Nigerian Football
A PARADE OF FOREIGN GOALKEEPERS AT NPFL SUPER 6
BY
GEORGE AKPAYEN
When the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Championship Playoffs gets
underway at the Agege Stadium in Lagos there will be a handful of foreign players
in the six clubs vying for the title and continental places.
However it is not the foreign players who will catch the fancy of followers in
the NPFL as there will be up to five foreign goalkeepers in the fold of the
competing sides and www.npfl.ngwrites
that two of them, Nana Bonsu with Rangers and Kano Pillars custodian Idrissu
Ibrahim, are already commanding first-team places.
NANA BONSU (RANGERS)
Bonsu has been in brilliant form this season for the Flying Antelopes who are
now eyeing a record eighth league title.
The former Ghana U17 national team goalkeeper is one of the shining lights among the foreign stoppers in the league this season, and that has been a major reason he has remained first-choice in the books of Rangers head coach Gbenga Ogunbote who prefers the 30-year-old ahead of Femi Thomas, Opubo Japhet and another Ghanaian ‘keeper Seidu Mutawakilu.
The former Ashanti Gold man who joined Rangers in January 2016 on a free brings to mind legendary Ghanaian goalkeeper Edward Ansah who remains famous in Nigeria’s top-flight for his time at some top clubs in the 1980’s to 1990’s including Abiola Babes, Leventis United and Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland).
IDRISSU IBRAHIM (KANO PILLARS)
The former King Faisal and AshantiGold goalkeeper joined Kano Pillars on a
two-year deal at the start of this season at the age of 32. Of course his
signing raised eyebrows in the city of Kano as ‘Sai Masu Gida’ were in dire
need of a proven stopper following the departure of David Obiazo to rivals
Plateau United after a fallout over their defeat at the AITEO Cup final to
Rangers last year.
With a floundering Danladi Isah who by his standards should be commanding the number one jersey but remains a bit rusty owing to little playing time, Idrissu easily claimed the position between the sticks this season. The Ghanaian goalkeeper has taken to the number one spot like a duck to water and surprisingly finished with 11 clean sheets — a feat only equalled by Mustapha Aliko of Niger Tornadoes, Amas Obasogie of Bendel Insurance and Plateau United’s Dele Ajiboye.
SEIDU MUTAWAKILU (RANGERS)
He is another impressive Ghanaian goalkeeper in the top division. The 23-year-old in his first season with Rangers in 2017 hit the ground running but this term has found it difficult to wrest the number one position from his countryman Bonsu. Mutawakilu has fallen in the pecking order of goalkeepers at Rangers and has only been handed just one appearance when the Enugu club suffered a 0-1 defeat at Wikki Tourists in Round 22 in the regular season.
FATAU DAUDA (ENYIMBA)
It is a Ghanaian affair in the goalkeeping area, and Fatau joins in the list of
foreign stoppers who will have their opportunity during the playoffs in Lagos.
He is known for his outlandish goalkeeping style and often times that has
robbed him of appearances and on other occasions, he is preferred between the
sticks when the going gets tough.
This season at Enyimba, the 34-year-old Ghanaian goalkeeper has shared
the responsibility of stopping the opposition with Theophilus Afelokhai and
Stanley Nwabali which led to four clean sheets in the regular season. He is
expected to play his part between the sticks for the People’s Elephant who are
also aiming for a record eighth league title.
JEAN EFALA (AKWA UNITED)
The 26-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper joined Akwa United before the start of
this season, and the plan from the outset was to make him a backup to
Olorunleke Ojo until the Promise Keepers suffered an opening day misfortune in
the hands of El-Kanemi Warriors with the club’s number one directly involved in
the error that led to their defeat.
Some followers of the NPFL still felt Olorunleke deserved a
second chance but the former Giwa FC man’s confidence level suffered for it,
and Akwa United’s Brazilian coach Rafael Everton turned to Efala. The ex-UMS de
Loum and Cotonsport stopper simply slotted into the number one position at Akwa
United and racked up seven clean sheets in the regular season. However, he lost
his place at the tail end of the regular campaign to Olorunleke with brilliant
performances including penalty saves against Delta Force and Yobe Desert Stars.
Efala is surely in for a straight fight for the number one position with
Olorunleke when the playoffs begins in Lagos on Monday.
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s planned participation in a four-nation invitational tournament later this month is facing serious uncertainty after a significant escalation in Middle Eastern tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The Super Eagles were scheduled to compete in Amman, Jordan, from March 27 to 31, alongside Iran, Jordan and Costa Rica, as part of preparations for future competitive fixtures and squad building. But recent geopolitical developments have cast doubt over whether the event can still go ahead as planned.
An official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed to Sports Village Square that the situation is being closely monitored, with security and travel concerns emerging as key factors in deciding the tournament’s fate.
The doubts stem from joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, which triggered a sharp escalation in hostilities and sparked retaliatory actions across the region, including reports of attacks and counter-attacks in neighbouring countries.
The unfolding crisis has already led to airspace closures, flight cancellations and broader travel disruptions in the Gulf and Levant, complicating international travel plans for teams and supporters alike.
The Super Eagles had planned to open the tournament against Iran on March 27 at the Amman International Stadium before facing hosts Jordan four days later. However, Iran’s participation itself is now in question as the security situation deepens and Iranian football authorities weigh their options amid the conflict.
The tournament was seen as a valuable opportunity for head coach Eric Chelle to assess his squad in a competitive setting before the next major competitions, which include the 2027 Afcon qualifiers.
Jordan, who will make their own debut at the 2026 World Cup, was using the event to build momentum on home soil, but the escalating crisis places not just Nigeria’s fixtures at risk, but the entire mini-tournament.
The NFF has not yet announced an alternative plan should the tournament be cancelled or postponed.
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Matchday drama unfolded across centres in the Nigeria Premier Football League(NPFL) as title contenders stumbled, traditional powerhouses flexed their muscles, and the race for continental places tightened significantly.
Rivers United’s grip at the top suffered a dent after a shock 1–0 defeat to Bayelsa United in a tense South-South derby. The slim victory handed Bayelsa a crucial three points while slowing Rivers’ momentum at a critical stage of the season.
The biggest statement of the weekend came from Bendel Insurance, who dismantled Ikorodu City 4–0 in a ruthless display. Insurance were clinical from start to finish, overpowering their visitors and boosting both their goal difference and their standing in the upper half of the table. For Ikorodu City, who had been firmly in the mix near the summit, the heavy loss could prove costly in the long run.
Enugu Rangers also strengthened their position with a composed 2–0 victory over Nasarawa United. The Flying Antelopes controlled proceedings and capitalised on their chances, ensuring maximum points against a direct rival in the race for honours. With Rivers United dropping points, Rangers’ win significantly narrows the gap at the top.
In Aba, Enyimba were held to a 1–1 draw by Kun Khalifat in a fiercely contested encounter. The People’s Elephant had to settle for a point despite home advantage, a result that may affect their ambitions of climbing into the continental qualification spots.
Elsewhere, Niger Tornadoes and Warri Wolves played out a goalless draw in a tightly fought affair where defences dominated, and clear chances were scarce.
Remo Stars continued their battle against relegation with a 2–0 triumph over Katsina United in Ikenne.
Remo Stars begin redemption course with a 2-0 defeat of Katsina United
Ibadan, Shooting Stars delighted their supporters with a spirited 2–1 victory over Kano Pillars. The Oluyole Warriors demonstrated resilience and tactical discipline to edge the encounter, keeping their push for a higher finish on track.
Sunday Results
- Bayelsa United 1-0 Rivers United
- Bendel Insurance 4-0 Ikorodu City
- Enugu Rangers 2-0 Nasarawa United
- Enyimba 1-1 Kun Khalifat
- Niger Tornadoes 0-0 Warri Wolves
- Remo Stars 2-0 Katsina United
- Shooting Stars 2-1 Kano Pillars
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The race for promotion in the 2025/2026 season of the Nigeria National League (NNL) has gathered momentum, with relegated sides Akwa United and Doma United pushing strongly for an immediate return to the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Both former top-flight campaigners have shown resilience since dropping to the second tier last season. Akwa United currently lead Conference B with a game in hand, underlining their determination to bounce back at the first attempt. Meanwhile, Doma United sit atop Conference C despite suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Sokoto United on Matchday 11.
Southern Conference Delivers Drama
Matchday 11 in the Southern Conference produced thrilling encounters, further tightening the race for promotion.
In Conference A, two away wins, one home victory and a draw defined the round. The headline fixture between table-toppers Inter-Lagos FC and second-placed Beyond Limit FC ended in a goalless stalemate in Abeokuta. The result ensured Inter-Lagos maintained their grip on first place, though Beyond Limit remain firmly in contention.
Elsewhere, Smart City edged Edel FC 1-0, Gateway United secured a similar 1-0 win over Crown FC, while Sunshine Stars boosted their campaign with a convincing 2-0 triumph over Abia Comets. The victories have intensified the competition in what is shaping up to be one of the most closely fought groups in the league.
Conference B: Akwa United Hold Firm
Conference B continues to heat up as teams battle for supremacy. Osun United claimed a crucial 1-0 away victory at Abakaliki FC, while Rovers FC defeated Stormers 1-0 in Calabar.
Despite the pressure from chasing teams, Akwa United remain firmly in control at the summit. With a game in hand, the Promise Keepers are well-positioned to strengthen their promotion bid in the coming weeks.
Conference C: Doma United Stay Ahead
In Conference C, Sokoto United handed leaders Doma United a 1-0 setback, but the defeat did little to dislodge them from the top. Doma remain on 19 points, narrowly ahead of FC Basira, who climbed to 18 points after a 2-0 win over Lobi Stars.
The slim margin between the top sides suggests a tense battle ahead, with every point likely to prove decisive in the quest for a top-two finish.
Conference D: Northern Battle Intensifies
Yobe Desert Stars moved temporarily to the summit of Conference D with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Ranchers Bees, taking their tally to 15 points. Jigawa Golden Stars edged Adamawa United 1-0, while Gombe United and Kebbi United settled for a goalless draw.
Promotion Race Wide Open
With each conference producing unpredictable outcomes, the NNL promotion race remains delicately poised. For traditional heavyweights Akwa United and Doma United, the objective is clear: secure one of the coveted promotion spots and return to the Nigeria Elite League.
As the season progresses, the intensity is expected to rise further, with fans across the country watching closely to see which clubs will earn the right to rejoin Nigeria’s top-flight next season.
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