Super Eagles interim manager George Finidi has told Nigerians to expect a new set of players when they confront the Eagles of Mali on Tuesday.
The silver medal winner at the Afcon’23 defeated their counterpart from Ghana 2-1 in Marrakech on Friday, with Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman scoring for Super Eagles and former Bendel Insurance defender Benjamin Tanimu making his debut.
Meanwhile speaking about the second game slated for next week, Finidi said they don’t want to overwork the players.
“We are going to see new players. We cannot overload the players. Some will come in, and we will see the areas where they can help,” Finidi said per NFF TV.
However, The likes of Kenneth Omeruo, Calvin Bassey, Nathan Tella, and Olorunleke Ojo are expected to be in action against the Malians.
Gombe United has been ducked three points and three goals from its total accrued for the season in a move the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) says is pursuant to its zero tolerance for assault on match officials.
Officials in the Matchday 26 fixture against visiting Akwa United were found to have been physically attacked by fans at the end of the match at the Pantanmi Stadium on Sunday, March 17.
Davidson Owumi, the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, who signed the notice warned other clubs to ensure the safety of match officials assigned to their games or face serious consequences.
The NPFL in a Summary Jurisdiction notice issued Gombe United said its findings included that Bright Nwosu, the Center Referee, Abdullahi Indabawa, the AR1, Friday Abu Emeje AR2, and Musa Hussainy Talle, the 4th Official were assaulted by the club fans.
Gombe United was charged with breach of Rules B13.52, B13.18 and C1.1 of the NPFL Frameworks and Rules which arose from failure to provide adequate and effective security leading to access to unauthorised persons to restricted areas, throwing of objects by their supporters to match officials and the visiting team and assault on match officials at the end of the game.
In addition to the points deduction, the NPFL also imposed a total fine of N3million on the club made up of N1million each for failure to provide adequate and effective security, for throwing objects unto the field of play and compensatory payments to the four match officials at N250,000 each.
The NPFL also issued an order closing the Pantami Stadium to fans of Gombe United for the next three (3) home games.
Nigeria’s Odunayo Adekuoroye is now ranked No. 1 globally in the 57 kg category with 49000 points, according to United World Wrestling‘s latest rankings.
It was gathered that her performance in wrestling at the ongoing African Games in Ghana earned her the position.
Adekuoroye defeated Zineb Hassoune of Morocco by a pinfall to win gold in the 57kg at the 13th African Games.
According to United World Wrestling‘s latest rankings, the second position is Anastasia Nichita of Moldova with 47200 points, while in the third place is Tsugumi Sakurai of Japan with 45000 points.
Meanwhile, the president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, said he was elated at the wrestler’s feat, even though she had not competed as much as she would like to.
“This ranking gives us added motivation to prepare adequately for the Olympics,” he said.
He added that they had just finished the African championships in Alexandria.
“We came with 15 athletes, won 9 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals. We had 10 women, won 9 gold and 1 silver in the female style.
“We are now getting ready for the 2024 Oceania/Africa Olympic qualifiers, which start on March 22, Greco Roman on the 22nd, female wrestling on the 23rd, and freestyle on the 24th Our goal is to qualify for about five or six slots,” he said.
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced a new date for the matchday 27 tie involving Niger Tornadoes and Shooting Stars.
The game was initially scheduled for Friday, March 22, 2024 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.
The encounter will now hold on Monday, March 25 at the same venue.
The game was moved following the unavailability of the match venue on the former date.
The NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi disclosed this in a memo sent to both clubs
Owumi urged the Ikon Allah Boys to ensure the necessary logistics are put in place for a hitch-free live broadcast of the game.
Niger Tornadoes defeated Shooting Stars 2-0 in their previous meeting in 2022.
However, Shooting Stars of Ibadan is the most in-form team in the NPFL, they are the only side with four wins in the last five NPFL matches, and they also won the most points in the last five NPFL matches with 13 points. (4 wins 1 draw).
Turkish Super Lig outfit, Gençlerbirliği have announced they have parted ways with Nigerian forward, Kayode Olanrewaju.
Olanrewaju only linked up with Gençlerbirliği from Ukrainian club, Shakhtar Donetsk last summer.
Gençlerbirliği made the announcement on their official website on Tuesday.
“An agreement has been reached to terminate the contract between our club and our Nigerian football player Olarenwaju Ayobami Kayode, who requested to leave the team due to family reasons, ” reads a statement on the club’s official website.
“We would like to thank Olarenwaju Ayobami Kayode for his efforts and services to our club and wish him success in his future career.”
The 30-year-old scored four goals in 14 league appearances for the club.
Meanwhile, Ayobami is one of the few players to have represented Nigeria at the U-17, U-20, U-23 and senior levels, has played for clubs in Cote d’Ivoire, Spain, Israel and Austria.
Following their dismal performance since the start of the second stanza of the season, the management of the Nigeria Premier Football League side Doma United under club chairman Suleiman Umar has issued a 3-match ultimatum to the players and technical crew.
The Savannah Tigers started the season like a house on fire, at some point, they were leading the table, but their form has dipped since the start of the second stanza of the season.
The football administrator expressed his concern in a meeting with the players and officials after Sunday’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Bendel Insurance.
“We did an amazing work in the first half of the season and we were up there fighting for the title but we have now become relegation contenders. And most of our performances have been awful and nothing to write home about,” he stated.
“The next three matches are very crucial for us, and we have no excuse whatsoever not to pick up at least six points.”
Doma United are winless in their last six NPFL games.
The Savannah Tigers are currently languishing in 13th place on the table.
Heartland of Owerri Coach Christian Obi has expressed delight to have broken the jinx of winless run in the ongoing 2023/2024 NPFL season as coach of Naze Naze Millionaires
Obi, who has endured a torrid time as coach of Heartland, secured his first victory after 17 unsuccessful attempts with a 2-0 win over Abia Warriors in Awka in a Match Day 25 Oriental Derby.
According to him; “The jinx has been broken. I am excited, and I want to use this opportunity to all those who have contributed your support. We are climbing the ladder, and climbing the ladder has a process. It is one after the other.”
The victory has pushed Heartland to 19th on the log on 23 points as the battle to escape the drop continues.
Heartland of Owerri Coach Christian Obi has expressed delight to have broken the jinx of winless run in the ongoing 2023/2024 NPFL season as coach of Naze Naze Millionaires
Obi, who has endured a torrid time as coach of Heartland, secured his first victory after 17 unsuccessful attempts with a 2-0 win over Abia Warriors in Awka in a Match Day 25 Oriental Derby.
According to him; “The jinx has been broken. I am excited, and I want to use this opportunity to all those who have contributed your support. We are climbing the ladder, and climbing the ladder has a process. It is one after the other.”
The victory has pushed Heartland to 19th on the log on 23 points as the battle to escape the drop continues.
Heartland of Owerri Coach Christian Obi has expressed delight to have broken the jinx of winless run in the ongoing 2023/2024 NPFL season as coach of Naze Naze Millionaires
Obi, who has endured a torrid time as coach of Heartland, secured his first victory after 17 unsuccessful attempts with a 2-0 win over Abia Warriors in Awka in a Match Day 25 Oriental Derby.
According to him; “The jinx has been broken. I am excited, and I want to use this opportunity to all those who have contributed your support. We are climbing the ladder, and climbing the ladder has a process. It is one after the other.”
The victory has pushed Heartland to 19th on the log on 23 points as the battle to escape the drop continues.
Heartland of Owerri Coach Christian Obi has expressed delight to have broken the jinx of winless run in the ongoing 2023/2024 NPFL season as coach of Naze Naze Millionaires
Obi, who has endured a torrid time as coach of Heartland, secured his first victory after 17 unsuccessful attempts with a 2-0 win over Abia Warriors in Awka in a Match Day 25 Oriental Derby.
According to him; “The jinx has been broken. I am excited, and I want to use this opportunity to all those who have contributed your support. We are climbing the ladder, and climbing the ladder has a process. It is one after the other.”
The victory has pushed Heartland to 19th on the log on 23 points as the battle to escape the drop continues.
Bala Abubakar has resigned from his position as Head Coach at Katsina United after their Nigeria Premier Football League Match Day 25 game against Sunshine Stars on Wednesday.
The former Kwara United coach decided to walk away due to a lack of a conducive atmosphere and the non-fulfilment of his contractual agreement by Katsina United.
Katsina United lost to Sunshine Stars FC of Akure at the Akure Township Stadium, with Ibrahim Yusuf scoring the only goal on the 44th minute of the match.
It has been reported that Bala has not received his monthly salary since joining the club four months ago.
Furthermore, he was twice attacked by irate Katsina United fans, with no efforts made by the interim management to intervene. On one occasion, he was rescued by heavily armed security men.
In his resignation letter, Dan Zaki has Bala Abubakar been fondly called stated, “I humbly wish to resign my position as the Head Coach of Katsina United. This is a result of the lack of a conducive atmosphere and the non-fulfillment of my contract agreements.
Afcon silver medalist Nigeria will take on Ghana’s Black Stars and Les Aigles of Mali in two top-grade friendly matches in the Moroccan city of Marrakech later this month.
This was disclosed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Communications Department.
The clash with Ghana’s Black Stars, which comes up on Friday, 22nd March, is bound to resurrect vintage memories of a 73-year rivalry involving the West African giants, dating back to October 1951 when Nigeria bounced then Gold Coast 5-0 in a Jalco Cup encounter in Lagos.
Most recently, the two teams clashed in March 2022 in a two-legged play-off for a place at that year’s FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar, with the Black Stars edging the fixture on the away-goal rule After a goalless draw in Kumasi, the Black Stars held the Eagles to a 1-1 draw in Abuja to quantify for the World Cup.
Nigeria and Mali, both teams incidentally nicknamed ‘Eagles’, last clashed in a friendly match in Rouen, France in the summer of 2016. The encounter ended scoreless.
The Eagles were to face Argentina in a friendly also in March game in the United States but it was cancelled due to logistics.
The game was also billed to hold in China but was canceled by the organizer after Lionel Messi failed to feature in a game between Inter Miami and an Hong Kong-selected 11.
While Nigeria and Ghana will resume their rivalry at the Grand Stade de Marrakech as from 4pm Morocco time on 22nd March, the encounter between Nigeria and Mali will commence at the same venue as from 9pm on Tuesday, 26th March.
Nigeria have retained the bulk of the squad that finished as runners-up at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, but have recalled England-based defender Jamilu Collins, as well as Empoli FC of Italy’s Tyronne Ebuehi and Glasgow Rangers’ forward Cyriel Dessers.
Midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi, who missed the continental houseparty in Cote d’Ivoire returns from injury, while Bayer Leverkusen of Germany’s Nathan Tella and Turkey-based Fisayo Dele-Bashiru have fresh opportunities to stake claims to permanent shirts.
England-based defender Gabriel Osho and Tanzania-based Benjamin Tianimu are teaming up with the group for the first time.
Notable names on the list are Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho, Ojo Olorunleke, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kenneth Omeruo and Chidozie Awaziem.
Others are Sadiq Umar, Raphael Onyedika, Alhassan Yusuf, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Nathan Tella and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
Joe Aribo and Samuel Chukwueze were not invited for the friendly games while William Troost-Ekong and Ola Aina are injured.
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