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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

MFM FC suffer home defeat, lose to Abia Warriors

MFM FC suffers home defeat against Abia Warriors

Defeat

By Olanrewaju Akojede

Lagos, May 13, 2018 (NAN) Lagos-based MFM Football Club on Sunday tasted a home defeat as a more resolute Abia Warriors beat them 1-0  in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 18 fixture.

In the match played at the Agege Stadium in Lagos, Ndifereke Effiong scored in the 54th minute to hand the visiting Umuahia-based side their first away win of the season.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visitors were the better team for most period of the match.

They absorbed all the pressure from the home team duo of Sikiru Olatunbosun and Akuneto Chijioke, just as Effiong was also a thorn in the flesh of MFM FC defenders.

Chisom Kizito was able to clear a goalbound glancing header from Akuneto in the 38th minute, while MFM FC wasted an opportunity to level in the 76 thminute through Olatunbosun.

Speaking after the match, Effiong said it was a sweet victory for the club, and it would spur them to other away victories.

“This win is unexpected, especially against a big team like MFM FC. I must say that it was a sweet victory for us and I hope we will have more away wins,” he said.(NAN)

KOJE/OLAL

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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Akuneto’s brace gives MFM FC victory over Katsina United

Match
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, March 25, 2018 (NAN) Lagos-based MFM Football Club on Sunday came from a goal down to defeat visiting Katsina United FC 2-1 in a 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 14 fixture.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match played at the Agege Stadium saw the hosts fighting back to claim a win through a brace by substitute Chijioke Akuneto.

MFM FC Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu made two changes to the team which defeated Heartland FC of Owerri 3-0, with goalkeeper Ospino Egbe replacing Folarin Abayomi.

Also, Ayinde Abiodun also led the attack in place of Flying Eagles’ call-up Jesse Akila.

The visitors however drew the first blood through Garba Yashua in the 37th minute.

At the restart, Akuneto came in for Akinyemi while Abiodun made way for Waheed Akanni.

The substitution brought almost instant result as Akuneto struck in the 49th minute with a well-taken free-kick to draw MFM FC level.

He made it a brace in the 67th minute, after utilising a deft pass from Chukwuka Onuwa.

Speaking later, Akuneto said the win was a sweet victory for his team’s hard labour.

“We struggled at first, but it was a sweet victory for the team from hard labour. We are happy to take the three points and that is what is most important for us,’’ he said.(NAN)
KOJE/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

CAF Champions League: MFM FC beat MC Alger 2-1

NAN-S-12
Match
By Olanrewaju Akojede/Mariam Akande
Lagos, March 7, 2018 (NAN) MFM Football Club of Lagos on Wednesday beat visiting MC Alger of Algeria 2-1 in the first leg tie of their CAF Champions League first round pairing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chijioke Akuneto gave the home team the lead in the 36th minute of the game through a well-taken penalty kick.

They however wasted many scoring chances afterwards, missing many chances which could have sealed the game in the first half and seal the fixture altogether.

The second half of the match was however dramatic as MC Alger’s Abdul-Aziz Amma restored parity with a cheeky goal in the 49th minute.

Monsuru Bashiru brilliantly lifted over the MC Algers goalkeeper in the 87th minute to score and ensure the win over the visiting team.

Commenting on the match, MFM FC’s coach Fidelis Ilechukwu said it was possible for his team to turn things around in Algeria.

“I know that it is going to be difficult in Algiers, but in football everything is possible. We have everything to qualify in Algeria.

“They are a tactical side and we have advantage as well. In Algiers, two things will happen, MFM will go all out against them for a win or we lose and come back here preparing again.

“We have the advantage of sun here but we failed to use it. I think if I as a coach had the advantage I will use it,’’ he said.

Ilechukwu added that his team was in a process, and he was still not satisfied with the strength of the team.

“I have read a lot of reports in the media about me castigating the team. That is true. When I have the team that I am satisfied with, I will tell the media.

“I need to work on the midfield because our opponents today played a 3-5-2 formation and played on the counter,’’ he said.(NAN)
OMA/KOJE/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Coach says MFM FC’s home draw with Lobi Stars sad development

NAN-S-10

Draw

By Olanrewaju Akojede

Lagos, Feb. 25, 2018 (NAN) Lagos-based MFM FC on Sunday drew goalless with visiting Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, with coach Fidelis Ilechukwu describing the situation as saddening.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 10 ended goalless in spite of the many scoring chances created by both teams.

Most of the chances created were wasted by MFM FC through Akila Jesse, Waheed Akanni and Sikiru Olatunbosun, with Olatunbosun wasting most of the chances created by the hosts.

The visiting team also had their moments, but Samad Julius and former MFM FC player Austine Ogunye failed to convert their goal scoring chances in the 53rd and 77th minutes.

Ilechukwu, however, described the match result as a sad news and a sad day for the team.

He however said their current continental campaign did not have any negative impact on the match.

MFM FC had qualified for the second round of the CAF Champions League with a 1-0 win over AS Bamako of Mali in Lagos on Wednesday.

The result gave them a 2-1 aggregate win to advance.

“It is a sad day and bad news for us. But we can only try our best and the best is not good enough. But the midweek match did not affect the tperform, we are not worn out.

“I would have expected the players who did not play in the continental fixture to perform, but it was not meant to be as they failed to spark.

“It is also too early for us to be dropping points at home. It is not good for the team in any way. But, maybe, we can be compensated in our next match against Sunshine Stars.

“The draw though is a setback, but if other big teams like Real Madrid and FC Barcelona can drop points at home, who are we not to drop points? We will go back to the drawing board to correct the situation,”” Ilechukwu said.(NAN)

KOJE/DOE/OLAL

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(Edited by Dianabasi Effiong and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

CAF Champions League: MFM FC coach says away draw proves a point

NAN-S-5
Draw
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Feb. 12, 2018 (NAN) Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu says the away draw MFM Football Club of Lagos recorded at Bamako in Mali on Sunday in the CAF Champions League will prove their critics wrong.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that MFM FC secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw with AS Real Bamako at the Stade Modibo Keita Stadium in Bamako.

Mohammed Camara’s 17th minute headed goal in the first leg tie of their preliminary round fixture drew the home side level.

MFM FC had drawn the first blood through Akinyemi Nojeem’s lovely strike, off a pass from Okorom Stanley.

However, Ilechukwu told NAN that their performance in the match proved those who doubted them wrong in their assessment of the possibility of getting an away point.

“It was a great match for my team and it is also important to us because a draw in this competition is something to cherish.

“Nobody gave us a chance to pick an away point, because we were being measured by our standard in the ongoing local league, where we are yet to pick an away point.

“However, our strategy against AS Bamako was to secure the three points away, which did not eventually materialise.

“In that match, to me the only thing we could do was to defend our goal.

“We had to defend well since it was impossible to score against them and I thank God for the boys who did their best. But, coming home, we will want to finish it off,’’ he said.(NAN)
KOJE/ENN/OLAL
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

CAFCL: MFM FC claim away draw against Real Bamako of Mali

NAN-S-13
League
Abuja, Feb. 11, 2018 (NAN) MFM Football Club of Lagos were held to a 1-1 draw by hosts Real Bamako of Mali in their preliminary round tie in the 2018 CAF Champions League on Sunday.

Playing their first-ever competitive game on the continent, MFM FC acquitted themselves well in the first leg game at the Stade Modibo Keita in Bamako.

This was in spite of a bright start by their hosts, and they took a shock lead in the 15th minute through Nojeem Akinyemi.

The lead however lasted only two minutes before Miakab Giscard levelled scores for the home team with a powerful header.

The visitors suffered a setback five minutes before the break when reliable forward Adekunle Adegboyega was substituted by Akuneto Chijioke due to injury.

Real Bamako piled on the pressure in the second half but Ospino Egbe stood firm in goal for the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL runners-up from last season.

Dimunitive playmaker Chukwuka Onuwa was forced off in the 66th minute due to injury and was replaced by Ubamaka Peter.

Amadou Hiadara came close to scoring the winning goal for Real Bamako five minutes before the end of the game but his free header went off target.

The return leg fixture will come up in a fortnight at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.(NAN)
VO/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)