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Nigerian Football

Enugu Rangers may emerge Nigeria’s league champions this Sunday

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier League is undoubtedly the most keenly contested in recent time as there is everything to play for till the last match day.

The battle for the title looks open and sweeping. So also is the struggle for the drop as two teams can still avoid the drop despite being deep in the relegation waters while others are within the drop zone.

For the title, it is a four-horse race equally separated along rivalry and geographical divides.

From the East are front-runners, Enugu Rangers and Enyimba who are also fierce rivals. From the West are the emerging Nigerian sensations, Remo Stars and traditional war lords, Shooting Stars.

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 Like Enugu Rangers and Enyimba, Remo Stars and Shooting Stars are regional rivals. Thus the four teams chase three continental tickets and the ultimate Nigerian title.

  Arithmetically, the four have chances of picking the title, but the odds tilt more in Enugu Rangers’ favour. If they win their match this Sunday against medium ranked Bendel Insurance and take their haul to 67 points, the Nigerian league title could be theirs irrespective of results elsewhere.

 That theory will be validated if any of the trio of Remo Stars, Enyimba and Shooting Stars should drop points in their respective duels with Sunshine Stars, Bayelsa United and Sporting Lagos.

 But if Remo Stars  beat Sunshine Stars and Enyimba also do the same against relegation prone Sporting Lagos, the title race will be thrown wide till last match day.

  Then, all the three teams chasing Enugu Rangers will be at their comfort zones at home, while the leaders will be away to already relegated and no-hoppers, Gombe United whose entry visa to the second tier NNL has been granted.

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Remo Stars, hardy known to drop points at home will face Katsina United. Shooting Stars who are having their best run in close to 30 years will be at their fortress against relegation candidates, Sporting Lagos.

Enyimba, though at home, may face stiffer oppositions as they will face Plateau United – a team that could upset the cart if they win their penultimate duel with Kano Pillars.

Key Matches

Enugu Rangers v. Bendel Insurance

Bayelsa United  v. Shooting Stars

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Sunshine Stars   v. Remo Stars

Sporting Lagos   v. Enyimba

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Nigerian Football

Nigeria’s 2nd tier league opens its new season in  November

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Nigeria’s NNL gathers momentum at Match Day 17 -

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

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Nigerian Women coaches bag CAF C-License certificates

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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.

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“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.

 

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Former NFF Protocol officer,  Akpenpuun now Comptroller in Nigeria Immigration Services

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Robert Terlumun Akpenpuun, (R) with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume

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.

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 “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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