Sunshine Stars battle Tornadoes in Ogunjobi Gold Cup final

Defending champions, Sunshine Stars will battle Niger Tornadoes in the finals of the Ogunjobi Gold Cup after they beat Kwara United 4-2 on penalties in the second semi-final decided at the Kwara State Stadium Complex, Ilorin on Thursday night.


The game which ended 1-1 in regulation time saw the best of goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke during the shoot out, as Sunshine Stars became the first defending champion to make a back-to-back final.


Owena Whales had Ojo to thank as he turned villian to hero stopping two Kwara United penalties while his teammates converted four of their's.


Sunshine Stars took the lead early in the 8th minute after Alimi Jamiu poked home from point blank after a scramble and shaky defensive mishap from the Harmony Boys.


In the 43rd minute, Thomas Adesina equalized for the Harmony Warriors after he forced Sunshine defenders to commit blunders leaving unrushing Olorunleke to commit an howler leaving the former Nasarawa forward to tap into an empty net.


It was a cagey affair in the second half as both team will rue their misses as no goal was recorded.


Tornadoes had earlier in the evening picked the final ticket after they defeated Remo Stars 3-1 with Afeez Nasiru bagging a brace from two sublime goals scored from two free kicks.


The final will be held on Saturday at the Kwara State Stadium Complex, Ilorin with 3pm as kick off time.

Ogunjobi Gold Cup: Olaniyonu brimming in confidence ahead of Tornadoes tie

Remo Stars Football Club (RSFC) Decisive Centre-back, Nokeeb Olaniyonu has indicated that the semifinal game against Niger Tornadoes Football Club on Thursday, 5th of September, 2019 won't be different from the games they have played since the beginning of the ongoing Ogunjobi Gold Cup Tournament in Ilorin.

The Sky Blue Stars qualified for one of the semifinal spot despite losing to Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Sunshine Stars Football Club in the last game of the group stage.

Daniel Ogunmodede tutored side earned seven points after playing a 0-0 draw with Alabelewe FC, defeated Jossy United FC and Cynosure FC 1-0 respectively before failing to win against the Akure Gunners.

Speaking with RSSC Media, Olaniyonu said that his side had always been the better since the commencement of the competition at the Kwara State Sports Complex in Ilorin.

"Our game against Niger Tornadoes is just a normal game just like the ones we have played since the beginning of the competition and nothing has changed, our Coach (Daniel Ogunmodede) has said that the game isn't a do or die affair, we should also remember to represent the team well and play for ourselves as a young lads."

"We have been the better side so far in this tournament, we have been paying attention to the instructions of our coaches and we are just hoping things will work out for us so as to be victorious tomorrow and also push to win the cup with God on our side."

Olatunji wishes Olympic Eagles good outings

Seyi Joshua


Ahead of AFCON U-23 qualifiers against Sudan in Omdurman, Nigeria U-23 invitee Dare Olatunji, has insisted that the Dream Team is posed for good outing away from home.



The team comprising 18 players and 12 officials, arrived Khartoum International airport aboard an Ethiopian Airline at 12:00am Nigerian time.



Coach Imama Amapakabo and his assistants have been taking the team through rigorous training sessions for several weeks at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.



The team that comprises home base and their foreign counterparts would be ready for the  return leg which is billed for the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Tuesday next week.



About seventeen 17 invited players are still training in Abuja and would form part of the build up for the second leg. In his chat with Coded Sports, the Enyimba International midfielder, Dare Olatunji said that, uphill tasks await the Olympic Eagles.



"It took us serious work to have qualified from last round. It's not an easy task playing in that region always.



"Everyone is aware of what is at stake, we have worked on some noticeable flaws that nearly cost us the ticket from last round, l therefore advise my teammates to be focused and play according to instructions. With God on our side, Nigeria will make the cut. " Osun Pogba as he's fondly called concluded.

Buhari Tips Ogunjobi Gold Cup to go global

Major sponsor of the ongoing Ogunjobi Gold Cup Preseason Tournament, distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic, Dr. Buhari Abdul-Fatai (BAF) has made claim his feeling that the competition will go global in the nearest future.


Recall that the Ogunjobi Gold Cup Tournament was renamed early this year to immortalise the late Nigeria great football icon, Chief Taiwo Joseph Ogunjobi, whose contributions to the growth of the round leather game can never be forgotten over the years.


Speaking with the Ogunjobi Gold Cup Media, Senator Buhari AbdulFatai says the competition is used as a unifying factor to bring the Nation together regardless of the race, tribe, religion and also an avenue to create jobs and foster love among the teams involved in the competition.


"I am quite excited with the level of acceptability of the tournament and I must applaud the tourney's General Coordinator, Mr. Tunde Shamsudeen and his crew for the improvement each year and the standard of the competition.


"The competition which is opened to teams in the three tiers of our domestic leagues, Nigeria Professional League (NPFL), National League (NNL) and also the Nationwide League One (NLO) have been an avenue to discover new players and also a means to prepare them for their various competitions ahead.


"I honestly won't be surprised seeing clubs from neighbouring countries coming to participate in this tournament because of the standard that has been set as yardstick to other tournaments around.


"It's also interesting to note that the semifinals of the tournament will be played under floodlights and I think it has come to stay and we hope it will be a good inclusion to the competition. I hope to continue supporting the Ogunjobi Gold Cup for the betterment of the teams and the citizenry."


The country's First Pre-Season Tournament is sponsored by distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic, Dr. Buhari Abdul-Fatai (BAF), and its proudly supported by Taiwo Joseph Ogunjobi Foundation, Nigeria Football Federation Executive Committee Member; Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, foremost betting company, Bet9ja, Nigeria leading sportswear firm, ‘Owu’, Newbell Global Investment, Naija League Magazine, Matchroom, Sportspro, 11th Media Global Concept, Phreestyle Sports, Kao Concept, Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation, Dejavu Communication, Play Sportswear, Phamatex Industries, Bovina View Hotel, Centre Ball Sports Ltd, Haggai Sports, Lagos State Sports Commission and Nigeria Football Supporters Club.

Ogunjobi Gold Cup Preseason: Bala lauds organizers

Niger Tornadoes Technical Adviser, Coach Abubakar Bala Mohammed has described the ongoing Ogunjobi Gold Cup Pre-Season Tournament as one of the best in Nigeria.

He stated this at the Ilorin Township Stadium shortly after his team routed Mountain Of Fire and Miracles Ministry MFM Lagos to advance to the last four of the 7th edition of the annual soccer tournament.

Abubakar Bala said the tournament has provided an ample opportunity for his Technical Crew to test the already recruited players and also establish the teams way of play.

In his own words Coach Bala said "It is an opportunity for us to assess the players individually and how they can fit into the new system collectively. Most of them have improved tremendously and adapting to new playing mates, environment and system of play".

The National Under 20 assistant Coach opined that with more of such competitions the team is going to blend together very well before the commencement of the new season.

Commending the Organizers of the Ogunjobi Gold Cup Tourney for the wonderful initiative, Coach Bala said the tournament brings together teams from NPFL, NNL and other lower leagues to enable them compete favorably so as to identify their weaknesses and make necessary adjustments to stabilize the team.

He however pleaded with the management of Niger Tornadoes to allow the team partake in at least one more pre-season competition to enable him assemble a formidable team that will aide their mission of returning to the elite division.

Meanwhile, Ogunjobi Gold Cup Semi finals pairing slated for
Thursday, 5th of September, 2019 is as follows:

Niger Tornadoes vs RemoStarsSC - 5pm

Kwara United FC vs SunshineFC Akure - 7pm.