Nigerian Football
Shooting Stars, Remo Stars, Gombe Utd return to elite league as Niger Tornadoes rule NNL
Niger Tornadoes of Minna, on Sunday emerged as the champion of the Nigeria’s second tier football assembly, the National League (NNL) after a hard earned 3-2 win against Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan in the final match of Super 8 league at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu.
Both teams along with the duo of Remo Stars of Ikenne and Gombe United gain promotion to the elite division, the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
The quartet will replace Jigawa Golden Stars, Warri Wolves, Ifeanyi Ubah United and Adamawa United who got demoted in the 2020-21 campaign from the NPFL.
Although it could have been a complete circle for the traditional fanatically followed team, ‘Old Horse’ Insurance FC of Benin lost out to Remo Stars in the Southern Conference of the mini-tournament in a hotly contested final-match day.
Prior to that, there have been behind the scene struggle for the promotion from the southern conference of the second tier league.
Remo Stars were at advantage as Insurance needed a massive three-goal difference victory to upstage the boys of Kunle Soname.
engaged in off-field activities and their final group match ended 2-2 to give the Kunle Soname lads final ticket to the elite division.
In the end, they rallied to a face-saving 2-2 draw, a result that could not guarantee safe passage to the elite league where the Benin boys have been long time being glaring absentees.
Interestingly, Niger Tornadoes (then in Group A) and Gombe United (Group B), were relegated from the NPFL together with Remo Stars in 2019. The three of them are back together in the elite division.
Bendel Insurance and El-Kanemi Warriors, who were also relegated in same season failed in the bid to return and will have another season languishing in the lower division.
In a related development, the Football Club Owners Association of Nigeria have congratulated the four clubs from the NNL who gained promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL via the just concluded Super 8 Play-off held in Enugu.
Club owners said the four clubs showcased high level display of soccer artistry worthy to play in the top flight domestic league, the NPFL.
” We are happy to welcome you to the top flight league as worthy winners and assure you of our cooperation in the NPFL, ” Club owners said in a statement in Enugu jointly signed by the Chairman Isaac Danladi and the Executive Secretary Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka who were in Enugu to observe the Super 8 play off.
The Association urged the newly promoted clubs to speedy up their preparations cum licensing requirements in order to have a smooth take off in the Nigeria Professional Football League expected to kick off soon.
Club Owners also congratulated the leadership of the Nigeria National League NNL for a successful conclusion of the season just as it praised the government and good people of Enugu for being a good host of the Super 8 play-off.
Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye, became an unexpected star attraction at the just-concluded World Football Summit in Madrid, thanks to a spontaneous late-night call to Nigerian football legend, Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha.
Narrating his experience in Madrid, Elegbeleye revealed how what started as a casual conversation during the summit’s gala dinner turned into a moment of surprise and excitement for global football executives.
According to him, the gala night—attended by top football administrators, investors, and professionals—had barely begun when some guests at his table became curious about Nigerian football. One Japanese delegate from the J-League leaned in and asked, “Do you know Jay-Jay Okocha?”
Elegbeleye smiled and replied confidently, “Jay-Jay? That’s my close friend.”
That statement immediately captured everyone’s attention. Though it was already past 11 p.m. in Nigeria, a Turkish delegate urged him to place a call to the former Super Eagles captain. Amid cheers and laughter, Elegbeleye obliged—and the atmosphere changed instantly.
“The moment they saw Jay-Jay’s WhatsApp display picture, the whole table went agog,” Elegbeleye recounted. “When he answered the call, the excitement in the room was unbelievable. People from nearby tables came over just to say hello to him.”
The NPFL boss joked that for several minutes, he and his phone became the “beautiful bride” of the evening, as guests lined up to exchange brief greetings with Okocha.
But the story didn’t end there. A Portuguese investor involved in ParaSoccer, visibly thrilled after speaking with the Nigerian icon, decided to express his admiration in a most unusual way — by upgrading Elegbeleye’s hotel room from a standard single to a deluxe executive suite.
“All because I’m friends with Jay-Jay Okocha,” Elegbeleye said humorously. “Next time I check in at my regular Eurostars Madrid hotel, they’ll probably wonder why I’m not in the super deluxe suite.”
The NPFL chairman concluded the tale with a touch of gratitude and amusement: “So, thanks, Jay-Jay, for making me a temporary big man in Madrid. But no thanks — because now I have a reputation to maintain.”
The incident has since become one of the lighthearted highlights of the World Football Summit, underscoring Okocha’s enduring global appeal and Nigeria’s rich football heritage.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has slammed Kano Pillars with a ₦9.5 million fine, a three-point deduction, and an indefinite ban from their home ground, Sani Abacha Stadium, following violent scenes during their Matchday 8 clash with Shooting Stars of Ibadan.
The latest punishment adds to Pillars’ growing record of disciplinary infractions. Since 2019, the club has paid over ₦36 million in fines related to crowd disturbances and violent conduct: ₦8m (June 2019), ₦2.5m (March 2022), ₦9m (April 2022), ₦2.25m (June 2022), ₦1m (October 2023), ₦12m (January 2024), and ₦2m (October 2024).
The disciplinary action, announced less than 24 hours after the incident, follows a pitch invasion in Kano that led to attacks on match officials and players of Shooting Stars, causing widespread condemnation.
Under the NPFL’s summary jurisdiction, the league deducted three points and three goals from Pillars’ accumulated tally for breaching Rule C1.1, which prohibits assault on match officials and opposing teams. The club will now play its home games at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina for the rest of the season.
In addition, the NPFL imposed a ₦9.5 million cumulative fine on the club for multiple breaches of league regulations:
- ₦1 million for failure to provide adequate security (Rule B13.52)
- ₦1 million for failing to control supporters who harassed the away team and officials (Rule C9)
- ₦1 million for objects thrown onto the pitch (Rule B13.18)
- ₦1 million for bringing the league into disrepute (Rule C1.1)
- ₦2 million for assault on the away team and officials
- ₦2 million as compensation to Shooting Stars players
- ₦1.5 million as restitution to assaulted match officials
In addition to the sanctions on Kano Pillars, the NPFL has written to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Match Officials Appointment Committee recommending a review and possible downgrade of five referees.
The affected officials include centre referee Mohammed B. Tuta (Adamawa), assistant referees Bem Japhet (Benue) and Shehu Isah (Adamawa) from the Pillars vs. Shooting Stars match, and centre referee Ikechukwu Taiwo (Rivers) along with assistant referee Usman Opeyemi Edward (Osun) from the Nasarawa United vs. Rangers fixture.
Davidson Owumi, the NPFL’s Chief Operating Officer, reaffirmed the league’s zero-tolerance policy for violence.
“We will invoke the rules wherever and whenever required to keep bad behaviour of fans, players, and officials out of the league,” he declared.
Kano Pillars have been given the right to appeal the sanctions, although failure to overturn the decision could lead to additional penalties.
The Sani Abacha Stadium will remain closed to fans for the remainder of the 2025 season.
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The management of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has condemned the violent scenes that followed Sunday’s Matchday 8 encounter between Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), describing the incident as disturbing and unacceptable.
In a statement signed by the league’s Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the NPFL said it had noted with concern the reports and viral video clips showing fans invading the pitch at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, shortly after the final whistle.
“We condemn in the strongest terms any act of violence, intimidation, or misconduct directed at players, match officials, or fans,” the statement read.
Owumi assured that the NPFL had already reached out to the Match Commissioner, Referees, and officials of Shooting Stars, confirming that their safety had been secured.
The league body stated that it is awaiting the official match reports and full video evidence from the Match Commissioner and Referees before taking disciplinary action but stressed that the incident would be treated with “utmost seriousness.”
“The NPFL is assuring all stakeholders and football lovers that this isolated incident is being handled decisively, and appropriate actions will follow upon review of the full reports,” Owumi said.
He reaffirmed the NPFL’s commitment to discipline, safety, and professionalism at all league venues nationwide, warning that violence of any kind will not be tolerated in the domestic league.
“We reaffirm our commitment to maintaining discipline, safety, and professionalism at all league venues across the country,” the statement concluded.
The Sunday incident in Kano has since sparked outrage among fans and officials, with many calling for stricter sanctions to deter future acts of hooliganism in Nigerian football.
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