Nigerian Football
Remo Stars pick continental cup ticket for the third time in row
The drama associated with keenly contested leagues unfolded as the Nigeria Premier League for the season 2023/24 came to an end on Sunday.
Though the league champions, Enugu Rangers had emerged a week earlier, there were lots for the other contestants to fight for.
Expectedly, there were last match day dramas. Remo Stars did not find it easy as visiting Katsina United gave them a run for their money in a keenly contested match that Remo Stars won 2-1 in Ikenne.
The scoreline cemented their second position and a ticket to the CAF Champions League.
It is the third consecutive time the Boys from Ikenne achieved that feat in a row.
For Shooting Stars who had their best run since the 1998 season, it was near yet too far.
They were on the verge of placing third after their 1-0 defeat of the now relegated Sporting Lagos. But the win turned a vain as a related fixture in Aba involving Enyimba and Plateau United changed final position.
With scoreline still at 0-0 in Aba, it was advantage Shooting Stars. But like the strong elephant that they are, Enyimba fought harder and had two goals in the last 12 minutes of their encounter to upstage Shooting Stars and obtained a CAF Confederation Cup ticket.
While the battle at the summit was fierce, the same was the case at the lower rung.
Lagos flamboyant sides, Sporting Lagos crumbled to a 1-0 defeat in Ibadan and went down. Akwa United and Bayelsa United laboured and escaped the drop.
Nigerian Football
Nigeria’s 2nd tier league opens its new season in November
The Nigeria National League 2024/2025 season has been announced to kick off on Saturday 30 November 2024.
According to the Groupings, Southern Conference Group A comprises; Sporting Lagos, Madiba FC, 1472 FC, Gateway United, Dakkada FC, Solution FC, Osun United, Warri Wolves and Kun Khalifa.
In the Southern Conference Group B; Inter Lagos, First Bank, Smart City, Beyond Limits, Godswill Akpabio FC, Edel FC, Igbajo United, Rovers FC and Abia Comets.
In the Northern Conference Group C; Sokoto United, Gombe United, Wikki Tourists, Uejele FC, Malatarki FC, Emalex FC, Kada Warriors, Crown FC and Basira FC.
In the Northern Conference Group D; Kebbi United, Doma United, Yobe Stars, Coal City, Sporting Supreme, Adamawa United, Mighty Jets FC, Barau FC and Zamfara United.kun
Nigerian Football
Nigerian Women coaches bag CAF C-License certificates
A total of 30 women coaches who began a first-ever, three-module CAF C-License coaching course in the month of July were presented with their certificates at a colourful closing ceremony in Abuja on Saturday.
Organized by the Nigeria Football Federation, the epochal coaching course saw more than a dozen former stars of the Super Falcons involved in the intensive classroom and on-field sessions that saw the coaches proceed on internship with clubs after the each of the first modules, with the third module ending with examinations at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project, MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau charged all participants not to rest on their oars and to be more proactive in their quest to effectively utilize and impact their knowledge in the immediate society.
He noted that his dream is to see women coaches pulling their weight with even men’s teams across the land, with accomplishments to underscore the fact that those appointments were well-deserved.
“We are keen to see you utilize the knowledge you have acquired in this programme. The NFF will interface with the States that own Premier League clubs to integrate you into their system, in order that you are able to acquire more technical knowledge on the field.
“My dream is to see young women coaches standing in the dugout giving instructions in a men’s team. I will do the best I can to see that this happens during my tenure as the NFF President.”
Earlier, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi had tasked all graduands to productively apply the knowledge they have gained while taking part in the exercise, demanding that they should continue to remain as good ambassadors of themselves and the country at large.
“The knowledge you have acquired, please make sure you apply the same. It is not enough to get the certificate. We hope you will be good ambassadors of this country so that the NFF will be fulfilled, and FIFA and CAF will also be excited about this programme going forward.”
Present as well at the occasion were NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen; Deputy Director Technical, Mrs Faith Ben-Anuge; Chairman of the Benue State Football Association, Paul Edeh and; Chairman of Lobi Stars FC, Dr. Phillip Nongu.
Nigerian Football
Former NFF Protocol officer, Akpenpuun now Comptroller in Nigeria Immigration Services
Robert Terlumun Akpenpuun, a former Nigeria Premier League match commissioner as well as a protocol officer in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) who is now on diplomatic assignment at the Nigerian Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire has been elevated to the position of Assistant Comptroller in the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
His promotion to the senior cadre of the NIS comes from an unwavering commitment and dedication to duties.
According to a source in the diplomatic circle, Akpenpuun has “shown exemplary and uncommon strides in improving lives as well as upliftment of the vulnerable as well as the emotionally abused and the downtrodden in the society.”
It was gathered that he recently spearheaded the rescue of Tiv girls trafficked from Nigeria to Abidjan for prostitution.
“He has continued to be a good ambassador of his country, a beacon of hope, a restorer of norms, destinies, and dignity of his people, thus bringing pride, and honour to Nigeria,” the diplomatic source told Sports Village Square.
“As the Nigerian Immigration Service continues to drive innovations in Passport Issuance, and Corporate relationships, this promotion of Amb. Akpenpuun to Assistant Comptroller of the NIS attests to its dedication to maintaining the highest standards in its operations, at home, and in foreign missions, while achieving sustained excellence, and progress in the ever-evolving travel, and security landscape.
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