The race at the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League got hotter at the weekend when leaders failed to consolidate their positions.

Leaders, Remo Stars had to contend with a goalless draw against visiting Katsina United who days earlier suffered the biggest defeat of the league this season, crumbling 6-0 to Ikorodu United.

Remo Stars’ 0-0 scoreline with Katsina United marked the second time they dropped points at home having been similarly forced to a goalless draw last November by Rivers United.

The draw notwithstanding, Remo Stars maintained the lead at the top and extended their lead by seven points as the second-placed Rivers lost 2-0 away to hot-chasers, Abia Warriors.

Emmanuel Ogbuagu scored for Abia Warriors in the 45th minute of the first half, while regular scorer Anthony Ijioma secured victory for the Warriors in the 76th minute.

The win consolidated Abia Warriors’ third position even as they are on the heels of Rivers United. They will be away to Katsina United next weekend.

Rivers on the other hand will hope to renew their title chase as they host troubled Sunshine Stars who are swimming precariously in the murky waters of relegation.

The biggest shock of the day was Enugu Rangers losing 2-0 at home to Heartland who are now two steps up the relegation zone.

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It looks more like a life insurance policy when the family of one of Bendel Insurance’s unrepenting supporters, Israel Menson Ehimiaghe offered a gesture of support to one of Nigeria’s legacy football clubs.

The family of the late Israel Menson Ehimiaghe (Bamawo) has donated a million naira to Bendel Insurance.

 The Ehimiaghes see their gesture as an attempt to support a club that their late father worked for and supported during his lifetime.

“Wherever our late father is, he is going to be saying: “Na me born dem.” Before his death in December 1979, the late Israel Menson Ehimiaghe was the branch manager of the now-defunct Bendel Insurance Company in their office in Auchi.

From great beyond, Ehimiaghe offers assistance to Bendel Insurance.

One of the children of the late super supporter of the Benin Arsenal, Cornelius Ehimiaghe stated: “My father was a Bendel Insurance football club supporter through and through.

“I grew up hearing the slogan nobody can win us, only Bendel. When my late father was alive, there were commemorative clothes, T-shirts, caps, and paper flags that celebrated our winning the 1972 and 1978 Nigeria Challenge Cup.

“Though I could not read properly in 1978, there was a pictorial football magazine that covered our 1978 FA Cup victory over Enugu Rangers. After my father died in 1979, I more or less inherited all these football memorabilia, as well as his transistor radio.”

“Furthermore, I recall that after we won the Nigerian league in 1979, my late father scouted a street football in Auchi, got the permission of the player (Aminu Momoh) parents, drove the player to Benin City in his 504 Peugeot car, and introduced the player to coach Alabi Assien.

“After a brief trial, the young midfielder was employed by Bendel Insurance FC. My father used to plan his travel to Benin around the weekends that the Benin Arsenal had their home matches.

“The last of the matches he watched his beloved Bendel Insurance FC play was the semi-final match of the Africa Cup Winners Cup against Cannon Sportiff of Yaoundé, at the Ogbe Stadium in Benin in November 1979.

“The match ended in a goalless draw which meant that the Benin Arsenal failed to make it to the final due to a suspected offside goal by Onguene Manga, two weeks earlier in Yaoundé.

 “A few years ago, I told Coach Alabi Assien that my late father would not have died on 12/12/1979 if the Benin Arsenal had triumphed over Cannon Sportiff.

“Without fear or favour, my late father would have negotiated with the angel of death to come and pick him up a few weeks later, after Bendel Insurance FC would have won the 1979 Africa Cup Winners Cup. The rest is history.”

“Growing up without a father in the austerity/structural adjustment ravaged the 1980s was very tough.

“Our grandparents, some of my mother’s “super cousins,” Barrister Charles Adogah (SAN) and late Auntie T.M. Faleye were very supportive.

“My elder brother and I had to also put in some odd job shifts to ensure that we did not go to bed hungry. I started working in the civil service in Bendel State before I was eighteen years old.

“I never one daydream of going to the university. However, after more than five years in the unemployment queue, my mother got a nursing job in UNIBEN. This ensured that we just managed to survive the almost wasted 1980s.”

“As part of following the footsteps of his late father, Cornelius Ehimiaghe also paid a courtesy visit to coach Alabi Assien and had a few minutes’ chat with the Management and coaching staff of Bendel Insurance FC, where he commended their efforts in steering the Benin Arsenal from relegation waters.

“The Ehimiaghes also donated two hundred thousand Naira to the supporters’ club of Bendel Insurance FC. “Win, lose or draw, we are proud of our “Up Bendel identity.”

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The much-anticipated FCT FA Inter-Area Councils Women’s Football Tournament kicked off in grand style, with impressive wins recorded by AMAC and Kwali in their respective opening fixtures on Thursday, April 10, 2025.

Organized by the FCT Football Association through its Women’s Football Committee, the tournament’s maiden edition is designed to promote talent discovery and gender inclusion in football across all six Area Councils.

In the opening fixtures, AMAC recorded a 2-0 victory over Bwari at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Practice Pitch, while Kwali triumphed with a 9-1 win over Abaji at the Abaji Football Pitch.

Speaking as a special guest after the kick-off match at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Kayode Adeniyi, General Manager of NTA Sports, lauded the initiative.

 “This tournament is a bold and timely intervention in the effort to give the girl-child a voice through sport. What we are witnessing is not just football—it’s social impact, community building, and youth engagement rolled into one,” former Chairman of FCT SWAN said.

“Special commendation goes to Pat Ajuma Ayegba for her innovation and personal investment in girl-child talent development. Her passion and drive have not only birthed this historic tournament but have also revived the long-dormant FCT FA Women’s Football League. She’s changing the narrative.

“I also call on the media to throw their weight fully behind this initiative. These girls deserve the spotlight just as much as any other athletes.”

Patrick Bassey, FCT FA Board Member and Chairman of the Technical Committee praised the quality of play and emphasized the long-term vision.

“We saw not just goals today but glimpses of future stars. The FCT FA remains committed to building a strong foundation for women’s football through structured competitions like this. The technical team is closely monitoring talents that can progress to the league and national level,” Bassey said.

FCT FA Board member and chairman of the women’s football committee, Pat Ajuma Ayegba, expressed her pride in the successful kick-off.

“Today marks the beginning of a dream—to take football to every girl on every street and in every school,” the former footballer, who bankrolled the grants to the participating Area Councils, said.

“I’m proud of the dedication from our teams and grateful to the FCT FA and partners for believing in this vision. This tournament is just the first of many platforms we’re building for young girls to shine.”

The tournament will continue over the coming weeks with home-and-away fixtures across all Area Councils, with the top two teams progressing to the semi-final, culminating in a grand finale to crown the champions of this historic inaugural edition.

Action continues on Saturday as Bwari hosts Gwagwalada, while Abaji will be on the road again to face Kwali on the same day.

Two days later, Kuje will welcome Abaji, while AMAC will be guests to Gwagwalada—both matches are scheduled for Monday, April 14.

Opening Day Results:

• AMAC 2–0 Bwari (Venue: Moshood Abiola Practice Pitch)
• Abaji 1–9 Kwali (Venue: Abaji Football Pitch)

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