Nigerian Football
NPFL is 33, but 2022 marks 50 years of national league football in Nigeria 
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Professional football league may be 33 years old in Nigeria, but the history of a national league in the country dates back to 50 years, making 2022 a milestone.
Sports Village Square recalls that a football league on national basis kicked off in Nigeria on unceremoniously on 8 January 1972. But the date is never reckoned with in Nigerian football.
It involved eight clubs. The NFA at the time called for entries from the then 12 states. Zonal league and Challenge Cup zonal winners were registered.
Lagos State had Leventis Ido Tigers while Midwest had Vipers (later Bendel Insurance), From North was Raccah Rovers of Kano, Wunti of Bauchi while Enugu Rangers, the only Nigerian club never relegated, represented the then East Central State.
Also in the inaugural National League were Mighty Jets, Octopus of Port Harcourt and New Nigeria of Kaduna.
With 13 matches per club, Mighty jets emerged champions in a photo-finish contest. It remains the club’s only national success in 50 years.
In winning the inaugural league, Mighty Jets tied on 16 points, with runners-up Rangers, but had a better goal aggregate of 31. Rangers had 26 goals. An 8-0 defeat of visiting New Nigeria F.C. augmented Mighty Jet’s victory. Controversy arose as Enugu Rangers cried foul, positing that the 8-0 win was fixed.
As at 1990 when the league status was changed, only two of the pioneer league clubs remained un-relegated till the advent of the professional league. The survivors were Enugu Rangers, and Vipers (Bendel Insurance).
But in the professional football era, Bendel Insurance had since found a ‘comfortable’ domain in the lower rung.
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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