Nigerian Football
Record-chasing Nigerian champions, Rivers United to be crowned on Sunday
This Sunday, Rivers United will have the icing on their celebration cake when they are officially crowned as Nigeria Professional Football League champions irrespective of the result in their home game with visiting Gombe United.
Rivers United were confirmed as champions on June 26 following Plateau United’s defeat at the hands of Akwa United.
The League Management Company usually presents the trophy following the champions’ final home game, where possible and this presentation will be done this Sunday’s after the matchday 38 clash against Gombe United at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.
The Pride of Rivers may have already been named champions but they can still set a number of records this season depending on their result in the final game.
Should Rivers United avoid defeat in their final match, they will beat their own record total of 74 points set on matchday 36, and become the first team to top 75 points in a season.
Rivers United also hold the record for most wins in a season (22), but it is still possible for United to reach 23, while they also hold the joint record for most goals scored in a single campaign (57).
Stanley Eguma’s side could also set a new record points margin between first and second place. They are currently 10 points clear of Plateau United, and could further created the biggest gap in the Nigeria Professional Football League history (13 points) with a win on Sunday.
Nigerian Football
Remo Stars beat Bendel Insurance to regain NPFL top spot as Enyimba crumble against El-Kanemi
Remo Stars are temporarily back at the top of the log in the Nigeria Premier League after beating their arch-rivals, Bendel Insurance 1-0 at Ikenne on Sunday.
The win gives the Ikenne side 18 points from eight matches as they await the result of Rivers United’s away duel with Niger Tornadoes on Monday for the confirmation of their match Day 8 position.
Ghanaian import, Dela Akorli’s brilliant strike in the 43rd minute gave the Remo Stars another bragging right against their rival.
In the other matches played on Sunday, Bayelsa United defeated Heartland by a lone goal.
Rabiu Abdullahi’s 55th-minute goal decided the match. With the loss, Heartland which benefited from Beyond Limits’ absence from the NPFL to be in the premier league are back again in the backwaters of relegation.
El Kanemi Warriors pipped former champions, Enyimba of Aba 1-0. The lone goal was scored by Usman Abbas at the end time of the first half.
But the result of the match still leaves the former African champions in the third position with 14 points.
Abia Warriors spanked visiting Plateau United 3-1. Although the visitors drew the first blood in the 40th minute through Adamu Abubakar, two quick goals from Sunday Megwo and Adejoh in the added time of the first half gave the home side the lead and Paul Samson put the match beyond the visitors with their goal in the 61st minute.
Ahmed Musa-led Kano Pillars could not replicate their big win against Enugu Rangers in the mid-week as they struggled to a 1-1 draw against visiting Kwara United of Ilorin.
The visitors opened the score in the 49th minute through Ismail Gata but Zilkifilu secured parity in the 57th minute of the match.
Sunshine Stars of Akure were one nil better than visiting Nasarawa United as Opeoluwa Olufemi scored the only goal of the match.
Actions resume on Monday as Ikorodu City will host Lobi Stars while Niger Tornadoes will be home against Rivers United and Shooting Stars will host Katsina United in Ibadan and Akwa United will play Enugu Rangers in Uyo.
Nigerian Football
Madugu invites Ajibade, Nnadozie, 23 others for friendly duel with Algeria
Head Coach Justine Madugu has invited captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and 23 other players for the two international friendly matches planned for nine-time African champions, Super Falcons against their Algerian counterparts in Lagos at the end of this month.
The matches are billed for the picturesque Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos Island on Saturday, 26th October and Tuesday, 29th October respectively.
It is the first time that the Falcons are playing international friendly matches on home soil since the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament which was held at the same venue three years ago. Before then, they hosted the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project, Abuja in 2014.
Madugu has also called Turkey-based defender Oluwatosin Demehin, Comfort Folorunsho of Edo Queens, Spain-based Gift Monday and a long list of home-based professionals and a couple of Falconets who featured at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia last month.
It will be the first re-grouping of the Super Falcons since the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France in the summer, and following the departure of American trainer Randy Waldrum.
The Algerian delegation is expected in Nigeria on Wednesday.
The Confederation of African Football has already approved the two games, which will be superintended by FIFA match officials from Benin Republic.
SUPER FALCONS TO PLAY ALGERIA
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Monle Oyono (Edo Queens); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders: Chidinma Okeke (Club America, Mexico); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive FC, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Edo Queens); Florence Alexander (Bayelsa Queens); Blessing Ilivieda (Edo Queens); Sikiratu Isa (Nasarawa Amazons); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Tessy Ojiyovwi (Nasarawa Amazons); Chidinma Ogbuchi (FC Robo Queens)
Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Esther Onyenezide (Hapoel Katamon, Israel); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens); Josephine Matthias (Nasarawa Amazons); Amarachi Odoma (Edo Queens)
Forwards: Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain); Goodness Osigwe (Edo Queens); Janet Akekoromowei (Nasarawa Amazons); Delight Nwosu (Bayelsa Queens); Folashade Ijamilusi (Edo Queens); Mercy Omokwo (Bayelsa Queens); Olamide Bolaji (Remo Stars Ladies)
Nigerian Football
What a day as Southwest Stars see stars!
Remo Stars were beaten by a two-goal margin as they lost 3-1 to Plateau United. The same fate befell their western neighbours, Shooting Stars who lost 2-0 to Rivers United in Port Harcourt.
Both results meant that the leadership of the league is captured by Rivers United, pushing Remo Stars to the second position after seven matches.
For Remo Stars destiny was shaped by the rampaging Franklin Anthony whose hattrick gave Plateau United their victory.
Plateau United struck early in the match, shooting ahead in the fifth minute and completed the rout in the second half through goals in the 64th and 70th minutes.
Remo Stars only stalled the tide through Jabbar Malik in the 83rd minute.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers United prevailed over Shooting Stars with a 2-0 win. After a goalless first half, Aniekeme Okon put the home side in the lead in the 50th minute and Ndifreke Effiong Udo doubled the lead in the 65th minute.
The result lifted the side into the top spot with 17 points and a better goal difference of eight which is the highest by any team in the ongoing season.
In Benin, Bendel Insurance bounced back from Ikorodu City’s defeat last weekend in Lagos and recorded a resounding 3-0 win against visiting Bayelsa United in the early kick-off tie.
Kayode Oke Solomon opened the score for the home side in the 17th minute and Nnamdi Anthony doubled the lead in the 78th minute before Micheal Enaruna scored the third goal in added time.
In Owerri, coach Emmanuel Amuneke of Heartland FC had to work harder and salvaged a point at home against resurgent Ikorodu City who scored first in the 5th minute via Salaudeen Taiwo but Chukwuma Agor secured parity for the home side in a 1-1 scoreline in the 66th minute.
Katsina United pipped Akwa United by a lone goal scored by Azeez Falolu in the 27th minute.
Action resumes this weekend as leaders, River United will play away ay at Niger Tornadoes while Remo Stars will host Bendel Insurance in Ikenne just as Shooting welcomes Katsina United and Ikorodu City will host Lobi Stars.
El-Kanemi Warriors will continue their season’s unbeaten run as they host Enyimba while Bayelsa United will host Heartland of Owerri and Akwa United will welcome Enugu Rangers in Uyo.
Ahmed Musa’s Kano Pillars will hope to continue their winning streak as the host Kwara United and Sunshine Stars will host Nasarawa United and Abia Warriors will host Plateau United in Abakaliki.
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