News

NPFL: Finidi George Expresses Satisfaction at Team’s Performance

By Web News 331

By Olusegun Folarin

The Technical manager of Rivers United, Finidi George has expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance in their match day one of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, season against the defending champions, Remo Stars.

Aniekeme Okon got the first goal of the season against his former club in the 3rd minutes of the encounter before Victor Mbaoma equalised for the defending champions in the 9th minutes of the game played at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena Kuto Abeokuta.

In a post match conference, Coach George who acknowledged that the game was intense and closely contested, with both teams creating scoring opportunities said he was pleased with the point earned, especially considering the difficulty of playing away from home against a strong opponent like Remo Stars.

Attributing the conceded goal to a single costly mistake, which he acknowledged is part of the game, the coach expressed confidence in his team’s abilities and noted that they still have time to regroup and prepare for their next match.

Also, Coach Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo stars football club said a victory would have marked a significant milestone, his 100th game as Remo’s coach.

He expressed satisfaction with the result, considering the challenging nature of playing away from home against a strong opponent.

Noting that playing away from Ikenne Stadium was not an excuse, Coach Ogunmodede emphasized that his team had played well on both home and away grounds in the past.

The coach expressed his desire to face tough opponents, adding that it would help his team grow and improve.

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Sport

3SC Edges Niger Tornadoes by Lone Goal

By Web News 971

Match day 27 in the Nigerian Professional Football League was held across various venues in the country.

 In Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Shooting Stars Sports Club squared up against Niger Tornadoes at the Lekan Salami Stadium Adamasigba in a thrilling encounter on the heels of 3SC’s goalless away draw in a Southwest derby against Sunshine Stars of Akure while Niger Tornadoes had a brilliant 2-1 win against Kano Pillars.

At the blast of the referee’s whistle, the game took off at a frantic pace with 3SC piling pressure on the defense of Tornadoes.

 The effort eventually paid off in the 6th minute of the first half when Moses Omoduemuke latched on to a through ball, picked his spot and slotted calmly into the bottom right corner of the post.

The rest of the first half was largely characterised by series of misses by the Oluyole Warriors.

On resumption of the Second Half, Niger Tornadoes came out of the block flying as they took control of proceedings in the middle of the park but were unable to make their possession count as 3SC came closest to scoring in the 85th minute of play but the wood work came to the rescue of Tornadoes.

At the blast of the final whistle, Moses Omoduemeke 6th minute first half goal was enough to secure all 3points for 3SC.

Reacting to the loss, Coach of Niger Tornadoes, Abubakar Bala Mohammed assured that his boys would put up a better performance next time.

Assistant coach of Shooting Stars Sports Club, Kabiru Alausa gave thanks to God for the victory, promising to work on the conversion rate of the team to get a result in the next fixture away to Kwara United.

Shooting Stars Sports Club next fixture will be a Southwest Derby against Kwara United who lost to Kano Pillars by 2-1.

Ojeakhe Ozoya

Sport

3SC Boss Appeals for Large Turn out Against Lobi Stars FC

By Web News 480

The Executive Chairman of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, Honourable Babatunde Olaniyan (Akoro), has charged the fans and supporters of the club, to use the Easter celebration period in seeking the face of God for the progress of the club and the state.

The 3SC boss, in his Easter goodwill message, to Christians, on behalf of the club, called on them to appreciate the Lord Almighty for the grace to see this year’s celebration in peace.

“On behalf of the Management, Staff and Players of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), I want to use his medium to congratulate all Christians, particularly fans and supporters of this great club, home and abroad, on this year’s Easter celebrations.

“While I want us to thank God for the gift of life, I want to encourage us to make use of the lessons, the dead of the Lord Jesus Christ thought us and to continue to pray and hope for the best for the state”.

Meanwhile, the 3SC helmsman has called on all the supporters and fans of the Oluyole Warriors to come out in their large numbers on Saturday, to back their darling team when they take on Lobi Stars of Makurdi, in a matchday 23 fixture.

“I am passionately appealing to our supporters and fans to come out en mass tomorrow (Saturday) and be our twelfth player against Lobi Stars of Makurdi. 

“While we are fully prepared to make you happy by securing the all-important three-point, we need your presence and support for this to be achieved on Saturday,” added Honorable Olaniyan.

Oluwakayode Banjo

Sport

3SC Crushes Ekiti United 6-0 To Clinch NPFL Return

By Web News 1289

Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan, 3SC, have gained promotion from the Nigeria National League, NNL, to the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.

The Oluyole warriors secured one of the four tickets of the elite league after defeating Ekiti United by six goals to nothing at the ongoing NNL Super Eight tournament ongoing in Enugu state.

The Edith Agoye boys had opened their campaign at the tournament with a two goals to one victory over Bendel Insurance and played a one goal apiece draw in their second game against Remo Stars.

With this result, Shooting Stars finished with seven points from three matches to qualify for the semifinal of the NNL Super Eight in addition to clinching the NPFL Ticket.

Remo Stars and Bendel Insurance will jostle for the fourth NPFL ticket.

Niger Tornadoes and Gombe United have earlier clinched the first two NPFL Tickets.

Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan was relegated to the lower division from NPFL in 2017.

Olaolu Fawole

Sport

Aiteo Cup: Busari Talks Tough Ahead Of Akwa Utd Test

By Web News 707

Head coach, Gateway United football club of Ogun state, Akeem Busari says his team will not leave anything to chance when they take on NPFL leader, Akwa United in Aiteo cup on Wednesday. 

The encounter is billed for the FIFA goal project Games Village, Abuja.

Coach Busari said the clash posed a special opportunity for his boys to make the good people of Ogun state proud considering the morale of the players.

He said the players are in the capital city not to glare at the beautiful city but to conquer.

According to the media officer of Gateway United, Moses Ojewumi, the team arrived in Abuja Monday evening, and will have a feel of the turf on Tuesday by 2pm.

Olusegun Folarin

Sport

Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan Calls for Justice in Conclusion of the 2019/20 League

By Web News 1412

The management of Shooting Stars Sports Club, 3SC, of Ibadan, wishes to call on the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to allow justice and fairness prevail in its final decision making on the ongoing debate on how to end the 2019/20 season.

In a statement by the club’s Media Officer, Tosin Omojola, the management of rejected the resolution by clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, calling for the cancelation of the entire season including that of the Nigeria National League, NNL, and other leagues.

“To put the record straight, we state unequivocally, that 3SC as a club, has no business dabbling into the issues of the NPFL, which is a separate league on its own”, the statement adds.

It notes that 3SC has no issue with NPFL clubs’ decision to end the season, using the Point Per Game (PPG) format to determine who wins the league and which teams pick continental tickets, however, the concern is centered on the resolution of the League Management Company or NPFL to call for the cancelation of the 2019/20 season of the NNL.

“We wish to state categorically here that, since the NNL is not an appendage of the NPFL, it has no right whatsoever to take any decision on the running of the NNL, therefore, approving the proposal of the NPFL by the NFF, is unreasonable, disrespectful and infringing on the right of clubs in the NNL”.

The statement further explains that the NFF should know, that giving its nod to the proposal, portends great danger for the Nigerian league, considering the fact that NNL clubs are also part of the league and therefore, deserved to be carried along in decision making as stakeholders.

The club regards the proposal of canceling the season as inhuman, unfair and high level wickedness as it showed that those behind it are less concerned about the 42 clubs participating in the NNL.

“For instance, 3SC as a club, started preparing for the 2019/20 season since a year ago and you will recall that the season did not start until the tail end of October”.

The release says in preparing for the season, human efforts and huge resources were involved and canceling the season, will amount to waste of human efforts and financial resources, pumped in by the financier of the club the Oyo State Government.

“We wonder why and how the risk of embarking on rigours and tortuous journeys to different parts of the country, with attendant insecurity in some places, coupled with taxpayers money spent on the club by its financier, were not considered by the apostles of NNL cancelation”.

The management points out that the money spent on securing the services of players from other clubs, securing licenses through the registration of the players, as well as huge money spent on officials, staff and other logistics for the season could not go down the drain.

Shooting stars management therefore opines that if the NFF eventually approves or accepts the use of PPG in the NPFL, same can be applied in the NNL, a playoff of the two top teams in each group of the NNL can be organized to determine the four clubs that will be promoted to the NPFL and since the NPFL clubs have agreed that no team will be relegated, then there could be a 24 team format just like in the 2017/18 season.

The club while appealing to the NFF to toe the path of honour, honesty and transparency in taking a decision that would be acceptable to every stakeholder in the Nigerian league, which of course include clubs in the NPFL, NNL, NLO and the NWPL for the good of the game and for the sake of fair play, which is the slogan of the world football governing body, FIFA, stresses the need for the Sport Ministry and other relevant bodies concerned to allow justice and fairness to be the order of the day in order to save the nation’s football.

Olaolu Fawole

News

Sports Lovers Pray for Quick End to Covid-19

By Web News 901

Sports lovers in Akure the Ondo state capital have expressed mixed feelings following the stay-at-home order and the shutdown of all sporting activities as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Sports reporter, Isaac Afolabi who sampled their views completes the report.

Before the present situation, it is always a week full of action, be it the in the European football leagues, the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL, matches or visiting viewing and betting centres just to get the excitement of sporting activities.

Now, the story has changed, stadia, betting shops, football viewing centres and gyms have all become shadows of themselves following the global pandemic which necessitated shutting down all sporting activities.

In the Akure, the Ondo state capital, the popular Akure Sports Complex was deserted even as the ever-busy sports betting shops located around the metropolis were under lock owing to the stay-at-home order by the government.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria on this scenario, a soccer fan and broadcaster Bunmi Afuye said the weekend was just boring as he couldn’t watch the European games and visit the stadium to watch Nigeria domestic league matches.

A passionate sports lover, Mrs Ola Adelalu said the current development was painful.

On his part, a fitness trainer and a basketball player, Henry Akinlaja said although the situation was in the best interest of all he had since gotten engaged with training at home to get over the boredom.

Also looking at the economic impact, Radio Nigeria caught up with an owner of a sports viewing centre who shared his concerns.

Meanwhile, young boys on the streets have resorted to playing football on empty roads in some parts of the state capital.

Many of the respondents could not but wish that things get back to normal and quickly too.

Isaac Afolabi

Sport

NFF Mourns with Nasarawa United over Player’s Death

By Web News 865

…Suspends league matches and orders immediate compliance with NFF Medical Regulations

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has expressed sadness over the death of Nasarawa United defender, Chineme Martins, during a Matchday 23 league game against Katsina United at the Lafia Township Stadium last Sunday. 

Martins was reported to have slumped and died while in action.

NFF has therefore ordered the suspension of league matches until there is medical equipment compliance at different league venues.

This decision came after the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in conjunction with the NFF engaged the League Management Company, LMC, to review the situation. 

As an immediate first step, the NFF has directed that no NPFL league match be played except there is a full complement of the medical equipment and personnel as provided in the NFF Club Licensing Regulations. 

The effective compliance date is Saturday, March 14. 2020. 

Meanwhile, all Match Commissioners and the host FA are to ensure they inspect all the facilities including carrying out test runs before giving go-ahead for any match to be played. 

Olaolu Fawole