Nigerian Football
A MOUNTAIN TOO HIGH FOR COACH ILECHUKWU AND HEARTLAND
Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries (MFM) FC produced the opening shock of the 2019/20 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season when they claimed a 0-1 away win at Heartland FC in Okigwe.
But that would not diminish Plateau United’s impressive 3-1 win
over Lobi Stars in a fixture that had a former Governor of Plateau State on the
stands cheering the Jos side.
MFM FC had struggled for the most part of the pre-season after the loss of
their enigmatic head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu to Sunday’s opponent but the
Lagos based side pulled the chestnut out of the fire in stunning fashion
against their former boss.
Clement Ogwu, a player signed by Ilechukwu for MFM last season from little
known Glorious Day Academy headed home the game’s only goal on the 39th minute
from a corner kick by right back Adeyinka Najeem.
The goal indeed tore the form guide into shreds as all three
previous NPFL encounters involving both sides had ended in home wins.
It was a double-header clash between Delta and Akwa-Ibom states on Sunday with
Delta Force hosting NPFL debutants Akwa Starlets in Asaba while Warri Wolves,
on their return to the big league hosted Akwa United at the Warri Township
Stadium.
Both games ended in entertaining 1-1 draws. Samuel Amadi scored the first goal
of the new season as his second minute strike gave Wolves the lead but last
season’s joint top scorer, Mfon Udoh continued from where he left off on the
28th minute to restore parity for John Obuh’s Akwa United. Neither side could
find a winner in the second half.
At the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Starlets stunned their hosts on the 50th
minute when Isaac George gave them the lead but experienced substitute Bala
Yahuza rescued a point for Mangut Mbwas’ side twenty minutes from time.
Plateau United laid down the marker for the new season with an emphatic 3-1
dispatch of Lobi Stars in a North Central Derby at the New Jos City Stadium on
Sunday. Abdu Maikaba’s United raced to a two-goal lead courtesy of Nerot Silas’
17th minute strike and a Solomon Kwambe own-goal but Lobi halfed the deficit on
the 32nd minute through a Sikiru Alimi penalty.
Winger Amos Gyang Danladi however scored his side’s third on the 67th minute to
send the 2017 league winners to the summit of the league table after Match Day
One.
Abia Warriors also started the season on a bright note when a brace by former
Heartland star Jimoh Oni earned them a routine 2-0 win over Katsina United at
the Umuahia Township stadium.
In Nnewi, FC Ifeanyiubah edged newly promoted Adamawa United 1-0
courtesy of a spectacular strike by Samuel Kalu. Striker Chibuike Ezeh also
missed a second half penalty which could have widened the scoreline for the
Anambra Warriors.
Wikki Tourists of Bauchi were the only team that came from a goal down to win
on Sunday, a feat they achieved in their 2-1 success over newly promoted Jigawa
Golden Stars at their adopted home ground in Gombe.
Lala Abdullahi gave Jigawa a shock lead at the Pantami Stadium on the quarter
hour mark but two second half goals from Saidu Abubakar and team captain
Mohammed Idris Guda gave Ibrahim Garba’s men the maximum points.
In Kano, former champions, Kano Pillars were held to a 0-0 draw by Rivers
United at the Sani Abacha Stadium. The game which was played behind closed
doors as Pillars continue to serve punishment from their fans’ behaviour in
Lagos at the end of last season saw the Sai Masu Gida side miss a number of
scoring chances.
Two other games; Enyimba vs Nasarawa United and Rangers vs Sunshine Stars were
rescheduled due to Enyimba and Rangers’ CAF Confederation Cup games on Sunday.
The two former champions won their respective games and booked their places in
the group stage of the continental competition.
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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