Nigerian Football
Benin City on edge for AITEO Cup grand finale
The ancient City of Benin is on tenterhooks of high expectations as all arrangements have been concluded for this year’s AITEO Cup final in the women and men competitions, holding at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Sunday.
Football fans were denied the annual serving last year as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, which has disrupted football activities and other areas of human endeavour across the universe since the beginning of year 2020.
This has further increased the appetite of fans, enthusiasts, stakeholders and those seeking the undiluted entertainment that football matches of Cup final qualities offer.
The fact of either of the two teams on both sides of the finals
winning their first major trophy nationally is another theme that has shot up anxiety, passion and expectations among their players, fans and officials.
Bayelsa Queens FC, who surprisingly pummelled perennial League and FA Cup champions Rivers Angels by five goals in the semi finals are buoyed up for a big encounter against FC Robo Queens of Lagos, who ended the expressed ambitions of Edo Queens 5-3 on penalties after both teams were stalemated following a 0-0 draw in regulation time.
The queens from Yenagoa have in their armoury a number of players who have tasted and still savouring international exposure and experience, including Super Falcons’ midfielders Joy Bokiri and Peace Efih, defender Abidemi Ibe and forwards Mary Anjoh, Joy Jerry and Charity Reuben.
While Lagos –based FC Robo Queens have produced a number of international stars such as four-time African Player of the Year and Super Falcons’ captain Asisat Oshoala and Rasheedat Ajibade, they are currently led by one of the most exciting forwards in Nigeria women’s
football, nimble-footed Gift Monday.
Former junior internationals Esther Onyenezide and Folashade Ijamilusi are also on the books of the
Lagos Dames.
In the men’s final, Nasarawa United are determined to scoop their first national trophy since the club’s formation 18 years ago.
Experience and exposure to continental football at the level of CAF Confederation Cup a few years ago was sweet, so the Solid Miners have been looking for another opportunity.
Victory on Sunday will restore them to the continent, and they bank on the marksmanship of Silas Nwankwo (who emerged top scorer in this year’s Nigeria Professional
Football League with 19 goals) and the dead ball wizardry of Chigozie Obasi to puncture the ambitions of Bayelsa United.
Nasarawa United also have the quality of Anas Yusuf, Tebo Franklin, Shammasu Mohammed, Joshua Obaje and Adamu Hassan to thrust forward at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Second-tier Bayelsa United, who have had an amazing run in this year’s campaign, upending NPFL teams Rangers International of Enugu, Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Rivers United of Port Harcourt, are hoping to become the first team from Nigeria’s second-tier to win the Cup in 20
years.
The last team to achieve that were Port Harcourt boys, Dolphins FC who bumped El-Kanemi Warriors 2-0 in 2001.
In their arsenal, they have an efficient goalkeeper in John Shaibu, and can also count on the grit, guts and gumption of former Flying Eagles’ star Bernard Okorowanta, Inikurogha Okardi, Tarabina Biweribo, Endurance Ededibiri and Gabriel Biriduba when the going gets tough in Benin City.
The women’s final will commence at 4pm, with the men’s final starting at 6pm.
At stake are prize monies of N25 million for the winner of the men’s competition and N10 million for the winner of the women’s competition.
The runner –up for the men’s competition will pocket N10 million, with the runner –up for the women’s event going home with N5 million.
Nigerian Football
Brazil-Based Nigerian Star Fashanu Michael Ifeoluwa Tipped for Super Eagles Call-Up
By Bolaji Okunola
Emerging Nigerian football prodigy Fashanu Michael Ifeoluwa, popularly known as Fash11, is being closely monitored for a potential Super Eagles call-up following his dazzling performances in the Brazilian U-20 league.
The Fortaleza FC forward has taken the Brazilian youth scene by storm, scoring seven goals and providing two assists to power his club to victory in the league — a feat that has thrust his name into Nigeria’s senior national team conversation.
Before his move to Brazil, Fashanu honed his skills at Dynamic Plus Soccer Academy, a Nigerian grassroots club renowned for grooming young talents who have represented the country on the global stage.
His exploits at the academy caught the eye of international scouts during a scouting programme jointly organised by ATJ Sports and Trivella Brazil seven months ago — a move that ultimately secured his transfer to Fortaleza.
With Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle currently assembling his provisional squad for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier playoff and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Fashanu’s form has sparked excitement among Nigerian fans and analysts who see him as part of the nation’s next generation of attacking talents.
Speaking on his recent success, the young forward expressed pride in his achievement and eagerness to represent Nigeria at the highest level.
“Winning a tournament like this in a football country like Brazil is a dream come true,” he said. “I never imagined it could happen so quickly in my short spell with the club. This success motivates me to push harder, and I look forward to wearing the green and white jersey to make my country proud if given the opportunity.”
With his pace, flair, and goal-scoring instinct, Fashanu Michael Ifeoluwa could soon join the growing list of Nigerian stars making waves from South America to the global stage — a bright prospect for the future of Nigerian football.
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Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye, became an unexpected star attraction at the just-concluded World Football Summit in Madrid, thanks to a spontaneous late-night call to Nigerian football legend, Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha.
Narrating his experience in Madrid, Elegbeleye revealed how what started as a casual conversation during the summit’s gala dinner turned into a moment of surprise and excitement for global football executives.
According to him, the gala night—attended by top football administrators, investors, and professionals—had barely begun when some guests at his table became curious about Nigerian football. One Japanese delegate from the J-League leaned in and asked, “Do you know Jay-Jay Okocha?”
Elegbeleye smiled and replied confidently, “Jay-Jay? That’s my close friend.”
That statement immediately captured everyone’s attention. Though it was already past 11 p.m. in Nigeria, a Turkish delegate urged him to place a call to the former Super Eagles captain. Amid cheers and laughter, Elegbeleye obliged—and the atmosphere changed instantly.
“The moment they saw Jay-Jay’s WhatsApp display picture, the whole table went agog,” Elegbeleye recounted. “When he answered the call, the excitement in the room was unbelievable. People from nearby tables came over just to say hello to him.”
The NPFL boss joked that for several minutes, he and his phone became the “beautiful bride” of the evening, as guests lined up to exchange brief greetings with Okocha.
But the story didn’t end there. A Portuguese investor involved in ParaSoccer, visibly thrilled after speaking with the Nigerian icon, decided to express his admiration in a most unusual way — by upgrading Elegbeleye’s hotel room from a standard single to a deluxe executive suite.
“All because I’m friends with Jay-Jay Okocha,” Elegbeleye said humorously. “Next time I check in at my regular Eurostars Madrid hotel, they’ll probably wonder why I’m not in the super deluxe suite.”
The NPFL chairman concluded the tale with a touch of gratitude and amusement: “So, thanks, Jay-Jay, for making me a temporary big man in Madrid. But no thanks — because now I have a reputation to maintain.”
The incident has since become one of the lighthearted highlights of the World Football Summit, underscoring Okocha’s enduring global appeal and Nigeria’s rich football heritage.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has slammed Kano Pillars with a ₦9.5 million fine, a three-point deduction, and an indefinite ban from their home ground, Sani Abacha Stadium, following violent scenes during their Matchday 8 clash with Shooting Stars of Ibadan.
The latest punishment adds to Pillars’ growing record of disciplinary infractions. Since 2019, the club has paid over ₦36 million in fines related to crowd disturbances and violent conduct: ₦8m (June 2019), ₦2.5m (March 2022), ₦9m (April 2022), ₦2.25m (June 2022), ₦1m (October 2023), ₦12m (January 2024), and ₦2m (October 2024).
The disciplinary action, announced less than 24 hours after the incident, follows a pitch invasion in Kano that led to attacks on match officials and players of Shooting Stars, causing widespread condemnation.
Under the NPFL’s summary jurisdiction, the league deducted three points and three goals from Pillars’ accumulated tally for breaching Rule C1.1, which prohibits assault on match officials and opposing teams. The club will now play its home games at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina for the rest of the season.
In addition, the NPFL imposed a ₦9.5 million cumulative fine on the club for multiple breaches of league regulations:
- ₦1 million for failure to provide adequate security (Rule B13.52)
- ₦1 million for failing to control supporters who harassed the away team and officials (Rule C9)
- ₦1 million for objects thrown onto the pitch (Rule B13.18)
- ₦1 million for bringing the league into disrepute (Rule C1.1)
- ₦2 million for assault on the away team and officials
- ₦2 million as compensation to Shooting Stars players
- ₦1.5 million as restitution to assaulted match officials
In addition to the sanctions on Kano Pillars, the NPFL has written to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Match Officials Appointment Committee recommending a review and possible downgrade of five referees.
The affected officials include centre referee Mohammed B. Tuta (Adamawa), assistant referees Bem Japhet (Benue) and Shehu Isah (Adamawa) from the Pillars vs. Shooting Stars match, and centre referee Ikechukwu Taiwo (Rivers) along with assistant referee Usman Opeyemi Edward (Osun) from the Nasarawa United vs. Rangers fixture.
Davidson Owumi, the NPFL’s Chief Operating Officer, reaffirmed the league’s zero-tolerance policy for violence.
“We will invoke the rules wherever and whenever required to keep bad behaviour of fans, players, and officials out of the league,” he declared.
Kano Pillars have been given the right to appeal the sanctions, although failure to overturn the decision could lead to additional penalties.
The Sani Abacha Stadium will remain closed to fans for the remainder of the 2025 season.
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