Nigerian Football
ENYIMBA TURN ATTENTION TO LOCAL LEAGUE AFTER CONTINENTAL OUSTER
BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE
After their failed continental campaign which ended last Sunday, defending champions, Enyimba will now have to concentrate on the domestic scene.
Although placed ninth on the log, the People’s Elephant have enough outstanding matches and the experience to navigate the business end of the season.
At the moment, the Aba-based side are 13 points adrift of leaders Plateau United, who have played five matches more.
Enyimba and their guests this evening, Sunshine Stars have had four head-to-head clashes in Aba with the home side winning all but one, which ended goalless on Augusts 3, 2016.
The Akure Gunners prevailed in the first leg this season 1-0, played last November 20.
The last time Enyimba filed out in the NPFL was on February 23 in Lafia and they were smashed 0-2 by Nasarawa United to end a five-match winning streak.
Sunshine Stars won at home last Sunday pipping Abia Warriors 1-0 after crashing 0-3 away to Warri Wolves the previous week.
The five matches have fetched the Stars seven points (2-1-2) to keep them at No 4, nine points short of the leaders.
Nasarawa United, who lost defender, Chineme Martins in avoidable circumstances last Sunday at Lafia Township Stadium as they bashed Katsina United 3-0, travel to nearby Jos to take on table-toppers Plateau United.
Only two teams – Akwa United and Kano Pillars – have left the New Jos Stadium with a point each in 11 matches by Plateau United on that ground this season.
And Nasarawa United have proved to be featherweights against Plateau United in Jos having lost all their previous three games there.
Nasarawa United, in 14th spot but only one point up the relegation zone, are not so impressive away. Apart from shocking Dakkada FC in Uyo 3-0 on Matchday 15, Nasarawa have lost eight times on the road in 11 fixtures.
Second placed Rivers United are in Enugu as guests of Rangers. Seven places and 11 points separate both teams with Rangers however having an outstanding away match against Enyimba.
Both sides won their last fixture by same margin – 1-0 – at home; Rangers against Katsina United and Rivers versus FC Ifeanyi Ubah.
For the Flying Antelope, that result made it three straight wins at The Cathedral since losing on their hallowed ground 1-2 to Akwa United on February 16.
On their part, River United only got broken by Kwara United’s 1-1 in Ilorin in their last five games, which included 2-0 triumph in Okigwe against Heartland.
In 11 head-to-head clashes between Rangers and Rivers United in Enugu, the home side have won nine times and never lost, the last five encounters producing positive results for the hosts.
Lobi Stars are in Okigwe to challenge Heartland for three points. The Ortom Boys from Makurdi made their title ambition difficult having squandered maximum points in their last two home matches – 0-0 against leaders Plateau United, followed by 2-2 while hosting Kano Pillars last Sunday.
That has now kept the 2018 champions in third spot and three points behind the leaders.
Heartland also suffered reverses in recent time. Their 5-0 humiliation of bottom placed Adamawa United in Okigwe could not be sustained as two defeats – including to Rivers United at home – were to follow, in between a goalless result in Lagos against MFM.
Heartland are only two points ahead of the bottom four.
Last time away to Heartland on March 4, 2018, Lobi Stars succeeded 1-0 in Okigwe as they went ahead to win the title while Heartland got relegated being the last team on the log.
Heartland have however won their head-to-head encounters seven other times and drawn two others. Lobi were rampant when both sides last met in Makurdi winning 3-0.
Dakkada FC were sensational in the earlier part of the season. But the promoted side have since returned to normal duty, although they still feature in the elite zone of the table being in fifth place only as a result of fewer goals score compared to Sunshine Stars.
In Nnewi against FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Dakkada will be seeking their second away victory to add to the 2-0 defeat of Rangers in Enugu on November 24.
Their lone goal win over Heartland in Uyo last Sunday marked their only triumph in the last seven matches.
FC Ifenanyi Ubah, who will go for revenge having lost 0-1 in the first leg in Uyo, returned from Port Harcourt last time out with no point as Rivers United won 1-0.
They have won two times – 3-1 against Sunshine Stars and 1-0 versus MFM – in their last two home games.
Akwa United missed action a week ago because their opponents Enyimba had international match.
The Promise Keepers are in Katsina this time to hunt for points and improve their sixth position, while Katsina United, who suffered back-to-back defeats to Nasarawa United and Rangers in one week, will be determined to make amends and move up from No 12.
Kano Pillars, No 7 on the log and with a match in hand, will face Jigawa Golden Stars, who have been using the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano this season.
The home crowd will no doubt be massive for Pillars whose last match ended 2-2 in Makurdi against Lobi Stars, on the day the Stars beat Kwara United 2-1 at the same venue of this evening’s derby.
Of the teams involved in the remaining fixtures, only Warri Wolves cannot drop to the relegation zone. Adamawa United, Kwara United and Abia Warriors are already in the red zone, while Wikki Tourists and MFM are potential candidates.
Fixtures…
- Kano Pillars v Jigawa Golden Stars
- Rangers v Rivers United,
- Abia Warriors v Adamawa United
- Warri Wolves v MFM
- Enyimba v Sunshine Stars
- Kwara United v Wikki Tourists
- Plateau United v Nasarawa United
- Katsina United v Akwa United,
- Heartland v Lobi Stars
- FC Ifeanyi Ubah v Dakkada FC
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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Nigerian Football
NFF Congress Approves Statutes Amendments, Electoral Committees Ahead of 2026 Elections
The Extraordinary General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has approved sweeping reforms to its governing framework, including amendments to its statutes and electoral processes, as preparations intensify for the federation’s 2026 elections.
At the meeting held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Congress unanimously endorsed proposals from the NFF Executive Committee to amend the NFF Statutes (March 2026 Edition), the Electoral Code and the Standing Orders of the General Assembly.
In a major step toward the next electoral cycle, Congress also ratified the composition of both the NFF Electoral Committee and the Electoral Appeals Committee. The decision followed nominations by leaders of the country’s six geopolitical zones, with 12 individuals selected to serve across the two bodies.
Those appointed include Matthew Burkala (SAN) and Emmanuel Dada Obafemi (North Central); Alhaji Babagoni Grema and Barrister Benjamin Sak (North East); Bature Musa and Professor Abdulmalik Awwal (North West); Justice C.J. Aneke and Arinze Azubuike Anughere (South East); Akogun Olugbenga Omole and Abayomi Akin Omoyimi (South West); as well as Ayibaye Peter Great Temedie (Esq.) and Ayi Ekpo Ukpayam (South South).
The members are scheduled to be inaugurated in Abuja on March 25, 2026, where they will constitute the two committees and elect their respective chairmen. In line with the Electoral Code, the Electoral Committee will comprise five full members and two alternates, while the Appeals Committee will have three full members and two alternates.
Congress further approved the appointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the new independent auditor of the federation for an initial four-year term, following what was described as a rigorous selection process involving seven firms. The Assembly commended outgoing auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for their nine years of service.
Looking ahead, the Congress fixed September 26, 2026, for the NFF Elective Congress, which will take place in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
In addition, members passed a unanimous vote of confidence in the NFF Executive Committee led by President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, praising its efforts in promoting and developing football across Nigeria.
The communiqué was drafted by a committee chaired by Mohammed Nasir Saidu, with Hajji Gafaar Liameed, Davidson Owumi, Yakubu Salma, Coach Ladan Bosso and Dr Ademola Olajire serving as members.
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