NLO Super8: Mailantarki, Madiba, Police Barreta Claim Wins

 

The Nationwide League One Super 8 play-off got off in a bright start as the trio of Mailantarki Care FC, Madiba FC and Police Barreta got the maximum on Matchday One fixtures decided at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere-Lagos.

The encounter between Mailantarki Care FC and FC Ebedei lived up to the hype, as fans were thrilled with beautiful football artistry, as the tie produced three goals.

It was a game of two halves that saw Mailantarki Care go into the break with a two goal lead.

It took the FCT based team 26 minutes to unlock the defence of the Oliseh Boys, after Auwal Abba took advantage of a sloppy defending to slice home his team's first goal.

With three minutes to end the half, 

Abdulazeez Maiyadi fired home to double lead for Mailantarki Care, off another school boy defending.

FC Ebedei then got a lifeline in the 74th minute, after Odekunle Musliu pulled one back with a powerful header. But his effort was little too late for his team to salvage a point.

The early kickoff game between JNR Danburam and Madiba FC saw two classic saves at both ends in the second half by the goalkeepers.

After a goalless opening 45 minutes, the shot stoppers did their best to keep their teams in the game.

Lagos based Madiba's Adeyemi Mayowa should have got the first goal of the NLO Super 8 in the 65th minute with Solomon Aliyu providing the assist but JNR Danburam from Katsina State had goalkeeper Ibrahim Danjuma to thank, as he saved well to push the deflected shot away for a corner kick. 

Danjuma was finally beaten in the 70th minute as Madiba FC took the lead through Solomon Aliyu. 

JNR Danburam could have levelled scores in the 80th minute but Madiba's goalkeeper Mohammed Tijani produced a master class save to deny Jamilu Yusuf.

In another game played earlier, Police Barreta fought hard to secure the 3points against Aspire FC.

The Nigeria Police football team left it late to gun down wasteful Aspire FC by a lone goal after Bidemi Owuku broke the deadlock in the 89th minute.

For 10-man Smart City of Lagos, they were not clinical with their defending as they were forced to a one all draw by a determined Kun Khalifa, after giving away a penalty in the second half.

Smart City found themselves up in the 

20th minute after Jeleel Lateef found himself in the box, who after some defensive blunder fired his shoot past  Tochi Njemanze in goal for Kun Khalifa.

The Lagos team were made to pay the price of dirty defending as they were reduced by a player down in the 44th, after Ridwan Omotosho picked up his second booking for a needless challenge on Kun Khalifat attacking midfielder.

Smart City were then punished in the 72nd minute after they gave away a penalty, after a defender handled the ball in the box.

Daniel Nwaogu made no mistake from the spot, with a cool finish to bring the game level 

Action resumes on Tuesday with four matches billed for the Legacy Pitch.

National Sports Festival: Lanreleke Sports Academy, Bowen To Co-Host Zonal Qualification

 

National Sports Festival: Lanreleke Sports Academy, Bowen To Co-Host Zonal Qualification

The Lanreleke Sports Academy in Ileogbo, Osun State is set to host the zonal qualification of the National Sports Festival billed to hold in Delta State.

The co-educational, fully residential and specialist Senior Secondary School, which boost of a world-class sports facility was founded in 2021.

Managing Director of Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Ltd.Engr Olanrewaju Adeleke informed of the development through a phone chat.

"We are delighted to inform you that our facility will host zonal qualification for the 21st edition of the National Sports Festival.

"Our world-class facility was given the go-ahead after it won the bid to host the event.

"The Lanreleke Sports Academy will host all ball games of the southwest zonal qualification of the National Sports Festival.

"We will be co-hosting the five-day event with Bowen University, as over 800 athletes from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti State will be participating in the team sports elimination stage, starting from October 3-7th, 2022 in Ileogbo, Osun State.

"Seven sports, all ball game games of; football, basketball, handball, volleyball, hockey, base/softball and beach volleyball are games the facility will host.

"This is a big boost for our brand and a reward for the investment made to making the sports academy what it is today.

The opening ceremony of the zonal elimination is scheduled for 3pm on Tuesday October 4, 2022. 

The 21st edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) which was earlier scheduled to take place between 2-15 November, will now hold from 28 November till 10 December.

Ibrahim Musa Gusau is new NFF President

 

Ibrahim Musa Gusau is new NFF President

 

Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau was on Friday elected the new President of Nigeria Football Federation, succeeding Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick who was in the role for the past eight years.

 

Until Friday afternoon, debonair Gusau was Chairman of Chairmen of Nigeria Football, and also Chairman of the Zamfara State Football Association. He defeated Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, who until Friday afternoon was the NFF’s 1st Vice President, by polling 21 votes to Akinwunmi’s 12 in the first round.

 

Akinwunmi, who is Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, announced his withdrawal just before the run-off was to take place, just as Mallam Shehu Dikko (who polled 6 votes) and Alhaji Abba Abdullahi Yola (1 vote). However, former international goalkeeper Peterside Idah (1 vote in round one) refused to step down and earned another 1 vote in run-off, as Gusau coasted home with 39 votes.

 

The 58 –year old Gusau is a qualified accountant and a Safety and Security Officer for the Confederation of African Football.

 

The race for the presidency, which had 11 contestants, was whittled down before the ballot as Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam withdrew few days to the poll, while Barr. Musa Amadu, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande and Mr. Adam Mukhtar Mohammed pulled out just before the vote inside the auditorium. 

 

Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, long-term Chairman of two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC, swept to the 1st Vice President position by trashing Senator Obinna Ogba (Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports Development) by 23 votes to 8.

 

Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh was unopposed for the position of Chairman of Chairmen, just as Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa had an easy ride picking a slot from the North West without any opposition.

 

Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen was elected from the North Central zone, edging incumbent Alhaji Mohammed Alkali by 22 votes to 19 in a run-off, just as incumbent Babagana Kalli and newman Timothy Henman Magaji succeeded in the North-East race.

 

Rt. Hon. Essien Udofot and Ms Aisha Falode won the two seats available from the South-South after an interesting run-off saw Essien taking 19 votes to Falode’s 13, with first-round leader Poubeni Ogun ejected with 7 votes.

 

The race for seats from the South-East zone was suspended on a technicality, but Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi made a return to the NFF Board from the South West just as Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi retained his seat. Dele-Ajayi and Majekodunmi earned 12 votes each in the run-off, with Gafar Liameed third with 7 votes and Afolabi Taiwo Olugbenga in fourth place with 4 votes.

 

The momentous event that lasted well into the night was witnessed by three officials of world football-governing body, FIFA: Gelson Fernandes, Solomon Mudege and Ahmad Mohamed Mukhtar Harraz.Mr. Felix Majani was the eye of the Confederation of African Football.

 

Alhaji Mohammed Baba Abdullahi represented the Nigeria Olympic Committee.

 

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Comrade Philip Shaibu declared the event open.

 

Ogunjobi: Why I want To Be In NFF Executive Board

 

Ogunjobi: Why I want To Be In NFF Executive Board

Ogunjobi Ayodeji, an aspirant vying for a position into the Executive Board of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), says it was time for the youths in Nigeria to be in football administration.

Ayodeji is the eldest son of late former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) now Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) talked about his plans during the Optima Energy Gold Cup tournament in Ikenne and Sagamu. 

According to him: "I've been involved in sports administration and organizing tournaments. After working with the Nigerian government at two different events and for CAF and FIFA, I did identify the issues and problems the beautiful game is facing in the country 

"I thought it was time to get the youths involved in Nigeria's football administration."

"The tenacity will definitely be different. In the brand scheme of things, the young age are the ones sent out to source for the market and get sponsorship. A lot of brands relate with the younger market, that's one side.

"Apart from breeding players football development transcend to management.

"If you can start grooming managers, that is football administrators, then you can tell the future is good. Not that you wake up when you're in your fifties and you decide that you want to be on the board."

Elections into the NFF Executive Board has been riddled with an impending court order, after Honourable Justice I.E Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja on the 15th day of September 2022, put a stop to the election pending the hearing of the substantive suit. 

But on Thursday, a Court of Appeal seating in Abuja gave the NFF the green light to hold its 78th Annual General Assembly and elections of a new Executive Committee to steer the affairs of the nation’s apex football –ruling body for the next four years,

NLO Super 8: Profiling The Champions That Will Battle For Pride In Lagos

 

NLO Super 8: Profiling The Champions That Will Battle For Pride In Lagos

 

All is in top gear for a successful hosting of the Nationwide League One (NLO) Super 8 which kicks off in Lagos from 3rd to 8th October.

A total of 8 teams secured promotion to the NNL after they finished the season top of their groups and emerged victorious in the promotion playoffs.

The playoffs, which was hosted at neutral venues, had Smart City FC (Lagos State), Madiba FC (Lagos State), FC Ebedei (Ogun State), Police Barretta FC, Kun Khalifa FC (Imo State), Aspire FC (Anambra State), Jnr Danburan (Katsina State) and Mailatarki Care FC of the Federal Capital Territory, earning promotion to the Nigerian National League(NNL).

The eight teams will at the Legacy Pitch in Surulere, Lagos will slug it out in the championship play-off to determine the overall winner for the NLO 2022 season.

With arrival date for teams fixed for Sunday October 2nd, the opening fixtures of the championship play-off are JNR Danburan versus Madiba (10am), Aspire FC versus Police Barreta (12noon), Mailatarki Care FC versus FC Ebedei (2pm) and Smart City versus Kun Khalifa FC billed  for 4pm respectively on  3rd October.

Below is the profile of the eight promoted teams:

MAILANTARKI CARE FC

Founded in 2021, the name Mailantarki Care FC was derived from the owner’s name - Hon Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki - who created the football academy from his Foundation, Mailantarki Care Foundation, in order to discover and promote young talented players to professional level locally or internationally.

 

Mailantarki Care FC is affiliated to the FCT Football Association and duly registered and participated in both the FA Cup and Division I of the Nigeria Nationwide League One, where it was promoted  in 2022 to the 2nd Tier Nigeria National League (NNL) in its first ever appearance in the NLO.

 

Nigeria’s U-17 World Cup winning coach Manu Garba OON is the club Technical Director and he guided the team to the achieve the aforementioned promotion as well as other international achievements in the 2022 Dana Cup and Norway Cup in Hjørring and Oslo respectively.

FC EBEDEI

FC Ebedei was founded in 1998 in Lagos, from where it moved to Sagamu in Ogun state. FC EBEDEI graduands regularly appear in the prestigious UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE for several European clubs as a result of the success of the club in selling players to clubs in Europe. 

From inception FC EBEDEI has consistently graduated her alumni to the very top of World football, including the five top leagues of Europe and the senior national teams of Nigeria, with notable players such as Obafemi Martins, Ayodele Makinwa, Oluwafemi Ajilore, Paul Ebere Onuachu, Frank Onyeka,  Raphael Onyedika Nwadike among others having their roots in the club. Interestingly FC EBEDEI has been champion of all tiers/divisions of the Nationwide League One.

MADIBA FOOTBALL CLUB

Madiba Football Club (often nicknamed 'The Moving Train') is a Nigerian football club based in Oshodi, Lagos state.

Founded in 2017 by Alhaja Adebisi Adeyemi Basirat, the club is primarily set up as an initiative to have a grassroots football club as a platform for recreational activity among the youth and also to serve as an avenue to discover talents and provide a pathway for such talented youth to keep away from anti-social vices and behaviour in the community.

In 2018, the continuous hard work of the club saw them finish 2nd in their first season in the Nationwide League One (NLO). In 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 season, Madiba FC also finished second in the NLO. 

In the 2021/2022 season, Madiba FC maintained an unbeaten record in fourteen league matches in their C1 group, and on August 20, 2022, after topping the table, Madiba FC secured promotion to the Nigeria National League (NNL) after beating Beyond Limit FC from Ogun state on penalties at the NLO play-off held at the Lekan Salami stadium, Adamasingba Ibadan.

KUN KHALIFAT FC

Kun Khalifat Football Club was founded in 2020 by Mr. Michael Chukwudi Amaefula (Chairman). The club is based in Owerri, Imo State and they play their home games at (OISA) Onwubike International Soccer Stadium Ngor-Okpala, Imo State. 

The club reached the NLO play-off in 2021 and won the AITEO Cup 2022 in Imo State, also topping their group at the end of the the Nationwide League One (NLO) 2022 season to gain Promotion to Nigeria National League (NNL). 

Kun Khalifat Football Club is a full-time football club that takes part in national competitive games to enhance the rapid and professional growth of its players and provide exposure for their players to national and international football.

POLICE BARETTA FC 

Police Baretta FC is a Nigeria Police team based in Gombe, Gombe state. The club is sponsored by the Nigeria Police Force under special dispensation of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, and serves as the police team. The chairman of the club is Garba Sule Yaro while the technical adviser is Coach Omatiga Gabriel. 

Police Baretta FC was promoted to NLO Division 1 in 2019 and topped their group in the 2022 NLO season to gain promotion to NNL 

SMART CITY FOOTBALL CLUB

Smart City Football Club is based in Lagos and is registered to train, develop and promote youth development through sports. Affiliated to Lagos state Football Association (LSFA), Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), Smart City FC is a club grown from the love of the game of soccer and managed by experienced staff made up of former football players and sports administrators with decades of experience, and with a dedication to developing future football players. 

Smart City FC sets out its mission to provide instructional and competitive youth football opportunities that enhance character, community and love of the game, while also integrating development of self-esteem, self-confidence, teamwork, respect for self and other, and all the inherent benefits of physical exercise into its training programme, through quality coaching, sound leadership and absolute sincerity of purpose. 

The club is solely sponsored by its President who ensures that it is able to perform many important  team-related duties to keep up with other clubs in the NLO fold

JUNIOR DANBURAM FC DAURA 

Junior Danburam FC Daura was established in 2002 by the Prince of Daura Alhaji Muhammad Daha Umar, and named after his traditional title of Danburam Daura. It is a privately owned and sponsored club

Junior Danburam FC Daura started with players between 12 and 13 years of age, competing in age grade local competitions where they won many trophies including:

1. Samba Challenge Cup in 2005.

2. Daura Local government Unity Cup in 2006.

3. Daura Emirate (Emir's Cup) 2007

4. Daura Premier League 2008.

5. Katsina state Muslims/Christians Peace & Unity Cup 

In 2009, Junior Danburam FC Daura started participating in the Katsina State Super League Competition where their outstanding performance in the tournament got them an automatic ticket to represent the State in Inter State U-17 Competition held in Kano, where they emerged the runner-up of the competition. Junior Danburam FC Daura also represented Katsina state in President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peace and Unity Cup in 2011/2012 which they won to secure the ticket to represent Nigeria in UEA Dubai for an U-20 Local competition in that country. In 2013, the club were also runner-up in the Katsina State Sure-P Competition and a year later they participated in and won the state Governor's Cup. 

Their entry into Division III of the Nationwide League One in 2016 came about because they won State Super League  and in 2017, they gained promotion to Division II of the NLO where they were till they were promoted in 2021/2022 to the NNL.

ASPIRE FC ADAZI- ANI

Aspire Football Club based in Anambra State, was born on 18th of September 2018, at a time when unemployment was rife manifesting in agitations, restiveness and insecurity and solutions that could provide a platform that would offer young people an opportunity for recognition and the expression of their talents. 

The young club, made up of 50 amateur talents assembled from different parts of the state, were given a new home and exposed to effective training where their hunger for opportunity was let loose on the football pitch. In their very first season, they went ahead to become Anambra State FA champions defeating the likes of Ifeanyi Uba FC in the tournament. This team of undaunted players further became the NLO Division II champions the same year enabling them gain promotion to NLO Division 1. 

The COVID 19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted football activities all over the globe, but right after the lifting of the lockdown, Aspire FC was on the field again topping their NLO Division I Group. Unfortunately for them, they lost at the league play-off, finishing in 2nd place and missing the opportunity for a second consecutive promotion.

 

In the 2021/2022 NLO Season, Aspire FC once again topped their NLO Division I Group and emerged successful at the playoffs, consequently gaining promotion to the Nigeria National League (NNL).