By Kunle Solaja.

With just a handful of matches left in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, the race for continental places and the desperate fight for survival have reached a boiling point on Sunday, setting up a dramatic run-in across matchdays scheduled between March 23 and 29.

Remo Stars, hoping to avert the fate that befell Shooting Stars in 1999 by becoming the first Nigerian champion to be relegated the next season, braced up with a 3-1 defeat of fellow backwater swimmers, Kwara United, in Ikenne.

Bayelsa United were the only other defending champions to have gone down the following season after going down in the 2009/2010.

At the top of the table, Enugu Rangers have placed themselves in pole position with 54 points from 31 matches, but their grip on the summit remains far from secure.

Rivers United, just two points behind with a game in hand, are poised to mount a serious challenge, particularly with a crucial away fixture against fourth-placed Nasarawa United on Tuesday, March 23.

That clash in Lafia could significantly reshape the title picture. A win for Rivers United would not only take them to the top but also deal a major blow to Nasarawa’s ambitions of breaking into the top three.

Ikorodu City, currently third with 49 points, have quietly emerged as one of the season’s surprise packages. Their home tie against Warri Wolves on March 29 presents a golden opportunity to consolidate their position, especially with several direct rivals facing tricky fixtures.

Shooting Stars, Abia Warriors, and Bendel Insurance are all within touching distance of the top three, separated by just two points. The March 29 showdown between Shooting Stars and league leaders Enugu Rangers stands out as one of the defining matches of the run-in. A win for Shooting Stars could throw the title race wide open, while Rangers will be eager to assert their dominance.

Abia Warriors face a demanding schedule with two matches in quick succession—first against Niger Tornadoes on March 23, then away to Enyimba on March 29. Maximum points from these fixtures could catapult them firmly into continental contention.

Further down the table, the battle against relegation is even more intense, with as many as eight teams still in danger.

Kwara United and Kun Khalifat currently occupy the bottom two spots with 33 points each, and both face must-win situations. Kwara United’s home clash against Nasarawa United on March 29 could be pivotal, though they face a tough opponent chasing a top-three finish. Kun Khalifat, meanwhile, travel to Rivers United in what appears to be a daunting fixture against a title contender.

Just above them, Remo Stars, Wikki Tourists, Enyimba, and Bayelsa United are all locked between 36 and 37 points, separated by the slimmest of margins. Enyimba’s clash with Abia Warriors could prove decisive—not just for their survival hopes but also in shaping the continental race.

Bayelsa United’s encounter with Kano Pillars on March 29 is another high-stakes fixture, particularly as Pillars themselves are not entirely safe despite sitting on 39 points after a points deduction earlier in the season.

Niger Tornadoes and Wikki Tourists will face off in a classic relegation six-pointer on March 29, a match that could determine which side gains a crucial edge in the survival battle.

Even mid-table teams like Warri Wolves and Barau FC are not entirely free from danger, highlighting the unusually tight nature of this season’s NPFL.

As the fixtures unfold, the league is delicately balanced between ambition and anxiety—where every point could either secure continental football or confirm relegation.

The coming week, therefore, promises defining moments at both ends of the table, with the NPFL title race and relegation fight set to go down to the wire.

• March 23: Abia Warriors vs Niger Tornadoes
• March 23:  Nasarawa vs Rivers United
• March 28: Bendel Insurance vs Plateau United
• March 28: Barau vs Katsina United
• March 29: Bayelsa United vs Kano Pillars
• March 29: Elkanemi Warriors vs Remo Stars
• March 29: Enyimba vs Abia Warriors
• March 29: Ikorodu City vs Warri Wolves
• March 29: Kwara United vs Nasarawa United
• March 29: Niger Tornadoes vs Wikki Tourists
• March 29: Rivers United vs Kun Khalifat
• March 29: Shooting Stars vs Enugu Rangers

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

By Kunle Solaja.

Sixty-eight years after the foundation was laid for what became the first modern stadium in West Africa, the historic Liberty Stadium, now known as Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, stands today as a symbol of Nigeria’s sporting heritage, though largely sustained by memories of its glorious past.

Wednesday, March 11, 2026, marks 68 years since the foundation-laying ceremony of the iconic arena conceived by the government of the former Western Region to commemorate the region’s attainment of self-government. The stadium was later renamed after the region’s premier, Obafemi Awolowo, whose administration championed the project.

Despite its historical significance, the once-celebrated sporting complex has suffered decades of neglect, particularly after its takeover by the Federal Government in 1976. Today, the arena that once earned the reputation as the “Pride of Africa” largely survives on memories of the landmark events it hosted.

The Nigerian national team last played at the stadium on July 9, 1983, defeating Togo 2–1 in a qualifying match for the 1984 Summer Olympics football tournament.

Liberty Stadium occupies about 40 acres of a 75-acre hillside site that rises gradually toward the northeast summit. Construction of the facility cost £521,050, with an additional £38,000 spent on land acquisition and £35,000 on building the approach road.

The idea for the stadium was conceived in 1957 by Gabriel Akin-Deko, then the Western Region’s Minister of Agriculture. The regional government subsequently established a planning committee comprising ministers and sports administrators, including J.O. Adigun, J.O. Oshuntokun, and J.O. Adebiyi, alongside athletics representatives Chief J.O. Ajiwunmi and J.B. Ojo.

The stadium was designed by chartered architect J.E.K. Harrison in collaboration with the Western Region Ministry of Works and Transport. Construction was carried out through direct labour by the ministry, with structural engineering support from Ove Arup and Partners and steel works executed by the Nigerian Steel Construction Company.

Officially opened on September 30, 1960—on the eve of Nigeria’s independence—the stadium quickly established itself as a major sporting venue. Its first international match came two days later when the Ghana national football team defeated Mali 5–1 in a semi-final match of the Kwame Nkrumah Cup on October 2, 1960. Ghana’s Aggrey Fynn scored after 15 minutes, becoming the first player to score in a full international match at the venue.

The stadium also hosted Nigeria’s first floodlit football match on October 11, 1960, when the Western Region team, Western Rovers, defeated Portuguese Guinea—now Guinea-Bissau—3–2.

Technologically advanced for its time, the stadium featured an underground drainage system designed to disperse heavy rain without flooding the pitch. The playing surface was meticulously maintained by Joseph Ogunyemi, the first Nigerian trained and appointed as stadium manager.

Before assuming the role in December 1959, Ogunyemi underwent 18 months of specialist training at major British sporting venues, including Wembley Stadium and White City Stadium, as well as the athletics ground of the University of London. He also attended technical courses in Paris and at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

However, his departure coincided with the gradual deterioration of the once-lush playing field, which became plagued by aridity, weed encroachment and neglect, symbolic of the wider decline of the historic facility.

Today, as Liberty Stadium marks another anniversary, it remains a monument to a visionary era in Nigerian sports infrastructure, one whose legacy still resonates even as the facility awaits meaningful revival.

Join the  Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Nigerian footballer Daniel Daga has been sentenced to six months in prison by a Norwegian court after being found guilty of committing a sexual act without consent.

The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by the Nordmøre og Romsdal District Court following a case linked to an incident reported in April 2025.

According to Norwegian broadcaster TV 2, the 19-year-old midfielder was also ordered to pay 10,000 Norwegian kroner (about $900) in legal costs, a sentence that reportedly aligned with the prosecution’s request.

Daga, who plays for Molde FK, has denied wrongdoing and plans to appeal the decision.

His lawyer, Astrid Bolstad, said the player was deeply disappointed with the ruling and insists the encounter was consensual.

“He is very upset about the verdict. He believes he is innocent and that everything happened with consent,” Bolstad said, adding that the verdict is not yet legally binding and will be challenged.

Under Norwegian legal procedures, the case remains open until the appeal process is concluded.

Club Responds

Molde FK confirmed it was aware of the court’s decision and said the player would not be included in the club’s matchday squad for the time being.

“This is a very difficult case for everyone involved,” the club said in a statement.

“As an employer, Molde Football Club has a responsibility to take care of our employees in a responsible manner while also having great respect for the seriousness of the case and the burden it places on all affected parties.”

The club had earlier suspended Daga from training and matches in December 2025 while the legal proceedings were ongoing.

Rising Nigerian Prospect

Daga joined Molde ahead of the 2025 season from Enyimba FC, one of Nigeria’s most successful clubs.

Before moving to Europe, he had featured in the Nigeria Premier Football League after earlier spells with FC One Rocket and Dakkada FC.

At international level, the midfielder represented the Nigeria U‑20 national team and was the youngest player named in the squad for the 2023 FIFA U‑20 World Cup.

He started every match for Nigeria until the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals by South Korea.

Since arriving in Norway, Daga has made 17 appearances for Molde, scoring three goals and establishing himself as one of the promising young African players in the Scandinavian league.

Reaction from Fans

The case has generated strong reactions among Nigerian football fans, many expressing shock and disappointment while drawing comparisons with similar incidents involving young African players in Europe.

Some supporters have also highlighted the broader challenges faced by emerging African talents playing abroad.

For now, Daga’s immediate future in Norwegian football remains uncertain as he prepares to challenge the court’s decision through the appeal process.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp:

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H