Nigerian Football
LEICESTER BOSS, RODGERS, SALUTES NDIDI’S IMPACT IN WIN OVER LIVERPOOL
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has praised the impact of Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi on his side’s 3-1 win over Liverpool this past weekend.
The Foxes handed the Reds a third straight Premier League defeat and effectively ended their hopes of retaining the title with a come-from-behind triumph at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead midway through the second half, but Leicester roared back with three goals in the space of seven minutes, as James Maddison, Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes all found the back of the net.
The final goal from Barnes was the best of the trio and was created by Ndidi, whose perfectly weighted pass allowed the English attacker to race through and score past goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Assists are not usually Ndidi’s forte, with the Super Eagles star more renowned for doing the dirty work in the middle of the park – something Rodgers always appreciates.
“All the stats show you when he plays for us the difference he makes, and for him even to get an assist for the third goal was very pleasing,” said the Foxes manager after the match.
“But at the highest level of the game you need someone who can recover you the ball, especially when you’ve talented players and he’s one of the best in the Premier League at that, so he was colossal today for us, and he really typified a really good team performance.”
Ndidi has made 12 Premier League appearances in the 2020-21 season, registering one goal, one assist and two yellow cards.
Nigerian Football
Remo Stars win Star War against Sunshine Stars to take temporary NPFL lead
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
Nigerian Football
Westerhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
Nigerian Football
Plateau United’s Doyeni is first scorer of Season 2024/25
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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