well finish in top three and challenge for the title through the Super 6.
Like Lobi Stars, Rangers too have to concentrate on the domestic scene after crashing out of the CAF Confederation Cup. With six outstanding fixtures, the fans of the Flying Antelope may worry less about their current standing at No 7, and 10 points adrift of top team MFM.
In Group B, four matches are also on offer, while the other two will be played later.
With leaders FC IfeanyiUbah not on duty, the door is open for either Akwa United and El-Kanemi Warriors to take charge of this section, even if temporarily.
For a side that started the season with a home defeat through a last minute blunder by their keeper, Akwa United have done remarkably well to rise above the setback in arriving at second place, only two points behind the top spot. Since that early blip, the Promise Keepers have gone on to win three home matches and shared honours with Plateau United in the other, while also winning two away fixtures.
Akwa United will be up against Heartland, who have gone down the pecking order; a team that had occupied No 1 on three Matchdays now marginally above the relegation zone.
El-Kanemi Warriors will file out at Pantami Stadium, Gombe where the home side have not been delivering results. In five matches on that ground, Gombe United have won only two, drawn the same number and lost one. If the Warriors reenact the form that made them to pip Akwa United in Uyo on the season’s opening day, Gombe United will be in further trouble as they are just one point and one step above Yobe Desert Stars, the last team in the group, who face seventh-placed Go Round.
The fixtures…
Group A (Matchday 12):
- Rivers United v Wikki Tourists
- Rangers v Remo Stars
- Kwara United v Katsina United
- Enyimba v Sunshine Stars
- Lobi Stars v Niger Tornadoes (rescheduled)
Matchday 11:
- Niger Tornadoes v Lobi Stars
Group B (Matchday 12):
- Go Round v Yobe Desert Stars
- Plateau United v Abia Warriors
- Akwa United v Heartland
- Gombe United v El-Kanemi Warriors
- Kano Pillars v FC Ifeanyi Ubah (Wednesday, March 27)
- Nasarawa United v Kada City (Wednesday, April 3)
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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