Nigerian Football
RIVERS UNITED DROWN WARRI WOLVES TO PICK QUARTERFINALS SLOT IN AITEO CUP
BY SAMMY WEJINYA.
Well-taken goals by Ossy Martins and Kehinde Adedipe, either side of half time,
gave Rivers United a 2-0 win over Warri Wolves in a 2019 AITEO Cup round of 16
game on Sunday.
United uncharacteristically made a slow start to the game but Wolves failed to
make their early territorial advantage count.
The Port Harcourt side was always going to up the ante and when it happened, it
was with deadly efficiency.
A Peter Ubakanma free kick caused havoc in the Wolves box in the 14th minute
and with the Warri club failing to clear their lines, predatory forward,
Martins, lurking dangerously in the box, pounced and prodded home to give
Rivers United the lead.
Martins thought he’d doubled United’s lead in the 19th minute when he shot
fiercely into the top corner but the effort was correctly chalked off for
offside.
United were the superior side in the first half and deservedly took the
solitary advantage into the break.
Wolves improved markedly in the second half and just when it looked like they
had gained a foothold in the game, they were hit by a sucker punch by United
who scored their second in brilliant fashion just after the hour mark.
Adedipe was the man on the money as he waltzed past the Wolves defence before
rounding off the spectacular solo effort with a firm strike, which the Wolves
goalkeeper, Mamudu Belema failed to hold.
The United technical manager, Stanley Eguma was pleased with his side’s efforts
on the day which eventually delivered a quarter final ticket as he addressed
the media afterwards.
“First, I commend my players for winning this game which was not easy at all as
Wolves came here (the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, venue of the game) with
the intent of winning,” Eguma told the Rivers United official website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng.
“Wolves gave us a good run for our money but we were better than them in the
end.
“We showed our experience and our tactics was spot on,” he said.
The Wolves coach, Kester Osagie also voiced his sentiments after the game.
“It was a good game when we first started and I wuish them the best of luck
(for the rest of the competition). Rivers United is a good side,” he said.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will on Thursday, April 2, 2026 inaugurate its Electoral Committee and Electoral Appeals Committee, marking a key step in preparations for the federation’s next executive elections.
The inauguration ceremony will take place at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja and will be presided over by NFF President and WAFU B Zone President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
The two committees were constituted during last week’s Extraordinary General Assembly held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, as part of the roadmap towards the NFF Elective Congress scheduled for September 26 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
A total of 12 members have been appointed across both bodies. The Electoral Committee will comprise seven members, including a chairperson, vice chairperson and three other full members, alongside two alternates. The Electoral Appeals Committee will have five members, made up of three full members and two alternates.
According to the NFF, the Electoral Committee will oversee the entire electoral process in line with the provisions of the federation’s Statutes (March 2026 edition) and Electoral Code (March 2026). Its responsibilities include organizing, conducting and supervising elections into the NFF Executive Committee.
Those appointed into the two committees include Matthew Burkala (SAN), Hon. Justice C.J. Aneke, Emmanuel Dada Obafemi, Babagoni Grema, Benjamin Sak, Bature Musa and Professor Abdulmalik Awwal. Others are Arinze Azubuike Anughere, Dr Akogun Olugbenga Omole, Abayomi Akin Omoyimi, Ayibaye Peter Great Temedie and Ayi Ekpo Ukpayam.
Thursday’s inauguration is expected to formally set the committees in motion, with their immediate mandate being to lay the groundwork for a transparent and credible electoral process leading to the September congress.
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Nigerian Football
NSC, Edo FA Back Ikhana Football Academy, Set to Adopt Model for Youth Development
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, and the Edo State Football Association have pledged strong institutional support for the newly launched Kadiri Ikhana Football Academy (KIFA), describing it as a model for grassroots football development in Nigeria.
The commitment was made during the official unveiling of the academy in Auchi, Edo State, on Saturday, where stakeholders praised the initiative of former Nigerian international, Kadiri Ikhana.
Represented at the event by his aide, Ebidowei Oweife, Olopade commended Ikhana for establishing an academy that integrates football training with formal education, noting that the Commission intends to nurture and replicate the model across the country.
“We are happy that a person of the calibre of Coach Kadiri Ikhana has taken this initiative. He is not only a member of the historic 1980 Green Eagles squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations but also the first Nigerian coach to win the CAF Champions League with Enyimba,” Olopade said.
Declaring the project a priority, the NSC boss added, “The academy is our baby, and we shall adopt it. We are particularly impressed that it combines football with schooling. We want the students to take their education seriously alongside their football careers. The NSC will definitely support this project.”
Also throwing its weight behind the initiative, the Edo State Football Association described the academy as a significant step toward youth empowerment and football development in the state.
Chairman of the association, Fred Newton, who was represented at the ceremony, praised Ikhana for investing his experience and knowledge in grooming the next generation of players.
“We are delighted that you have chosen to give back by shaping young talents in Edo State. This initiative will have a lasting impact not only in Edo North but across the entire state. We are fully behind you and will support you in achieving your goals,” Newton stated.
The Kadiri Ikhana Football Academy is expected to serve as a hub for nurturing young football talents while ensuring their academic growth, aligning with broader efforts to create a more structured and sustainable pathway for sports development in Nigeria.
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By Kunle Solaja.
For the fourth time, the elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, will be held in September. It is a pattern that evolved in Warri in 2014 when Amaju Pinnick was elected on 30 September.
Four years later in Katsina, another elective congress was held in Katsina on September 20. Four years ago in Benin, the 30 September election brought in Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
Another September fever is in the offing as the NFF will hold its next Elective Congress on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.
The decision was ratified by the NFF Extraordinary General Assembly at its meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, as part of resolutions aimed at setting the stage for the federation’s next leadership cycle.
The Elective Congress will determine the composition of the NFF Executive Committee, including the election of a president and other key officials to steer the affairs of Nigerian football for the next term.
By fixing both the date and venue several months in advance, the federation is expected to provide ample time for electoral preparations, including the nomination of candidates, screening processes and compliance with provisions of the NFF Statutes and Electoral Code.
The choice of Lafia underscores the NFF’s continued rotation of major football events across different parts of the country, while also aligning with efforts to ensure a transparent and orderly electoral process.
Further details regarding the election timetable and guidelines are expected to be released by the NFF Electoral Committee in the coming months.
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