Nasarawa United Crowned Champions As Debutant Oladeji Joshua Shines

 

Nasarawa United Crowned Champions As Debutant Oladeji Joshua Shines

Seyi Joshua

Nasarawa United were crowned champions of the 2026 Nasarawa State FA Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 win over a determined FC Basira in a pulsating final at the Lafia City Stadium. FC Basira began on the front foot, dictating the early tempo as the lively pair of Jibrin Sani and Aluku Sunday repeatedly breached the Nasarawa United backline with pace and movement. 

The ‘Solid Miners’ looked rattled in the opening exchanges, but their debutant goalkeeper ensured the team avoided a major heartbreak.

Oladeji Joshua was handed his first start for Nasarawa United in all competitions as the former Crown FC shot-stopper announced himself in style with a string of spectacular saves that kept his side alive under heavy pressure. 

Time and again, Joshua denied FC Basira’s attackers diving full stretch to claw away a curling effort from Jibrin Sani and showing razor-sharp reflexes to block dangerous attempts. His command of the area, calm distribution, and fearless one-on-one stops proved decisive. It was a performance that justified the faith placed in him by goalkeeper trainer expert Olatunji Baruwa, MON, whose confidence in Joshua was repaid in full on the biggest stage.

The second half followed a similar script, with FC Basira laying siege to the Nasarawa United goal. Yet Joshua stood tall, marshalling his defence and pulling off two more crucial saves to frustrate Galadima Boys. 

Habibu Alakija would later broke the deadlock with a composed finish, a goal that ultimately sealed the title for the Solid Miners.

The elated goalkeeper expressed gratitudes after the contest. "It's a gritty affairs and coming through today for my debut was a memorable one. The opponents didn't respect names and threw everything at us, we were mentally prepared and didn't leave anything to chance. First game, first trophy for my club really mean a lot to me, I will continue to do my best for this team anytime the opportunity comes. I would like to congratulate the family for this feat and thank my trainer for the confidence and trust he had in me." The former Gateway FC expressed.

₦16M Up For Grab As NNL Super 4 Kick starts May 4

 

NNL Super Four Champions to Pocket ₦10M as Toptier Raises The Stakes

The Nigeria National League lived up to its growing reputation after hosting a world-class Super Four Draws in Lagos, where Toptier Sports Management CEO, Mrs. Chichi Nwoko, announced a massive incentive: the NNL Super Four champions will take home ₦10 million, while the three other participants will each pocket ₦2 million.  

It was a glamorous day in Lagos as the crème de la crème of Nigeria’s sports industry turned up in style. NSC Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, NFF President Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and Remo Stars Chairman Hon. Kunle Soname led the roll call of administrators.  

Nigeria’s ex-internationals added star power to the occasion, with the ‘Prince of Monaco’ Victor Ikpeba, ‘The Bull’ Daniel Amokachi, and other legends lighting up the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja GRA.  

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Nwoko put the league’s ambition in clear figures: “Toptier Sports Management is glad to announce that the winner of this NNL Super Four will be rewarded with the sum of ₦10 million, while the three other participants will go home with ₦2 million each.”  

The stakes are now set for the NNL Super Four, scheduled for May 4 to May 8, 2026, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.  

Here are the full fixtures from the draws:

Day 1: May 4

Sporting Lagos vs Ranchers Bees  

Doma United vs Inter Lagos  

Day 2: May 6

Ranchers Bees vs Inter Lagos  

Sporting Lagos vs Doma United  

Day 3: May 8

Doma United vs Ranchers Bees  

Inter Lagos vs Sporting Lagos  

With ₦16 million total prize money on the table and bragging rights as NNL champions, the battle in Ikenne promises fireworks.

Host Final Matches Of President Federations Cup This Weekend Or Risk N1M Fine, NFF To State FAs

 

President Federation Cup: Final Matches Hold In 35 States And FCT This Weekend

Lagos State final scheduled for Sunday, 3rd May

The final matches of this year’s President Federation Cup competition will take place in 35 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory this weekend, with only Lagos State exempted after a formal request that has been granted by the NFF.

As was announced last month, all final matches in the States and the FCT are to hold on Saturday, 25th April or Sunday, 26th April, with the National Play-off to follow before the draw for the National Competition.

NFF’s Director of Competitions, Ruth David, reiterated that failure of any State (apart from Lagos State where the proposed venue for the final is being used for an official function by the Lagos State Government) to play its final match this weekend will attract a fine of N1,000,000.

Black Friday: Ex Super Eagles Forward Dies In Kaduna

 

Another tragedy as former Super Eagles’ forward Michael Eneramo dies in Kaduna

 

Former Nigeria international forward Michael Eneramo collapsed and died on the pitch in Ungwan Yelwa, Kaduna on Friday morning, during a local friendly game in which he had played the entire first half.

 

Early reports indicated that Eneramo appeared to have suffered cardiac arrest five minutes into the second half of the said friendly match. He was born on 26th November, 1985 in Kaduna.

 

“This is devastating. I am short of words at this moment. I can only pray that God will grant him eternal rest and also grant his loved ones and the Nigeria football family the fortitude to bear the loss,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said on the telephone from Cairo, Egypt.

 

Highly-respected in Tunisia and Turkey where he had fantastic club careers, Eneramo won 10 caps for the Super Eagles after rejecting overtures from Tunisia to take that country’s nationality and opt for an international odyssey with the Carthage Eagles.

 

His debut for Nigeria was against Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz in a friendly match in London on 11th February 2009, which ended goalless. In his second game, also a friendly, he scored his first goal for Nigeria against the Republic of Ireland in a 1-1 draw in London on 29th May 2009. He also played against France in Nigeria’s 1-0 win in Saint Etienne four days later.

 

Five days later, he featured in Nigeria’s 3-0 win over Kenya in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Abuja, and also played the home-and-away ties with Tunisia (0-0 in Tunis and 2-2 in Abuja) in the same race. It was in the home game against Tunisia in Abuja on 6th September 2009 that he scored his most memorable goal for the Super Eagles.  

 

Nicknamed Al Dababa (The Tank) by fans of Tunisian and African giants Esperance Sportive de Tunis, Eneramo was much-loved in the North African country for his confident play, which earned Esperance a number of silverwares. He also featured for top clubs Besiktas, Sivasspor and Istanbul Basaksehir in Turkey.

 

NFF Mourns As Ibrahim Galadima Dies At 74

 

Gusau mourns as one-time NFF President, Ibrahim Galadima dies at 74

Nigeria football is again in a state of sadness and grief following the death on Saturday of a former President of then Nigeria Football Association (now Nigeria Football Federation), Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima.

 

One of Nigeria’s most-respected sports administrators in history, Ibrahim Galadima served as President of then NFA between 2002 and 2006, after serving creditably as Chairman of Kano State FA, Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council, 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Member of the Presidential Monitoring Committee for Stadia Development for the FIFA World Youth Championship, and as Commissioner for Social Welfare, Youth and Sports in Kano State.

 

“This is another one that hit us hard. Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima was a mentor to so many of us who are in various leadership positions in Nigeria sports today. He was the epitome of high dignity, diligence and integrity.

 

“We will miss his fatherly advice and words of wisdom dearly. Our prayer is that the Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest and grant the family he has left behind and the Nigeria Football family the fortitude to bear the big loss,” Gusau said.

 

Born on 14th June 1951 in Kano, Ibrahim Galadima lived his life around sports, serving meritoriously in all assigned or elective positions. He was Chairman of the Kano State Football Association between 1977 and 1979, served as the Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council between 1981 and 1983, and in 1984, was made a Member of the Caretaker Committee of the National Sports Commission.

 

Between 1985-1987, he was the 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee. In the waning 80s, he was Commissioner for Social Welfare, Youth and Sports in Kano State, and later served as the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport in the State.

 

Galadima was appointed a Member of the Presidential Monitoring Committee for Stadia Development ahead of the FIFA World Youth Championship that Nigeria was scheduled to host in 1995. The tournament was moved due to health concerns, but when Nigeria eventually hosted four years later, he served as Chairman of the Kano Sub-Seat.