National Youth Games: Kogi to compete in 12 events.

Kogi state contingents have arrived Ilorin for the 3rd edition of National Youth Games.

47 athletes will represent Kogi state at the 3rd National Youth Games holding in Ilorin, Kwara from Sept. 7 to Sept. 17 at the University of Ilorin Sports Complex.

Kogi Commissioner for Sports, Arome Adoji said that 47 athletes would represent the state in 12 events including Athletics, Ayo, Badminton, Chess, Scrabble, Judo, Wrestling, and Tennis.

He implored the athletes and the 20 accompanying officials to be good ambassadors of the state and encouraged the athletes to win medals to compliment the government’s investment in sports.

The commissioner said the competition would provide an avenue for engaging the youth and channelling their energies positively.

WAFU: Ezenwa, Adeleye, 16 others selected

Home based Super Eagles head coach, Salisu Yusuf has picked goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Rabiu Ali and 16 other players for this month’s West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations tournament for senior national teams taking place in Ghana.

Energetic midfielder Rabiu Ali and forward Kingsley Eduwo, who both scored as the Eagles prevailed 2-0 over Benin Republic in Kano to qualify for next year’s African Nations Championship, are also included alongside defenders Eze Stephen, Chima Akas, Osas Okoro and Emmanuel Ariwachukwu, and midfielders Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Samuel Mathias and Afeez Aremu.
Akwa United’s Gabriel Okechukwu and Ubong , Katsina United Destiny Ashadi, Peter Eneji of NPFL leaders Plateau United and Lobi Stars’ prolific striker Anthony Okpotu are the new faces on board.

Nigeria will play Sierra Leone in the first round of the tournament (which is a knock –out), before eight teams will emerge for a group phase competition. The competition takes place 9th-24th September.

In the same Group A that has Nigeria, hosts Ghana will play the Gambia, Mali are up against Mauritania and Guinea Bissau will clash with Guinea.

Ghana and Nigeria have seven African titles between them, with the Super Eagles and the Black Stars featuring in the last two FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014).

All the teams in Group A will play in Takoradi, the twin city of Sekondi that also hosted matches during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.

FULL LIST OF SUPER EAGLES

Goalkeepers : Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United).

Defenders : Stephen Eze (FC IfeanyiUbah); Emmanuel Ariwachukwu (Akwa United); Chima Akas (Enyimba FC); Osas Okoro (Rangers International); Adeleye Olamilekan (FC IfeanyiUbah); Daniel James (Plateau United).

Midfielders: Afeez Aremu (Akwa United); Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Samuel Mathias (El-Kanemi Warriors); Destiny Ashadi (Katsina United).

Forwards : Gabriel Okechukwu (Akwa United); Kingsley Eduwo (Lobi Stars); Peter Eneji (Plateau United); Ubong (Akwa United); Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars).

Falode gets Osun SWAN merit award

The chairperson of the Nigeria Women's Football League, Aisha Falode, will be presented with  a merit award of excellence by the Osun State chapter of the Sports Writer's Association of Nigeria.



The event has been scheduled to hold on 19th of October 2017 at the Atlantis Civic Event Centre, Osogbo.


According to the Chairman Award Planning Committee, Olayinka Olawole, the meritorious gold award of excellence in women's football development will be presented to the NWFL Chairperson, Aisha Falode, for her positive and encouraging attitude that inspired and made a positive impact on Women's Football in Nigeria.



He added that: "Aisha Falode has been a role model for others and raised the profile of women's football locally and internationally."
The other recipients for awards in the programme includes former Osun state governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former NFF Sec Gen. Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, former NFF president Sani Lulu Abdullahi, former NFF Women's Football chairperson Hon. Ayo Omidiran and former international Ademola Adeshina.



Others are NFF vice president Seyi Akinwumi, NFF board member Alhaji Ahmed Fresh and Tade Azeez Nigeria Referees Association and Akin Alabi.



Others include the proprietor of Remo Stars,  Kunle  Soname, Tunji Brown, Senator Jide Omoworare, Aderonke Ogunbanwo Ajibola, Senator Fatai Buhari, Honourable Lawrence Ayeni.



The highpoint of the event will be the investiture of the former Secretary General of the NFF, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, as Osun State Pillar of Sport, for his long term services to the development of sports in the state and beyond.

LMC axe FC Ifeanyi Ubah's squad for harassing match officials.

The League Management Company (LMC) have hammered FC Ifeanyi Ubah for breaching the  Nigeia Professional Football League (NPFL) Framework & Rules during their Matchday 36 match against Niger Tornadoes

The Nnewi-based club failed to control & ensure proper conduct of their players & officials during the match.

Some FC Ifeanyi Ubah players, officials & supporters assaulted match officials on Matchday 36 tie in Lokoja.

Also, some FC Ifeanyiubah players and officials conducted themselves in manner capable of bringing the NPFL to disrepute as they encroached on to the field of play from the bench.

FC Ifeanyiubah will pay a fine of N1m for the encroachment.

They will also pay a fine of N750,000 for failing to control their players & officials during the NPFL game in Lokoja.

FC Ifeanyiubah will pay N500,000 being N250,000 each to the assaulted referee & assistant referee plus any certified medical bills.

Meanwhile, FC Ifeanyiubah players Ngoma Luamba, Elu Wilson, Isaac Loute are suspended for 12 NPFL games each for assault on the referee.

Also banned for 12 NPFL games are Stephen Eze, Adeleye Olamilekan,  Michael Egbeta, Uchenna Godfrey Jr, Douglas Nkrumah, Kone Soumaila.

Also, FC Ifeanyiubah secretary Chidi Nwogu and kit manager Adirika Obiefuna are banned for next 19 NPFL games for assault on match officials.

The suspensions on FC Ifeanyiubah players & officials take effect immediately & shall be carried over into the next NPFL season.

NWFL announces new date for Super 4

The board of Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has announced a shift in date for the annual football fiesta, Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) Super Four.

The championship which will make known the champions of the 2016/17 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) will now hold from October 09 – 14 in the ancient city of Benin City, Edo state.

Officials and the participating teams, Bayelsa Queens, Delta Queens, Nasarawa Amazons and title holders, Rivers Angels are expected to arrive in Benin City on Saturday, October 07 while the teams will use the days in between to train prior to the commencement of competitive matches on the 9th of October.

The championship was initially billed to hold from September 11 – 16 in Benin City, Edo state.

The NWFL board chairperson, Aisha Falode said the postponement though a difficult one becomes necessary because of the Fifa U20 World Cup qualifiers between Nigeria’s Falconets and their Tanzanian counterparts taking place in Nigeria on September 16 and Sunday, October 01 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

“The NWFL board is compelled to shift the date of the NWPL Super Four championship due to the Fifa U20 World Cup qualifying matches between Nigeria’s Falconets and Tanzania on Saturday, September 16 in Nigeria and October 01 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania respectively.

“The 2017 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) will now hold from October 09 – 14 in Benin City, Edo state.

“Teams and officials are expected to arrive on October 07 while the teams will use the time in between to train and unwind for competition proper commencing on Monday, October 09.

“The decision is a difficult one but we took into consideration the fact that many of the players involved in the Fifa U20 World Cup qualifying matches including the head coach, Christopher Danjuma are part and parcel of the Super Four championship.

“We have always dreamed of NWPL Super Four championship with excitement, character and quality that will not only showcase the best of women football to the outside world but also to give the needed dividend to our hosts and potential sponsors.

“We have responsibility to end the already successful league season on high and the best way to achieve that mileage is to give everybody equal opportunity.

“We sincerely regret any inconvenience the slight adjustment in date will cause to the teams, stakeholders, hosts, sponsors, among others.

“We are committed to organising the best ever NWPL Super Four championship in the annals of women football,” said Falode.

Nasarawa Amazons will kick-off the championship against Bayelsa Queens on Monday, October 09 while Delta Queens take on Cup holders, Rivers Angels in the second match of matchday 1 clash.

The winners of the Super Four championship will go home with a prized sum of Three Million Naira (N3m) while the runners-up will pocket Two Million Naira (N2m) respectively.