Nigerian Football

NPFL PLAYOFF: OUR FITNESS OVERWHELMED FC IFEANYIUBAH, SAYS LOBI’S OGENYI

Published

5 years ago

June 5, 2019

BY FISAYO DAIRO

For the thousands of spectators that watched the last fixture on Day 1 of the 2019 NPFL Championship Playoffs between last season winners, Lobi Stars and 2018/19 season’s surprise package FC Ifeanyiubah, the Benue side stood out for the incredible fitness level of their players

Lobi Stars recorded the highest score margin of the opening match day at the Agege Stadium in Lagos on Tuesday, winning 3-1 over the dazed Anambra Warriors in a game played under floodlights.

Right from the very beginning when Samad Kadiri raced clear to finish Kelly Kester’s pass with just about ninety seconds on the clock, Lobi’s players did not stop running even until the final minute.

Right back John Lazarus was at his overlapping best, midfielders Kester and Alex Aghahowa harassed their opponents with incredible sprints throughout the contest while Kadiri and his strike partner Sikiru Alimi ran across the front with gusto and verve.

FC Ifeanyiubah’s young side responded at some point but in the end could not match the physicality and high tempo pressing of the 2018/19 CAF Champions League campaigners.

Head coach Evans Ogenyi believes that his team’s display should not be unexpected considering the level they came from at the CAF Champions League.

“You know we just came back from the continent even though it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t go beyond the group stage but then we’ve been able to restore Nigeria’s second slot in the CAF competitions and the experience was valuable,” said Ogenyi to www.npfl.ng

“If you’re not fit, you cannot play at that level. So we’ve been servicing all areas of fitness because we know that at the end of the day, it will actually take us far.”

In “servicing” their fitness, Lobi Stars had camped in Ijebu-Ode, near Lagos for the past twelve days and the closed camping system has helped them to condition their players in the right frame of mind for the season-ending competition.

Ogenyi, who served as the first assistant coach under the late Solomon Ogbeide and is now in his third stint as head coach of his state club, also praised his players for the victory over FC Ifeanyiubah, insisting that the 2016 Federation Cup winners were not easy to deal with.

He continued: “It’s not an easy win. Any team that has qualified for this stage is not a pushover.

“For you to qualify for this playoff, you should be congratulated and I told my players at half time that we needed to up our game because at the end of the competition, goals permutations can come to play.

“I saw 2-2 (between Pillars and Akwa United) and I saw 1-0 (Enyimba vs Rangers) so if you have the opportunity to win, you need to win convincingly so I give kudos to my boys for raising the bar in the second and we scored two more goals to record the biggest win today (Tuesday).”

Lobi’s second game in the round-robin tournament will come up against Rangers, a fellow continental campaigner on Thursday. The Flying Antelopes from Enugu have found Lobi Stars a tough nut to crack in recent matches and Ogenyi is hoping his side builds on Tuesday’s win.

“You must take each match as it comes, we have played ourselves before and at this stage the result could go either way but then we hope to build on what we have started on Tuesday,” said the former Bayelsa United and Jigawa Golden Stars head coach.

Nigerian Football

Away two-goal specialists, Remo Stars win in Kano to stay atop

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Remo Stars continued their good form in the Nigeria domestic league as they snatched another 2-0 away win against one of the traditional strong sides, Kano Pillars on Sunday.

They had earlier had another 2-0 away win when they defeated Abia Warriors in Umuahia two weeks ago. With Sunday’s win, they remain on top of the log with their nine points and five goals.

They are yet to concede any goal this season. On Sunday, Sodiq Ismail put Remo Stars in front after 26 minutes. Togolese import, Franck Mawuena doubled the lead in the 60^th minute.

In another encounter, Niger Tornadoes pulled a major upset, winning 2-1 away from home as they beat former Nigerian champions, Plateau United. Ifeanyi Okechukwu put the visitors ahead in the 17^th minute. They doubled theit lead in the fourth minute of added time of the second half through Kufre Ebong.

A minute later, Pam Samuel scored a consolatory goal for Plateau United. Hearrtland of Owerri continued their winless run as they played a goalless draw at home with visiting Katsina United.

Sunshine Stars also played 0-0 with Abia Warriors.

Nigerian Football

Remo Stars win Star War against Sunshine Stars to take temporary NPFL lead

Published

1 week ago

September 14, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.

On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.

The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.

They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.

The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.

On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.

Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.

Nigerian Football

Westerhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job

Published

2 weeks ago

September 11, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Clemens Westerhof and Samson Siasia in London

BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.

Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.

Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.

“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.

According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.

Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.

Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.

He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.

To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”