Uncategorized
NPFL@30: DEFENDING CHAMPIONS WHO WENT DOWN
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Stationery Stores, Shooting Stars and Bayelsa United have something in common. They were champions of the Nigeria professional League who were relegated the season following their victories.
First to swallow the bitter pills were Lagos crowd-pullers, Stationery Stores. They went down in 1993 as the Professional League defending champions owing to off-the-pitch events.
They were relegated due to failure to complete their fixtures, not because they finished on a relegation spot.
Based on experience of Season 1992 when some teams did not honour their fixtures, the NFA introduced a new law which confined into relegation any team that failed to honour two away matches.
Stores failed to play their away games against Sharks and Udoji United. Despite finishing in the fifth position in a 16-team log, Stores dropped from the elite division along with the bottom-placed Calabar Rovers and Lagos ACB.
Next to experience the bitter taste are the Shooting Stars who had their second title in 1998 after a previous one in 1995.
For Shooting Stars, Nigeria’s flag bearers in the 1999 CAF Champions League, it was perhaps one of the darkest moments for the once glamorous side and pacesetters of Nigeria’s continental adventures.
They were the first Nigerian side to win any continental trophy when they lifted the African Winners Cup in 1976 and the inaugural Abiola CAF Cup in 1992.
The Shooting Stars were plagued by financial problems from the Week Two of the 34-week series.
Having assembled some of the best available domestic materials for the league, the Shooting Stars soon found out that they did not have enough financial resources to back their purchases.
The players who opened the season with an away win over Eagle Cement, the 1997 champions, had to boycott a home game against Enyimba to press their demand for unpaid sign-on fees, salaries and bonuses.
The management of the club was sacked and a sole administrator, Chief Olufemi Olukanmi, who guided the club to CAF Cup victory in 1992, was appointed.
He met empty coffers and daunting debt totalling close to N25 million. The financial burden leading to players’ boycott of training was responsible for the club’s home loss to Al Ahly in the Champions League.
The dream of the club’s sole administrator, Olukanmi, to turn the Shooting Stars to “Manchester United” of Africa had remained a mirage. But Olukanmi insisted his vision was clear, claiming that even the famous Manchester United were once relegated in the English League.
Joining the Shooting Stars in the relegation train were the 1997 champions, Eagle Cement, along with Kano Pillars and El Kanemi who were also relegated.
The 2009/2010 Season brought back the memories of 1999 season as the defending champions were not just dethroned, but also relegated to the lower division.
Just as the Shooting Stars experienced in 1999, so did Bayelsa United who went down just a season after winning the title and competing in the CAF Champions League.
A 2-0 loss to Kaduna United on the last day of the league sent Bayelsa, the defending champions into relegation. They went down with Gateway of Abeokuta, Ranchers Bees of Kaduna and Wikki Tourists.
But on the other end, Enyimba set a new record, becoming the first Nigerian club to win the domestic league six times as they edged out close rivals, Kano Pillars.
African teams will battle for the remaining qualification spots for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup this weekend as the final round of qualifiers reaches its climax across the continent.
In Kampala, Ghana will attempt to protect a slender 2-1 first-leg advantage when they face Uganda’s U20 girls away from home.
Cameroon are also in a strong position ahead of their return-leg clash against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam after securing a 3-1 victory in the first meeting.
Meanwhile, Benin will fancy their chances of advancing when they host Côte d’Ivoire following a 1-1 draw in Abidjan.
Nigeria’s Falconets are equally close to qualification after earning a 2-0 first-leg victory over Malawi ahead of Saturday’s decisive encounter in Lilongwe.
The successful teams will join the global field for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next year.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The London Marathon broke the record for the highest number of finishers in a marathon, with 59,830 participants completing the course to surpass the mark of 59,226 at last year’s New York City event.
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe shattered the world record to become the first man to run the marathon in under two hours, followed by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also breached the two-hour barrier on Sunday.
“To then break the record of the largest number of finishers in the history of marathons underlines the inspirational nature of the London Marathon. We are incredibly proud to have set a new Guinness World Record,” said Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events.
In the women’s race, three women ran under two hours and 16 minutes in a single race for the first time ever, as Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa defended her title by shattering her own women ‘s-only world record
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
By George Akpayen
The finish line is now in sight in this season’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), and much of the talk has centred on the title race and those at the other end of the table, which surprisingly include last season’s champions Remo Stars.
However, there is another race shaping up among the leading top scorers this season, and this could see as many as six or more players going head-to-head in the final six matchdays.
Top contenders in the race for the battle for the golden boot are Enugu Rangers’ striker, Godwin Obaje and Ikorodu City winger Joseph Arumala, who have scored 11 goals apiece.
On the tails of the top-two scoring individuals are Victor Mbaoma (Remo Stars), El-Kanemi Warriors midfielder Daddy Abdulrahman, Katsina United’s Uche Collins and Emeka Obioma of Abia Warriors, all on 10 goals each.
THE PERFORMANCE BREAKDOWN
Out of the top-six leading scorers, Obaje, Arumala and Mbaoma have more direct goal involvement. Obaje and Arumala have 11 goals and two assists each, while Mbaoma has 10 goals and assists from 23 appearances, which is the least number of matches featured in among the leading scorers. Mbaoma missed most of the early parts of the season due to bruised ribs.
El-Kanemi Warriors midfielder Abdulrahman has made the most appearances among the top-six scorers and has a 12-goal direct involvement (10 goals + two assists).
Obioma is however, the only top-six scorer who is yet to register an assist this season after 26 appearances for Abia Warriors.
Interestingly, Collins is the only top-six scorer who has netted a hat-trick this season so far.
THE CHASING PACK
There is also the chasing pack in the race for the Golden Boot. One of them is Plateau United winger Temitope Vincent Adebayo, who has scored nine goals. Sodiq Ibrahim (3SC), Enyimba striker Chidera Michael, and Igbunu Evwierhurhoma of Warri Wolves.
The variety of players in the chasing pack also makes the race intriguing as they have been consistent goal scorers in recent matchweeks. They are definitely breathing down the necks of the frontrunners.
There are also the outsiders in the race. Jonathan Mairiga of Wikki Tourists, Chidozie Iwundu (Rangers) and Bendel Insurance duo of Kayode Oke, 3SC’s Qamar Adegoke and Alex Oweilayefa – all on eight goals. On seven goals is Kano Pillars legend Rabiu Ali.
WORTHY MENTION
However, Iwundu deserves a big mention among the top scorers as he is the top-scoring defender. He has made 29 appearances for Rangers and has been booked three times and sent off once.
Iwundu’s goalscoring form from his centre-back role has also been important for his club in their title aspirations this season, and his team will hope his form can continue into the final six matchdays.
No doubt, there will be twists and turns for individual glory in a race that is still wide open. Fixture difficulty, favourable run-in, struggling defences and hunger in front of goal are surely going to be among the factors that would decide who wins this race in an unpredictable league. At this point, nothing is guaranteed as all top marksmen are odds-on to claim the top individual prize.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
NPFL at 36: Why Nigeria’s League Top Scorers Rarely Become Super Eagles Legends
NPFL at 36: Between Proud History and Lingering Questions Over Quality
Thirty-Six Years After Professionalism, NPFL Still Battles Old Challenges
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- Boxing1 week ago
Usyk backs Joshua to beat Fury ahead of heavyweight showdown
- World Cup4 days ago
FIFA Plans Three Opening Ceremonies in All Host Nations for 2026 World Cup
- World Cup3 days ago
United States Unveils Hollywood-Style FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony
- World Cup3 days ago
Mexico president wavers on plan to cut school year by 40 days for the World Cup
- World Cup4 days ago
Burna Boy Joins Shakira for Official 2026 World Cup Song ‘Dai Dai’
- World Cup7 days ago
Despite 2026 Absence, Nigeria Still Leads Africa’s World Cup Winners’ Chart
- Nigerian Football4 days ago
Sporting Lagos Crowned 2026 NNL Champions After Dramatic Super Four Finale
- Premier League4 days ago
Man United’s Fernandes and City’s Shaw win FWA Footballer of the Year awards