The 5th JOF Under 13 Grassroots football tournament reached a crescendo yesterday as HB Utility Ilupeju emerged champions of the 64 team competition.
Utility spanked Zamadek of Lagos Island 3-0 in the last game played at the UNILAG sports complex and organised under the auspices of Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association.
Former Nigeria international winger and AFCON silver medalist Friday Elaho who watched the encounter commended organisers of the tournament for staging a befitting grand finale, urging more private sector involvement at the grassroots in order to churn out budding talents that will take over from the ageing ones.
For emerging champions in the 5th edition of the competition, Utility smiled home with a prize money of seven hundred and fifty thousand naira while Latoyem FC received half a million naira after beating Strong Dove of Orile 1-0 in the bronze medal game also played yesterday.
In the individual awards, Ayomide Atiga was voted tournament’s Most Valuale Player MVP, his colleague Toheeb Ojerinde won the best keeper accolade while Abolade Abdulahi of Zamadek scooped the top scorer’s prize.
Speaking after the event, the Chairman/CEO of JOF Nigeria Dr Olusegun Olugboyegun promised that a select group of players who excelled in the tourney would be camped over the year as they undergo training in ethics, morals and other life skills.
Tag: Nigeria football
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A delegation of the Nigeria Football Federation NFF has paid a condolence visit to former Nigeria international forward and President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria Tijani Babangida who was involved in a ghastly auto crash along the Kaduna – Zaria Road last Thursday.
The unfortunate incident, on the spot, claimed the life of Tijani’s younger brother, Ibrahim – a member of the 1993 FIFA U17 World Cup winning Golden Eaglets.
Tijani’s infant son, Fadil reportedly passed away Friday night during surgery, while his wife, Maryam is said to have successfully undergone facial surgery.
The visiting NFF delegation included the President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, NFF Executive Committee member Timothy Heman Magaji and the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.
Others were NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen; Member of the NPFL Board, Mr. Jude Anyadufu; former Nigeria international and Chairman, Bauchi State Football Association, Mr. Pascal Patrick; and ex international goalkeeper Emmanuel Babayaro.
The delegation met Tijani Babangida at a hospital in Abuja after he was transferred to from ABUTH.
They commiserated with the former World Cup star on the deaths of his brother and son, praying for quick recovery for him and his wife who is still under intensive care at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. -
19 man playing squad of Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets plus officials are expected to arrive today in the Ghanaian capital, Accra for defence of their WAFU B U17 Championship crown in this year’s tournament, kicking off on Wednesday, 15 May 2024.
The five-time champions of the world, swept aside every opposition to achieve glory in another Ghanaian city, Kumasi, two years ago, but failed to light up the Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria where they came short in the race to compete for another global honour in Indonesia.
Chief coach Manu Garba who coached the country to world cup gold medal in 2013 will lead a technical crew that has the mandate of not only successfully defending the regional crown, but to continue to improve the squad for a great outing at the U17 AFCON and onwards to a probable sixth global title.
With qualification for next year’s Africa Under 17 Cup of Nations at stake, the Golden Eaglets will begin the defence of their title against a Burkinabe opposition at the University Stadium on Thursday, 16th May with kickoff set for 3pm Ghana time (4pm Nigeria time), before matches against Niger Republic on Sunday, 19th May (6pm Ghana, 7pm Nigeria) and Togo on Wednesday, 22nd May (4pm Ghana, 5pm Nigeria).
The match against Niger Republic will also hold at the University Stadium while the clash with Togo will take place at the Accra Sports Stadium.
19 EAGLETS FOR WAFU B U17:
1. Adekunle Sunday Adedigba,
2.Sylvester Chizoba Chika
3. Daniel Ofonime Mendie
4.Destiny Samuel
5.Abdulwaris Yunus
6.Boluwatife David Ekishola
7. Ibrahim Damilare Abdulganiyu
8. Edward Oloche Ochigbo
9 Rapha Adams
10. Simon Karshe Cletus
11. Oreoluwa Olawale Agbenla
12.Okorie Marvelous Chibuike
13 Abdulmuiz Adeleke
14. John Ogwuche
15. Qurib Adetola
16.Chinedu Levi Dominic
17.Abdulmuiz Oluwatimilehin Oladimeji, 18.Daniel Vowero Arierhi
19. Imrana Muhammad -
Veteran manager Stanley Eguma has been relieved of his chief coaching position at Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL side Rivers United.
Eguma’s former assistant Evan Ogenyi took charge of the team in yesterday’s 0-0 draw against Kwara United.
The news of Eguma’s sacking filtered through immediately after Rivers United’s 2-1 defeat to Remo Stars last Sunday.
The experienced tactician was mandated by the club to win the game against the Sky Blue Stars.
He left the Port Harcourt club in 13th position.
Eguma, nicknamed ‘Capelo’, guided the club to the 2021 NPFL title win, and equally led the Pride of Rivers to second place finish in the 2016 NPFL their first in the NPFL after sponsors, Rivers State Government merged Sharks FC and Dolphins FC to form what’s today known as Rivers United FC.
He also oversaw United’s back to back CAF Confederation Cup quarter final appearances, falling to USM Algiers in this season’s edition. -
Kano Pillars’ management has appointed Jangora Ahmed and Ahmed Yaro Yaro Garba as coaches for the remainder of the team’s fixtures in the Nigeria Premier Football League this season.
Both managers will take charge of the team following suspension of head coach, Abdullahi Maikaba as announced by the club on Tuesday.
The veteran tactician had earlier complained about his working condition at Pillars which didn’t go down well with the club’s management.
The new caretaker coaches who assisted Maikaba during this season’s campaign played for the Sai Masu Gida in the past.
Kano Pillars have recorded 44 points from 32 games in this campaign. -
Nigeria’s Super Eagles received a major boost ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying double-header against South Africa and Benin Republic following the return to training of Captain William Troost-Ekong.
Super Eagles’ captain William Troost Ekong’s return to training from injury has provided a major boost for the team ahead their doubleheader World Cup qualifying with South Africa and Benin Republic next month.
The AFCON 2023 MVP has been sidelined since undergoing surgery for an injury he sustained in the continental showpiece in Cote d’Ivoire.
The centre-back who scored three goals in Cote d’Ivoire was expected to miss the remainder of the 2023/24 season but has made a quick recovery from the injury.
He is now available for Greek side PAOK Salonica’s last three league games of the season.
Ekong’s return comes timely for the Super Eagles, who are yet to record a win in the world cup qualifiers where they occupy third spot behind Rwanda and South Africa. -
Chief coach Abdu Maikaba has talked himself into trouble at Kano Pillars.
Consequently, the management of former champions of the Nigeria Premier Football League suspended Maikaba, allegedly, over comments credited to the former Enugu Rangers gaffer recently.
Though the reason for his suspension has not been made public, it could be connected with Maikaba’s statement during a meeting organized by the Kano Pillars supporters at the state press centre where he was critical of certain things at the club, stating he could resign.
The former Enyimba, Wikki Tourists and Plateau United handler was suspended a few days after beating Enugu Rangers in the President’s Federation Cup Round of 64.
He stated shortly after that game in Abuja that he had not had a proper working environment since taking over at the beginning of the current season.
Pillars’ chairman Babangida Umar Little, had since announced the setting up of a committee that will investigate the coach whom he insinuated might face further punishment if found guilty of the allegations levelled against him. -
Nine time champions of the Nigeria top-flight Enyimba International are working so hard online to exploit a branding opportunity occasioned by MMA legend Israel Adesanya.
The former UFC middleweight champion Adesanya of Nigerian origin recently posted a picture of him sporting Enyimba away jersey while training in a gym.
Stylebender as Adesanya is known captioned the post, “Soaring to new heights…Pray you keep up the pace.”
https://twitter.com/stylebender/status/1788025616702538118?s=19
In a reaction on their X handle, the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, champions identified with Adesanya’s post by reposting it with the caption, “Champions always look good in our strip 💪🏿😎
“Soar on @stylebender.”
https://twitter.com/EnyimbaFC/status/1788113270886355337?s=19
The UFC and MMA star is also backed by Stake, who are Enyimba’s shirt sponsors, making it easier for him to use his platform to fly the flag for the domestic game.
Enyimba are the current NPFL champions after new Super Eagles boss Finidi George led the Elephants to the title last season in his first coaching role.
The People’s Elephants remain firmly in contention to make it ten league crowns this campaign as they occupy 3rd position in the NPFL standings. -
Kebbi Beach Soccer Club KBSC are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to defend their national league title.
The second round of Nigeria Beach Soccer League (NBSL) 2024 season is expected to kickoff from 15th to 18th, May 2024.
To prepare for the task ahead, KBSC have embarked on a one week training tour of Nnewi, Anambra State.
Team manager of KBSC Abdulahi Yahaya
appreciated the Kebbi State Government, Kebbi State Football Association, sponsors.and fans, promising to count on their support to deliver the goods in league.