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KANO PILLARS PICK SUPER 6 TICKET AS RELEGATION BATTLE GOES TO THE WIRE
BY FISAYO DAIRO
The 2014 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions Kano Pillars on Monday confirmed their place in the season-ending Super Six playoff with an emphatic 3-0 drubbing of Delta Force in Kano in one of the full programme of activities on the penultimate Match Day of 2018/19 regular season.
Although many other matters in the league were left unresolved until the final
day, Kano Pillars’ confirmation of a top three finish and Niger Tornadoes’
relegation in Group A were settled on a day of twist-and-turns in results
across the twelve match centres.
The ageless Rabiu Ali set Pillars en route to a routine victory with a 19th
minute penalty before further goals in the second half from Auwalu Ali Malam
and Yusuf Maigoro put Mbwas Mangut’s side to the sword and all but put paid to
their late rally for a playoff spot.
In Maiduguri, FC Ifeanyiubah put themselves in pole position to join Pillars
and already qualified Akwa United as Group B’s representatives with a superb
1-0 win away to El-Kanemi Warriors in a game played behind closed doors.
Striker Chibuike Ezeh scored for a second game in a row to take
the Anambra Warriors to just within a point of sealing a Top Three spot.
Monday’s trend of results ensured that only Yobe Desert Stars are condemned to
the second tier in Group B after Gombe United, Plateau United and Go Round FC
all secured results in their games, the latter denied by a last gasp goal at
Nasarawa United.
Left winger Yusuf Abdulazeez’s strike in the 72nd minute gave Gombe United a
1-0 win over Heartland at the Pantami Stadium and Ladan Bosso’s men are now
within one point of their visitors going into the final day while Plateau
United climbed out of the relegation zone with a comfortable 2-0 win over
ten-man Yobe Desert Stars courtesy of Amos Gyang (penalty) and Godwin Obaje’s
goals in each half.
Go Round FC were just seconds away from achieving the best result of the Match
Day but Abubakar Lawal’s 90th minute goal ensured honours were shared among
both sides in a 2-2 draw. Joshua Osem and Chiebonam Nwogbaga gave Go Round the
lead twice in the game but twice were they pegged back through goals by Sunusi
Ibrahim and Lawal.
Group leaders Akwa United also left it late to deny Abia Warriors a safety net
when Ocheme Edoh headed home in the 89th minute to secure a 2-2 draw for the
hosts at the Nest of Champions.
Midfielder Fatai Abdullahi and substitute Obi Samson twice gave
Warriors shock leads in Uyo but Rafael Everton’s men replied in each situation
with goals from Godspower Aniefiok and Edoh.
Group A
Striker Sikiru Alimi was once again instrumental for ‘nominal’ league champions
Lobi Stars as they endured a hard-earned 2-1 win over relegation haunted Wikki
Tourists in Makurdi.
Lobi needed maximum points to move within touching distance of qualification
for the Super Six and they did just exactly that, once again through the help
of Alimi.
They had to break the resistance of a stubborn Wikki side in the
49th minute through Austin Ogunye’s header but after Ukeme Williams had replied
for Aliyu Zubair’s Wikki, Alimi once again delivered the goods with an 81st
minute winner.
Ten-man Enyimba FC also moved within touching distance of qualification with a
2-0 win over Niger Tornadoes at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, a result which
confirmed the demotion of their opponents to the second tier of Nigerian
football.
Captain Ifeanyi Anaemena gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot in first
half stoppage time before Ibrahim Mustapha, making a return after a lengthy
injury layoff made sure of the points in the 70th minute.
Left back Nasiru Sani was however sent off late in the game by referee Paul Umuago.
In Lagos, MFM FC showed a rare resilience they had not displayed in recent weeks when they dug deep to beat Katsina United 2-1 and ensure the race for the final two top three spots in Group A will go down to the wire.
Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men defied the rain and obstinacy of their visitors to grind out the win at the Agege Stadium.
Adeniji Kabir ended his goals drought to steer them in front in the 10th minute but defender Timothy Danladi equalised for Katsina early in the second half.
Substitute Michael Ohanu however claimed the full marks for MFM
when he headed home Jonathan Zikiye’s cross deep into stoppage time.
Group A leaders Rangers International ended Rivers United’s hopes of a hopeful
top three finish with an excruciating 1-0 defeat inflicted on Stanley Eguma’s
men.
United still kept their hopes of leaving Enugu with at least a
point in tact until wing back Chidera Ezeh struck the decisive blow five
minutes from time.
Kwara United ensured they preserve their Nigeria Professional Football League
(NPFL) status till the final day with an expected 2-1 win over already
relegated Remo Stars.
All goals were scored in the final sixteen minutes of the tensed
game in Ilorin. Uche Onwuasonaya and Razaq Alamoyo put United two-goal up
before Victor Mbaoma’s stoppage time strike halved the deficit.
Bendel Insurance also stayed alive with a 1-0 win over ten-man Sunshine Stars
in a relegation six-pointer in Benin City.
Despite putting up a defensive 5-3-2 shape, Kabiru Dogo’s Sunshine conceded within the opening four minutes through Junior Osaghae’s strike and they had no reply with their case exacerbated with a straight sending off for centre back Gabriel Olalekan late on.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their Group F opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup, with Brazil’s Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F.
South Africa’s Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the new-look 32-team Club World Cup so points are like gold dust for the likes of the Sundowns and Ulsan.
KEY QUOTES
Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach: “We prepared tactically and strategically very well, and then we found a commitment between everybody. I think it was clear we made a very wonderful first half. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half, so that we could score a second goal that for little details or little centimetres, we could not do.”
Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD head coach: “We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we’re very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game.”
-Reuters
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With a year until Mexico makes history as the first three-time World Cup host, the dream of a spectacular showcase is colliding with the practical challenges of modernising the iconic Azteca Stadium for global soccer’s premier event.
Beneath the imposing silhouette of Mexico’s football cathedral – where Pele dazzled with Brazil in 1970 and Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ propelled Argentina to glory in 1986 – construction crews tackle the formidable task of bringing one of the sport’s most storied venues into the 21st century.
The stakes are magnified as the ‘Santa Ursula colossus’ will host the tournament’s opening match, a global spectacle that will focus the world’s attention on Mexico from day one.
Renovations will expand the stadium’s capacity from 87,000 to 90,000, with upgrades centred on meeting FIFA standards through new changing rooms, enhanced hospitality zones, revamped VIP areas and additional seating in spaces previously occupied by boxes and lounges.
While government officials and football administrators envisioned the project as a symbol of national pride, the renovation process has eroded trust between developers, local residents and other stakeholders.
Stadium administrators announced in February that they had secured a 2.1 billion peso ($110.19 million) credit line from local financial group Banorte – along with a controversial new name: Estadio Banorte.
FIFA regulations mean the stadium will be referred to as “Estadio Ciudad de Mexico” during the World Cup, yet the rebranding has sparked a fierce backlash from some fans, who view it as sacrificing football heritage for commercial interests.
HARSH REALITY
The backlash over the stadium’s new name represents only one facet of the mounting tensions. Box and suite holders – some with relationships spanning decades – have threatened legal action after FIFA announced it would commandeer their seats during the tournament, overriding established contracts.
One member of the Mexican Association of Box Holders has already filed a legal challenge to defend access rights.
Beyond the stadium walls, frustration runs equally deep. Residents of Santa Ursula and surrounding neighbourhoods fear that promised infrastructure improvements like pedestrian bridges and transit lines will fail to address fundamental issues including inadequate lighting, water shortages and persistent traffic congestion.
“We’re not the stadium’s backyard,” one local resident told Expansion Politica. “But we’re always treated that way.”
By contrast, Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico’s other two host cities, face fewer obstacles.
Guadalajara’s 48,000-seat stadium, opened in 2010, has already hosted major events including the 2011 Pan American Games, while Monterrey’s 53,500-capacity venue, inaugurated in 2015, needs only minor upgrades – primarily new turf and a pitch ventilation system.
“We’ll install a system to ventilate and oxygenate the pitch before replacing the grass,” said Alejandro Hutt, Monterrey’s Host City Manager. “That will be an important legacy from the World Cup and beyond.”
As construction continues, Javier Aguirre’s Mexico squad are building towards a crucial summer, with a Gold Cup title defence ahead and friendly matches against Turkey this week, followed by Japan and South Korea in September.
After failing to advance beyond the group stage at Qatar 2022 – their worst World Cup performance since 1978 – Mexican fans crave more than just a well organised tournament. They want to see Mexico break the ‘fifth-game‘ curse and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, the last time they were World Cup hosts.
-Reuters
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All contenders are now known for this year’s President Federation Cup grand finale, following Saturday’s elimination of Edo Queens and Ibom Angels in the women’s semi-finals.
Multiple-winners Rivers Angels saw off the stiff challenge of Ibom Angels of Uyo 1-0 in Aba, while Nasarawa Amazons bumped Edo Queens 2-0 in Ayingba.
Cup holders Rivers Angels, who have won the competition nine times, will have their hands full against 2005 and 2019 champions Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia.
In the men’s competition, Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi are getting set to tackle Kwara United FC in the final.
Results of Semi Finals (Women)
- Rivers Angels (Rivers) 1-0 Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom)
- Edo Queens (Edo) 0-2 Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa)
Results of Semi-Finals (Men)
- Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) 0-0 Ikorodu City (Lagos) – Abakaliki FC win 5-4 on penalties
- Kwara United (Kwara) 1-0 Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
WOMEN’S FINAL
- Rivers Angels vs Nasarawa Amazons
MEN’S FINAL
- Abakaliki FC VS Kwara United
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