Tag: General Sports

Shooting Stars head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, has appealed for calm and patience from fans after his team’s 1-1 draw against Plateau United at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Sunday.

The Ibadan club’s winless streak continues, but Ogunbote remains confident that his team will turn the corner soon.

“Today’s game was quite unfortunate. We had difficulties with anxiety, but if you look at the team, it’s a relatively new team trying to get ourselves playing on the field for the first time and impress our supporters,” he explained.

READ MORE: NPFL: Finidi George Insists Rivers United deserved victory over Heartland

Ogunbote’s assessment is justified, considering the team’s promising display against Plateau United. However, the inability to secure all three points has raised concerns among fans.

The coach acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, particularly in finishing and consistency. “We created chances, but couldn’t capitalize on them. We’ll work on our finishing and try to be more clinical in our next match,” he vowed.Shooting Stars are winless this season

Shooting Stars will face increased pressure to deliver a win in their next outing. With talented players at their disposal, Ogunbote’s side has the potential to climb the NPFL standings.

Key Stats:

– Shooting Stars: 1 draw, 0 wins from 2 matches
– Plateau United: 1 draw, 1 loss from 2 matches
– Gbenga Ogunbote: 1 draw, 0 wins as Shooting Stars head coach

Upcoming Fixtures:

Shooting Stars will take on Bendel Insurance away from home next week before hosting Amunike’s Heartland FC a on the 29th of September.

 

Shooting Stars’ next match will be crucial in determining their momentum this season.

Fans will be watching anxiously to see if Ogunbote’s team can finally secure their first win.

Follow us for more updates on the Nigeria Premier Football League and other sports news.

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The second matchday of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) witnessed exciting encounters across various venues.

Katsina United recorded their first win of the season, while Remo Stars maintained their perfect start.

Katsina United vs. Bendel Insurance

At the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina, the hosts secured a 2-1 victory over Bendel Insurance.

READ MORE: Ogunbote pleads for patience as Shooting Stars search for first win

James Orosanye put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute, but Lukman Bello equalized for Katsina United just five minutes later. Azeez Falolu scored the winner in stoppage time, handing Katsina United their first win of the season.

Bayelsa United vs. Kano Pillars

In Yenagoa, Bayelsa United forced Kano Pillars to a 1-1 draw at the Samson Siasia Stadium. Auwalu Ali Malam opened the scoring for Kano Pillars four minutes before halftime, but Rabiu Abdullahi equalized for Bayelsa United in the 59th minute.

Niger Tornadoes vs. Nasarawa United

Niger Tornadoes and Nasarawa United played out a goalless draw at the Bako Kotangora Stadium in Minna.

Akwa United vs. Abia Warriors

At the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa United needed a late penalty kick to secure a 1-1 draw against Abia Warriors. Adejoh Ojonugwa scored for Abia Warriors in the fourth minute, but Edidiong Ezekiel equalized for Akwa United from the penalty spot in stoppage time.

Shooting Stars vs. Plateau United

Shooting Stars were held to a 1-1 draw by Plateau United at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. Victor Dawa scored for Plateau United in the 39th minute, but Uche Onwuasoanya equalized for Shooting Stars just before halftime.

Remo Stars vs. Sunshine Stars

Remo Stars maintained their perfect start with a 1-0 win over Sunshine Stars. Ibrahim Shuaibu scored the winner in the seventh minute.

Rivers United vs. Heartland

Rivers United secured their first win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Heartland.

Taofeek Otaniyi scored for Rivers United in the third minute, but Christian Molokwu equalized for Heartland in the first-half stoppage time. Kabir Abdullahi scored twice in the second half to seal the win for Rivers United.

Full results:

Akwa United FC 1-1 Abia Warriors FC

Bayelsa United FC 1-1 Kano Pillars FC

Katsina United FC 1-1 Bendel Insurance FC

Niger Tornadoes FC 0-0 Nasarawa United FC

Shooting Stars FC 1-1 Plateau United FC

El Kanemi Warriors Vs Kwara United FC (postponed )

The following Match Day two fixtures

Would be played on Sept. 25:

Ikorodu City FC Vs Enugu Rangers international FC

Enyimba international FC Vs Lobi stars FC . (NAN)

The NPFL continues to deliver exciting matches, with teams battling for points and position

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Akwa United’s technical adviser, Muhammad Babaganaru, has voiced his disappointment following his team’s 1-1 draw with Abia Warriors in their second match of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

Despite Edidiong Ezekiel’s late equalizer from the penalty spot in stoppage time, Babaganaru expressed frustration at his team’s inability to convert numerous chances.

Reflecting on the match, Babaganaru said, “Generally it was a bad outing for us, it’s a result that we didn’t expect and I’m very disappointed.

From my assessment, my players played very well, and we dominated throughout but we couldn’t convert the many chances we created.”

Akwa United controlled much of the game, but a fourth-minute goal from Abia Warriors’ Adejoh Ojonugwa put the Promise Keepers on the back foot.

READ MORE: NPFL Matchday 2 review/full results

Despite sustained pressure, Babaganaru’s side struggled to break down a resolute Abia Warriors defense until they were awarded a last-minute penalty, which Edidiong Ezekiel calmly slotted home.

“We have two points from a possible six and we don’t have to wait any longer. We need to ensure we work on our scoring abilities and also redouble our efforts in subsequent games as we hope for a better season ahead,” Babaganaru added.

Akwa United will be looking to secure their first win of the season in their next fixture to avoid losing more ground early in the campaign.

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Enyimba FC head coach, Olanrewaju Yemi, is focused on leading his team to a decisive win over Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round clash. The match will take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo this Sunday.

The Aba-based club, two-time African champions, managed to hold the Burkinabe side to a 0-0 draw in the first leg away from home, but Yemi insists the job is far from done.

“The job is far from over, and we can’t afford to celebrate yet. The return leg in Uyo will be crucial,” Yemi told the club’s official website.

“We’ll go back to the drawing board, work harder, and prepare for the challenge ahead.”

READ MORE: Yemi Olanrewaju’s boys hold Etoile Filante to a stalemate on away soil

Yemi expressed satisfaction with his team’s tactical discipline and defensive solidity, which successfully neutralized Etoile Filante’s attack in the first leg.

“We had a clear game plan, and the players executed it perfectly. Our tactical discipline prevented Etoile Filante de Ouagadougou from creating any meaningful scoring opportunities,” the coach added.

The upcoming return leg is a must-win for Enyimba if they are to progress in the CAF Confederation Cup. With the advantage of playing at home, the Nigerian giants will look to capitalize on the opportunity to secure their place in the next round of the competition.

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Niger Tornadoes head coach, Majin Mohammed, has cited the pressure of returning to their home ground as the reason for his team’s goalless draw with Nasarawa United in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matchday two fixture.

The match marked the Ikon Allah Boys’ return to the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium in Minna after a four-year absence, having last played there in 2020. Despite dominating parts of the game, they were unable to break through Nasarawa United’s defense.

Speaking in a post-match interview, Majin explained the impact of returning home: “The pressure of returning home after four years affected them. They’ve not been used to this type of crowd in a home game for a while now, maybe that’s the cause.”

Despite the draw, Niger Tornadoes have managed to accumulate four points from their opening two fixtures of the 2024-25 season, thanks to their previous win on matchday one.

Looking ahead, Majin’s side will face Plateau United in their matchday three fixture next weekend as they aim to continue their strong start to the season.

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Katsina United secured their first win of the season with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Bendel Insurance at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina.

Midfielder Azeez Falolu scored the winning goal in stoppage time, completing Katsina United’s comeback.

Bendel Insurance drew first blood through James Orosanye in the 17th minute, but Lookman Bello equalized for the hosts just five minutes later.

The visitors seemed poised for a valuable point on the road but Falolu’s late winner denied them, leaving Insurance with just one point after two
matches.

READ MORE: NPFL: Remo Stars beat Sunshine Stars 1:0 to maintain perfect start to the season

In another match, Akwa United’s Eddidiong Ezekiel scored a last-minute penalty to rescue a point against Abia Warriors in Uyo.

The visitors had taken the lead through Ojonugwa Adejoh in the fourth minute, but Ezekiel’s penalty in added time secured a consecutive draw for Akwa United.

Bayelsa United and Kano Pillars played out a 1-1 draw at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa. Auwalu Mallam opened the scoring for Pillars in the 14th minute, but Rabiu Abdullahi equalized for Bayelsa United.

Niger Tornadoes were held to a goalless draw by Nasarawa United at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna, failing to build on their away win at Kwara United last week.

The NPFL continues to deliver exciting matches, with teams battling for points and position. Stay tuned for more updates.

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After nine long years, Niger Tornadoes Football Club has finally returned to its home ground, the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium in Minna.

The club’s chairman, Ibrahim Dada, expressed his joy and relief at the team’s homecoming, citing the significant financial burden of playing away from home.

In the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League season, Niger Tornadoes spent a staggering N5.5 million on each home match played away from Minna.

READ MORE: Victor Boniface shows class again as Bayer Leverkusen thrashes Hoffenheim

This amount covered expenses such as transportation, accommodation, food, and stadium fees.

In contrast, playing at home is expected to cost the club around N2.5 million per match, a significant reduction.

The club’s chairman attributed the high costs to the need to travel four days before each match, book 25 hotel rooms, and pay for food and other logistics. He also emphasized the stress and fatigue caused by constant travel.

Niger Tornadoes’ return to Minna is a welcome development for the team and its fans.

The club’s home advantage is expected to play a crucial role in its performance, and the chairman urged fans to maintain peace and order during matches to avoid sanctions from the Nigeria Football Federation and NPFL.

The club’s appreciation goes to the state government for upgrading the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium to meet NPFL standards.

Niger Tornadoes settles back into its home ground and the team is poised to make the most of its home advantage and deliver exciting performances for its fans.

In related news, the club’s chairman appealed to the media to help sensitize fans and the public on the importance of maintaining peace and order during matches.

This is crucial in ensuring that the team avoids sanctions and continues to play its home matches in Minna.

Niger Tornadoes’ homecoming marks a new chapter for the club, and with reduced expenses and a home advantage, the team is ready to take on the challenges of the NPFL season.

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In a thrilling encounter at Anfield, Ola Aina’s Nottingham Forest secured their second win of the season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Liverpool.

Super Eagles defender Ola Aina was instrumental in the Forest’s success, delivering a solid defensive performance that kept the Reds’ attacking threats of Mohammed Salah and Darwin Nunez at bay.

Aina’s impressive display earned him an 8/10 rating, with praise for his ability to repel Liverpool’s relentless pressure and support Forest’s counter-attacks.

READ MORE: Club chairman makes shocking financial revelations after Niger Tornadoes return to Minna home stadium

The Nigerian international’s defensive prowess was on full display as he expertly marshaled the Forest backline, making crucial tackles and interceptions to deny the likes of Mohammed Salah and Darwin Nunez.

The only goal of the game came in the 72nd minute, courtesy of Callum Hudson-Odoi’s clinical finish.

The former Chelsea winger’s strike was the culmination of a swift Forest counter-attack, which caught the Liverpool defense off guard.

Aina’s performance was a testament to his growing influence in the Forest squad. The 26-year-old has established himself as a key player for Steve Cooper’s side, bringing a sense of calm and authority to the defense.

Nottingham Forest is yet to lose a game this season having won 2, draw twice in their 4 premier League games this season.

Their win today took them to 5th in the premier League log with 8 points, only 4 points behind league leaders Manchester City.

Forest’s victory was a historic one, marking their first win at Anfield since 1996. The result will come as a significant boost to the squad’s morale, particularly after a slow start to the season.

Liverpool, on the other hand, will be left to rue their missed opportunities.

The Reds dominated possession but struggled to break down Forest’s resolute defense. Salah, in particular, was kept quiet by Aina’s impressive marking.

The win propels Forest up the table, while Liverpool’s defeat raises questions about their title aspirations.

For Aina and Forest, however, the focus will be on building on this momentum and securing their place in the top flight.

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Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress fell short in the final of the 2024 FIBA U-18 Women’s Afrobasket, losing 76-56 to Mali in Pretoria, South Africa.

Despite a valiant effort, the Nigerian team was unable to overcome their Malian counterparts, who secured a comfortable 20-point victory.

Mali’s Oummou Koumare dominated the game, earning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award with an outstanding performance of 31 points, four rebounds, and five steals in the final.

READ MORE: Nigeria down Uganda in FIBA U-18 Afrobasket tournament second group game

Nigeria’s path to the final had its ups and downs, with reports indicating struggles with visa issues and delays at the South African embassy. After a slow start, they bounced back with an impressive 107-30 victory over Zimbabwe in their second group game.

Although they suffered a 64-80 loss to Uganda in their third group match, the Junior D’Tigress advanced to the knockout stages. In the quarterfinals, they defeated Egypt 66-51 and earned a hard-fought 71-67 victory over Uganda in the semifinals.

Despite the loss in the final, Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress secured qualification for the 2025 FIBA U-19 Women’s World Cup, showcasing their potential on the international stage.

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