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Tag 2018/2019 NPFL

Sport

2018/2019 NPFL: Gombe United whip Kano Pillars 2-0

Victory
By Uwumarogie Peter
Gombe, Jan. 23, 2019 (NAN) Gombe United Football Club on Wednesday defeated visiting Kano Pillars FC 2-0 in a 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture in Gombe.

The hosts secured the two goals in the Match Day 4 fixture in the 42nd and 70th minutes through Adamu Musa and Babangida Ibrahim.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the win is Gombe United’s first this season, after they lost their first match against Kada City 2-1.

In a post-match briefing, Ibrahim Musa, the Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars FC, said the match was a good game and they were not supposed to lose it.

“I can’t speak much about my team because I left them for three months and the Kano Pillars I left is not the one I saw.

“Notwithstanding, we have to go back to the drawing board and correct our mistakes ahead of the next match,” he said.

Coach Ladan Bosso of Gombe United FC, on his part, said he felt great about the victory, noting that the match had given the team the needed confidence to push ahead.

“I thank the fans for turning out in their numbers to support the team and for exhibiting good behaviour throughout the match.

“I am also satisfied with the officiating and it should be sustained to boost the credibility of the league,’’ he said.(NAN)
UP/JI/OLAL
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(Edited by Joseph Idika and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

NPFL: Bendel Insurance draw goalless with visiting Kwara United

Draw
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, Jan. 23, 2019 (NAN) Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin on Wednesday drew goalless with visiting Kwara United FC of Ilorin in a Match Day 4 fixture of the 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bendel Insurance were playing their first home game in the abridged competition, coming after 11 years in the Nigeria National League (NNL).

Speaking after the match, Edo’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, who watched the game also, expressed satisfaction with the display of Bendel Insurance.

Shaibu said the players did a great job, adding that he was of the belief that they would continue to improve as the league continues.

“Also, both the fans and the team officials were impressed with the players’ performance,’’ he said.

In his comments also, Bendel Insurance FC’s Head Coach, Baldwin Bazuaye, expressed delight with his team’s performance, saying that it was not a bad one.

“I want to assure that the players’ performance will improve in subsequent games,’’ he said.

On his part, the head coach of Kwara United, Abubakar Bala, lauded the performance of his team and that of Bendel Insurance, saying the match was “a tough game’’.(NAN)
AJOM/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

MFM FC beat Rangers International 1-0

Match
By Olanrewaju Akojede

Lagos, Jan. 23, 2019 (NAN) A 25th minute tap-in by Kabir Adeniji made the difference as MFM Football Club of Lagos claimed the vital maximum points against visiting Rangers International FC of Enugu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Match Day 4 in the abridged 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) was played at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.

In the match which was also witnessed by Super Eagles’ Chief Coach Gernot Rohr, Adeniji scored for the hosts in the 25th minute.

Rangers’ defender Tope Oluyemisi was also sent off in the 77th minute after two bookable offences.

Speaking after the match, MFM FC’s coach Fidelis Ilechukwu said his team deserved to win the match.

“We made so many changes to the team which played our last match. I won’t say that we are lucky to win because the game was tough.

“I think the team is gradually taking shape. The team is well motivated and we deserve to win. For today’s game the win is a morale-booster.

“The win is very important to us. Maybe when we play the return fixture, we will have an edge over them,” he said.

Rangers’ coach Gbenga Ogunbote however said his team lost the match due to carelessness on the part of the players.

“We lost to carelessness. I don’t like to give excuses, but the team was not careful enough during the game,” he said.(NAN)
KOJE/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

NPFL Match Day 3: Heartland stun Nasarawa United as debutants Kada City record first win

Matches

By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Jan. 20, 2019 (NAN) The 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season continued with Match Day 3 fixtures on Sunday, but it was a much better match day than the first two.

There was action in eight of the 12 league venues with four home victories, one away win and three draws recorded in the two groups of the abridged league competition.

Three matches were played in Group A, while five were played in Group B.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that results in Group A saw hosts Kwara United defeat Enyimba International Football Club 3-2 to record their first win of the season.

It was a result which shot the Ilorin-based clubside to the top of their group, with their victims of the day closely following.

In Gombe, hosts Wikki Tourists of Bauchi defeated Niger Tornadoes of Minna 2-1 to record their first win in their very first league game of the season.

Aminu Ahmad opened scoring in the 47th minute after firing in a low drive into the far left corner of the post.

Abba Umar doubled the lead for them in the 83rd minute, before the visitors halved the deficit through Ismaila Sarki in stoppage time.

The win shot Wikki Tourists to the third spot on the group’s 12-club log, while Niger Tornadoes slumped to the 9th position.

The third match in the group saw Remo Stars and Insurance of Benin play out a 1-1 draw at the end of a pulsating encounter at the Sagamu International Stadium.

Charles Omokaro scored in the 58th minute to hand visiting Insurance the lead on their return to the top flight, but Victor Mbaoma drew the hosts level in the 76th minute.

In Group B, another away win was recorded in what was unarguably the star match of the day as Heartland FC of Owerri defeated hosts Nasarawa United in Lafia.

Samuel Nwoshiri scored the match’s lone goal in the 15th minute.

The win ensured that Heartland FC claimed top spot as Nasarawa United slumped to the eighth position on the log.

2016/2017 NPFL champions Plateau United of Jos recorded their first win of the season by trouncing El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri 2-0, after a home draw and an away loss.

Plateau United who have been ordered to Ilorin for three home league games were playing the first of the three matches.

NAN reports that Plateau United are in Ilorin as punishment for crowd trouble and assault on match officials on Match Day 1, alongside a N5 million by League Management Company (LMC).

In spite of playing away from home, the former champions demonstrated more hunger and determination, and were duly rewarded with the opening goal by Saheed Jubril in the 50th minute.

While the goal sparked a response from El-Kanemi, it was Plateau United who doubled their advantage when Bernard Ovoke scored from the penalty spot in the 68th minute.

The win shot Plateau United to 6th place on the log, while El-Kanemi dropped to the second spot.

In Kaduna, hosts Kada City FC kicked off their NPFL campaign with a 2-1 win against Gombe United.

They went ahead through Umar Mohammed’s effort from a freekick in the 19th minute.

Enesi Sani equalised thirty seconds later for Gombe United, while Sadiq Suleiman restored Kada City FC’s lead with a half-volley which proved to be the winning goal.

Kada City FC are now seventh on the log while Gombe United are 11th.

Also, hosts Kano Pillars and Akwa United of Uyo played out a 1-1 draw at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

The draw saw Kano Pillars settling in at 5th position, while Akwa United climbed to 9th.

Hosts Go Round FC of Port Harcourt were held to a goalless draw at home to FC IfeanyiUbah of Nnewi to leave both sides in 4th and 3rd positions respectively.

All the NPFL Match Day 3 results:

GROUP A

Wikki Tourists 2-1 Niger Tornadoes

Kwara United 3-2 Enyimba

Remo Stars 1-1 Insurance

GROUP B

Nasarawa United 0-1 Heartland

Plateau United 2 -0 El-Kanemi

Kano Pillars 1-1 Akwa United

Kada City 2-1 Gombe United

Go Round 0-0 FC IfeanyiUbah(NAN)
VO/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

NPFL: Kwara United beat Enyimba, Plateau United bring El-Kanemi down in Ilorin

NPFL

By Olayinka Owolewa

Ilorin, Jan. 20, 2019 (NAN) Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin on Sunday defeated visiting Enyimba International FC of Aba 3-2 to record their first win of the 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Group A week 3 match in the abridged 2018/2019 NPFL season was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex in Ilorin.

Segun Alebiosu scored a brace in the match, with Kwara United coming from behind twice to level the scores.

Ibrahim Mustapha broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, through a volley which caught the host goalkeeper off guard, after receiving a pass from Jean-Marie Guera.

Kwara United drew level in the 31st minute after a clinical finish by Segun Alebiosu who dribbled past Enyimba defenders to round the goalkeeper before scoring with a low shot.

Kwara United responded to the half-time team talk better than the visitors in the second half, with the determination to pick the maximum points.

In the 55th minute, Kwara United’s zeal to take the lead was cut short when one of its defenders was adjudged to have hacked Guera in the penalty box.

Joseph Osadiaye was on hand to make it 2-1 for Enyimba from the penalty kick spot.

Alebiosu got his second goal of the game to make it 2-2 in the 61st minute.

Substitute Mohammed Usman got the winning goal for Kwara United with a header off a cross from Uche Onwuasonaya in the 73rd minute.

Kwara United have now garnered four points from a possible nine.

They are away to newcomers Insurance FC of Benin in Week Four on Wednesday and Lobi Stars in Makurdi in Week Five at the weekend.

Alebiosu, who lost a penalty kick in the first match and scored an own goal against MFM FC of Lagos on Match Day 2, later said he was delighted to come back to scoring ways.

“I pledge to continue to score, to justify the belief the team has in me,’’ he said.

Earlier at the same venue, Plateau United FC of Jos defeated visiting El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri 2-0 in a Group B match of the NPFL.

Saeed Jibrin benefited from a defensive blunder to put the hosts ahead in the 53rd minute, while Bernard Ovoke scored the second goal to seal victory for the hosts.

NAN reports that Plateau United were ordered to play their home league matches in Ilorin after they fell foul of the NPFL rules during their Match Day 1 fixture against FC IfeanyiUbah in Jos on Jan. 13.

They are to play their next two home games in Ilorin.(NAN)
OOH/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

2018/2019 NPFL: Akwa United hold hosts Kano Pillars

League

By Mohammed Nur Tijani‎

Kano, Jan. 20, 2019 (NAN) Hosts ‎Kano Pillars Football Club and Akwa United FC of Uyo on Sunday drew 1-1  in a Group B Match Day 3 fixture in the 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).‎

The visiting Akwa United side surprised the hosts with good resilience from the first to the last blast of the whistle during the match played at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

‎‎The visitors opened scoring in the 19th minute when Ndifere Effiong scored with a brilliant effort.

Kano Pillars fought back and in the 41st minute Chris Madaki scored with a header after receiving a cross from Ali Malam.

All efforts by the home side to score more goals were abortive as Akwa United players tenaciously defended.
‎
Both teams’ coaches, Rafael Everton of Akwa United and Kabiru Baleria of Kano Pillars, however refused to speak to newsmen immediately ‎after the match.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chris Madaki of Kano Pillars was voted Man of the Match.

The award was from members of the Kano State Chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) at the stadium.

Kano Pillars which have four points from three matches ‎will now travel to Gombe to face Gombe United on Wednesday in a Match day 4 fixture.(NAN)
MNT/JPE/OLAL
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(Edited by Joseph Edeh and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

2018/2019 NPFL: MFM FC whip Kwara United 2-0

Match
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Jan. 16, 2019 (NAN) Lagos-based MFM Football Club on Wednesday defeated visiting Kwara United FC 2-0 in a Group A Match Day 2 fixture in the abridged 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the win at the Agege Stadium was a morale-booster for MFM FC who suffered a 0-2 loss on Sunday in Aba.

They lost to hosts Enyimba International FC in a Match Day 1 fixture.

The team’s goals on Wednesday came through an own goal by Segun Alebiosu in the 49th minute and a superb header by substitute Kabir Adeniji in the 76th minute.

Adeniji was easily the hero of the match as he quickly settled down after being brought in to replace Elijah Akanni in the 74th minute.

Speaking after the match, the MFM FC Chief Coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu said however that his team was not impressive in the first half.

He said if his team had lost the match there would have been a massive flushing out of players from the club.

“This is not the team I used to know. We played nothing in the first half of the game. The only difference in the second half were the goals.

“During the half-time break, I told the players that they were just playing for themselves, and were not showing enough seriousness.

“I also told them that if we lost the match, 80 per cent of them woul have to go. What I meant by this was that the club management would have to look for either another coach or the players.

“It is as simple as that. I can’t be absorbing the pressure alone. Last match I was the one, but now, it is their turn.

“We can be patting ourselves on the back for nothing,” Ilechukwu said.(NAN)
KOJE/DOE/OLAL
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(Edited by Dianabasi Effiong and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Dull opening day for 2018/2019 NPFL but Enyimba, Pillars win, El-Kanemi stun hosts

Matches

By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Jan. 13, 2019 (NAN) The 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season kicked off with little notice on Sunday, even though there was action in only six of the 12 league venues.

In spite of the situation, three home victories, one away win and two draws were recorded in the two groups of the abridged league competition.

Enyimba International Football Club of Aba kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 home win over MFM FC of Lagos at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba.

Nelson Ogbonnaya headed in Nasiru Sani’s long throw to hand the seven-times NPFL champions the lead after 13 minutes.

Abdulrahman Bashir doubled the lead for the hosts when he headed in Andrew Abalogu’s free-kick in the 54th minute.

At the Kwara Sports Stadium in Ilorin, Kwara United FC drew 1-1 at home with Sunshine Stars FC of Akure.

Sasere Franklin put Sunshine Stars ahead four minutes into the break with a lovely lob from the edge of the box.

But Kwara United were back on level terms through an own goal from Seun Olulayo who diverted Usman Mohammed’s cross beyond his own goalkeeper with 20 minutes to play.

In another NPFL game, Nasarawa United beat Abia Warriors 1-0 in Lafia.

Abdullahi Abubakar glided in Abdul Makama’s cross after 20 minutes to hand Nasarawa United all three points from the encounter.

Akwa United who recruited 13 new players kicked off their new NPFL season on a poor note, going down 0-1 at home to El-Kanemi Warriors at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium.

Kano Pillars also edged Heartland FC of Owerri 1-0.

Chinedu Sunday scored the only goal of the game in the 16th minute to hand the hosts the maximum points.

Plateau United were held to a goalless draw at home by FC IfeanyiUbah.

NPFL Match Day 1 Full Results:

Kwara United 1-1 Sunshine Stars

Enyimba International 2-0 MFM FC

Nasarawa United 1-0 Abia Warriors

Plateau United 0-0 FC IfeanyiUbah

Kano Pillars 1-0 Heartland

Akwa United 0-1 El-Kanemi Warriors
(NAN)

VO/MZA/OLAL
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(Edited by Maharazu Ahmed and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

2018/2019 NPFL: Kano Pillars off to winning start

League
Kano, Jan. 13, 2019 (NAN) ‎Kano Pillars Football Club on Sunday picked up a slim 1-0 win over visiting Heartland FC of Owerri to start their 2018/2019 NPFL campaign on a winning note.

The match which was played at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano was watched by large number ‎of spectators.

Playing with about 70 percent of their players from last season, Kano Pillars dominated the early proceedings of the entertaining encounter.

Midfielder Sunday Chinedu scored in the 16th minute, and in spite of their dominance Kano Pillars failed to add to their lead.‎

Both teams failed to convert several goalscoring chances, while Heartland FC defenders defended tenaciously.

However, acting Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars, Kabiru Baleria, commended his players for winning the game against tough opponents Heartland FC.

“The team will now work on some of the areas we have noticed now to be able to win our next away match,’’ he said.(NAN)
MNT/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)