Nigerian Football
NEW ROLE FOR EMMANUEL AMUNEKE AT MISR EL-MAKKASA
Former Misr El-Makkasa head
coach Emmanuel Amuneke revealed his new role at the club after being
replaced by Ehab Galal.
Following a disappointing start to their season under Ahmed
Hossam ‘Mido’, El-Makkasa appointed former Tanzania national team manager
Emmanuel Amuneke in hopes that
he can save the club’s season.
However just one month into his new position, El-Makkasa
announced that Egyptian manager Ehab Galal will replace Amuneke.
The club then released a new statement revealing that the former Nigeria international won’t be leaving as he became the director of the club’s academies across Africa.
Talking to BBC Sport, Amuneke revealed many details regarding the academies project and explained his new role.
“I’m still with the team, there is no sack involved as reported because Makkasa is a massive group and the past year has seen them trying to create projects across the continent,” said Amuneke.
“When I was still working in Tanzania, they came to the country to discuss with the government about investing in the east African country. They plan to invest in Tanzania, Mali and possibly in Nigeria in the future.
“We’ve been discussing about the academies, we are
still looking at the contractual options because this is a long-term project
and I wouldn’t want it to affect any other coaching opportunities.
“The decision to bring in a new coach is only logical because accepting to work
on this big project means it will be difficult for me to combine both roles.
“We’ll see how things pan out but I am still here working with Makkasa,” he concluded.
El-Makkasa currently 16th on the league table with 14 points from 17 games, just three away from bottom-placed FC Masr. They were also knocked out of the Egypt Cup in the round of 16 by El-Gaish.
Ehab Galal’s first test will be on March 12th when El-Makkasa host 13th place Aswan in their first game in the Egyptian Premier League’s second round.
Remo Stars are coasting to what will be their greatest moment ever, a win of the Nigeria Premier Football League title, as they recorded a 1-0 win over Shooting Stars in Ibadan in a match played behind closed doors.
In doing so, they achieved their sixth double of the season, having earlier beaten Shooting Stars in the first stanza of the league.
They maintained the seven-point lead over second-placed Rivers United, who also beat Sunshine Stars 1-0 in Port Harcourt.
After a ding-dong affair, Alex Oyowah scored the vital goal for Remo Stars from a right-wing cross from Ismail Sodiq.
In another match, Ikorodu City continued to work tenaciously to obtain a continental ticket as they held El Kanemi to a 1-1 draw.
SUNDAY RESULTS
- El Kanemi 1-1 Ikorodu City
- Niger Tornados 1-1 Bayelsa United
- Heartland 0-0 Kwara United
- Plateau United 1-0 Akwa United
- Rivers United 1-0 Sunshine Stars
- Shooting Stars 0-1 Remo Stars
- Bendel United 1-1 Nasarawa United
SATURDAY
- Katsina United 0-0 Abia Warriors
- Enyimba 2-1 Kano Pillars
- Lobi Stars 2-4 Enugu Rangers
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Nigerian Football
NFF, NPFL pay condolence visit to family of late match commissioner, Mohammed Sani Abdul
Top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria Premier Football League on Thursday paid a condolence visit to the family of deceased NPFL match commissioner, Mohammed Sani Abdul, who died on Wednesday, 9th April 2025, on his way back to Maiduguri from Jos, where he had gone to commission an NPFL match.
Abdul, who was also an auditor at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, had served as match commissioner at the game between Plateau United and Kwara United in Jos the previous day.
Gbenga Elegbeleye, 2nd Vice President of the NFF and also Chairman of the NPFL, was led to the family house of the late Sani Abdul, located inside the Staff Quarters of the University of Maiduguri, by Member of the NFF Executive Committee and Chairman of the NFF Match Commissioners’ Appointment Committee, Babagana Kalli.
After commiserating with the family and praying for the repose of the soul of the departed, Elegbeleye presented a cash donation of the sum of two million naira to the family. The Association of Match Commissioners of Nigeria also contributed the sum of five hundred thousand naira.
Elegbeleye expressed gratitude to all those who accompanied him to the family house of the deceased and affirmed the commitment of the NFF and the NPFL to supporting the families of individuals who lose their lives in the course of service to the game.
The eldest son of the deceased expressed appreciation to the gesture by the NFF and NPFL, and especially thanked Kalli (who is also Chairman of the Borno State Football Association) for the support provided to the family since the passing of their beloved father.
Also present were the chairman and members of the board of NPFL side El-Kanemi Warriors FC, members of the Club Owners Association and supporters of El-Kanemi Warriors FC.
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Nasarawa United, the Nigeria Premier Football League and the Nigeria Premier Football Federation (NFF) were found negligent for the death of player Chineme Martins after he collapsed during a game in March 2020, players’ union FIFPRO said on Thursday.
Martins, who played for Nasarawa United, died aged 23 when he collapsed during a match where the medical services were deemed insufficient.
According to FIFPRO, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria ruled the club “breached their duty of care” towards Martins and they must compensate his family.
The court also said the league, the NFF and the match commissioner had a duty of care to ensure the club complied with relevant regulations, and they breached it.
FIFPRO added that an NFF report concluded that there was neither a medical doctor nor a physiotherapist at the game, while there was “no functional ambulance at the stadium” when he collapsed.
“The court’s ruling stated it was ‘reprehensible’ that Martins was allowed to play without complete medical tests,” FIFPRO said in a statement.
“An echocardiogram was never conducted on Martins at the start of each of his three seasons with the club – and without the provision of adequate medical facilities at the Lafia Township Stadium.”
FIFPRO said its lawyers had helped the player’s family pursue the claim of negligence.
“I hope that the appropriate medical provisions are put in place for Nigeria’s footballers going forward, so that no family has to endure the pain we have suffered,” Martins’ brother, Michael, said.
Reuters has contacted the NFF and the Nigeria Premier League for comment.
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