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.
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.
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.”
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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