BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Across a spectrum of football and business sectors, stakeholders have come together to celebrate Vincent Okumagba’s birthday, this Saturday, the president of the Super Eagles Supporters’ Club.

Co-incidentally, he shares a common birthday anniversary with the late elder statesman, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the third and first black governor-general of Nigeria from 1960 to 1963 and the first president of Nigeria during the First Nigerian Republic.  Were Azikiwe alive, he would have been 120 years this day.

Okumagba shares birthday anniversary with Dr, Nnamidi Azikwe who would have been 120 years old today.

Apart from being a former vice president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), he is the MD/CEO of Pixal Petroleum.

He is being celebrated by associates who sent goodwill messages to him. Among them is Gernot Rohr, the former Nigeria Super Eagles manager who is now with rival Republic of Benin.

The president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau also sent messages. Others who sent messages are Dele Tajudeen, the Chairman of the western zone of IPMAN, and George Aluo, chairman of the NNL among others.

Former Golden Eaglets skipper, Musa Muhammed , has for the umpteenth time pleaded to with the Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu to redeem the house pledge made to the players and officials of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning team by his processor.

Today, Friday, November 8, 2024 marks the 11th anniversary when the Coach Manu Garba-led side extended the country’s grip on the cadet trophy with her fourth title following 3-0 obliteration of Mexico in the final in Abu Dhabi.

The then Cross River State Governor Senator Liyel Imoke on behalf of the people and the state, promised the Golden Eaglets team including 21 players and 10 officials, houses when he hosted the squad for doing the country proud in the United Arab Emirates at the Government House in Calabar 11 years ago

“They should help us plead with the Governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Edet Otu to help us fulfil the promise made by the previous administration since 2013. We hope and pray that the current Governor can help us and fulfil the promise made by the administration of former Governor, Liyel Imoke,” Muhammed said.

“We are hopeful the present Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu is going to help do that. The state government promised all the players and officials houses in Calabar but up till now, we have not heard anything from them.

“We have tried everything possible to reach out to the state government for them to know our plights.”

Muhammed noted that the house gift pledge made by the then Governor, Imoke was not misplaced because the Golden Eaglets spent about one and a half years altogether in Calabar preparing for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup which they won in the United Arab Emirates.

The defender opined that they would be more than delighted if the promised house gifts become a reality to the members of that Golden Eaglets team and the officials that toiled to ensure Nigeria won the cadet World Cup in 2013 despite all the odds.

“We are children of Cross River too because we had all our preparations and camping for the FIFA Under 17 World Cup there. If I am asked where I can leave besides Kano I will choose Cross River because it is very peaceful and filled with lovely people.

“I really enjoyed staying there because we stayed for almost a year and a half there camping. We have about three of our players from there. It was very exciting to us to win the World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and we would be happier if this promise is fulfilled,” he said.

Rivers United seamless flow in the Nigeria Premier League ended abruptly as the backwaters candidate suddenly got rejuvenated and inflicted a 2-0 defeat on initial table-toppers from Port Harcourt.

Even by the waterfront arena, the Mobolaji Johnson Arena which overlooks the Lagos Lagoon, Rivers failed to flow. The result meant the first defeat this season to Rivers United.

Remo Stars moved up to the top of the log again after a 1-0 defeat of Lobi Stars and the setback that Rivers United got in Lagos.  

Victory for Remo Stars at home is the icing on the cake of the Ikenne town’s celebration of its annual Ereke Day, which concluded on Saturday.

The goal that shot the Ikenne community outfit to the top was scored by Michael Okoro Ibe in the 47th minute.

In Lagos, after a goalless first half, Cole Ayomide, put the Ikorodu City side in the lead in the 48^th minute, just a minute after the goal in Ikenne that compromised the initial top position of Rivers United.

 Rivio Ayemwenre doubled the lead for Ikorodu City in the 53^rd minute. What could have turned a miserable evening for Rivers United was averted when a third goal by Ikorodu City in the 78th minute

But the struggle against relegation is far from being over for Ikorodu City as they are still one of those in the backwaters.

With 11 points, they are 17th in a 20-team league in which four will drop at the end of the season. Their fellow strugglers include Bayelsa United, Akwa United and Lobi Stars. They all have one thing in common – all within aquatic zones of either the sea, lagoon and the Benue River that linked with River Niger before flowing southward into the sea.

Apart from the match in Lagos, struggling Heartland’s heart was large enough to inflict an away win over neighbours, Abia Warriors who were compelled to drop their ammunition following a 2-0 loss.

And so, Heartland FC under Emmanuel Amuneke, continues  a dramatic recovery after a bad start in the season.

Micheal Ogu opened scoring for the visitors in the 12^th minute and Chukwuma Agor in deep into injury time added a second goal. The result practically gave the Owerri side relief as they were out of the relegation zone after amassing 12 points. They are now in the 12^th position.

While in Ijebu Ode, Bendel Insurance recovered from their last week’s home defeat as they inflicted the same fate on Sunshine Stars of Akure.

Kayode Oke Solomon opened the score for the visitors in the 17^th minute but the home side away from home secured parity in the added time of the first half. But Nnamdi Anthony got the winning goal for Insurance in the 60^th minute.

In Enugu, the defending champions secured a two-nil win through Godwin Obaje with the first in the 50^th minute and another in the 60^th minute via a penalty kick.

El-Kanemi Warriors pipped visiting Katsina United by a lone goal while Akwa United won 2-1 against visiting Kwara United. Chijioke Alaekwe opened score for the home side in the 17^th minute but Emmanuel Ogbole restored parity in the 32^nd before Ebedebiri Endurance scored the winner in the 60^th minute via a penalty.

The win still leaves Akwa United, nine points,  in the relegation zone. They are 19th on the log.

In Yenagoa, Bayelsa United forced visiting Enyimba to a 1-1 draw. Eneke Awazie had put the visitors in front in the 29^th minute but Magbisa Wisdom scored the equaliser in the 36^th minute.

In Kano, two late goals from veterans, Rabiu Ali and Super Eagles off-field captain Ahmed Musa gave host Kano Pillars a 2-1 win against Plateau United.

After an uneventful first half, the visitors opened score in the 66^th minute through Gafar Saka before Rabiu Ali restored parity in the 76^th minute and Musa scored the winner deep inside injury time.

While in Minna, Niger Tornadoes dismissed visiting Shooting stars of Ibadan with goals from Joseph Godstime in the 30^th minute and Mendos Rickson in the 88^th minute.

NPFL RESULTS

El-Kanemi 1-0 Katsina Utd

Abia Warriors 0-2 Heartland

Akwa Utd 2-1 Kwara Utd

Bayelsa Utd 1-1 Enyimba

Rangers 2-0 Nasarawa

Ikorodu City 2-0 Rivers Utd

Kano Pillars 2-1 Plateau Utd

Tornadoes 2-0 Shooting StarsSunshine 1-2 Insurance