Chidozie Okorie opened scoring in the 11th minute, giving the home side an early lead.

Ahmed Musa doubled the advantage in the 45th minute to put Kano Pillars in firm control before the break.

The match, played at the Sani Abacha Stadium, saw both sides create chances, but Kano Pillars were more clinical in front of goal.

Speaking after the match, Kano Pillars Head Coach, Muhammad Babaganaru, commended his players for their determination and teamwork.

He said the victory, which earned the team three points and a clean sheet, was a collective effort and crucial in moving the club out of the relegation zone.

Babaganaru noted that the result had boosted the team’s confidence, stressing the need to sustain the momentum and secure more points, including away fixtures.

He also praised the players’ attitude and improved defensive organisation, adding that the team remained compact in spite of  a brief dip following tactical adjustments.

Enyimba Head Coach, Emmanuel Deutsch, described the encounter as difficult, noting that his team failed to perform to expectation.

“We lost again, and it is not a good situation. The home team used their advantage well and controlled key moments of the game,” he said.

Deutsch said his side made costly mistakes and were duly punished, adding that Kano Pillars deserved the victory.

He acknowledged that Enyimba were in a difficult position but expressed optimism that the team could turn things around.

“The league is not over yet. We will go back, correct our mistakes and prepare properly for the next match,” he said.

Source: NAN

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The only goal of the match was scored by Ahmed Abubakar in 31st minute of the match to give the visitors the lifeline before the interval.

In a post match interview, Wikki Tourist coach, Abdul Maikaba, expressed happiness over the outcome of the match.

Maikaba said he told the players to go for the win, knowing that Enyimba International FC Stadium was a good atmosphere for players to express themselves with maximum protection.

“We planned to open the score before our host and it worked out for us; we would have scored more goals but all things being the same.

“I know that this will motivate the players to do better in the next matches of the season and to finish the league well,” Maikaba said.

Meanwhile, Enyimba FC coach Stanley Eguma boycotted the post match interview as usual and that made it the second time he ignored the newsmen.

The first was when his team lost 2-1 to Warri Wolves at home in which he left the journalists waiting in vain at the press room.

The win lifted Wikki Tourist to seventh possible on the league table with 19 points while Enyimba slumped to the 11th position with 17 points after 13 matches.

Source: NAN

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According to the organisers of the ongoing competition at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, Enyimba of Aba and FC Kallon of Sierra Leone pulled out of the tournament only after the draw of the event was made last week.

Executive Director, Publicity and Strategy for the Local Organising Committee of the EIC, Onome Obruthe, said the late withdrawals would not affect the tournament in anyway because there were strategic plans on the ground to cover up for such.

“We had some teams on our standby list with understanding and so two of them are in now and we are already having an exciting time in Lagos.

“We have Remo Stars and Rivers United in the competition and they both finished first and second in the Nigeria Professional Football League.  There are also two other top flight teams –Ikorodu City and Shooting Stars. The opening game between these two teams was a big spectacle and so we are on course.”

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On Sunday, host team, Ikorodu City and Shooting Stars settled for a 2-2 draw in the opener which kept many spectators at the edge of their seats for the 90 minutes duration.

The two new entrants, Smart City and 36 Lions were on duty in a late match with results being awaited as at press time.

According to the reversed fixtures released on Monday, Shooting Stars will clash with Rivers United in a crunch encounter.

Rivers United coach, George Finidi, has said the Garden City Boys would approach the competition with all the seriousness it deserved.

According to Inside Rivers United FC, the former international stated that the EIC was a good opportunity to evaluate the fitness of the players and overall readiness for the new season.

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Speaking during a press parley in Lagos on Friday, the Executive Director, Publicity and Strategy for the Local Organising Committee of the EIC, Onome Obruthe, said two clubs from Benin Republic and Ghana pulled out due to other pressing issues with only FC Kallon of Sierra Leone joining other five clubs from Nigeria.

Ikorodu City, which is the host of the competition, was joined with other super power in the Nigeria Premier Football League like Shooting Stars, Remo Stars, Rivers United and Enyimba.

In the draws conducted on Friday, Ikorodu City, Shooting Stars and Rivers United are in Group A while FC Kallon would be joined in Group B by Remo Stars and Enyimba.

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According to Obruthe, they are looking forward to an interesting tournament with Ikorodu City and Shooting Stars renewing their SouthWest rivalry on the opening day of the pre-season.

Also present at the presser were representatives of some of the sponsors with MTN, Betking and others alongside the Lagos State Football Association to lend their support to the international tournament.

The representative of MTN, Friday Okuwe, who is the Senior Manager, Brands & Communications at the company, said they would continue to support football in Nigeria as they believed one of the things that brought Nigerians together was football hence their involvement in a project like Eko International Cup.

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According to a press release by the organisers on Thursday, the tournament earlier scheduled to take place between July 6 and 13 will now be held between July 13th and 20th.

The Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos remains the venue while the initial scope of having eight teams compete for honours is still on the cards.

SKI-Hi Entertainment, in collaboration with the Lagos State government, is organising the competition to prepare teams for the next football season and also to entertain lovers of the game in the off-season period.

The Executive Director, Publicity and Strategy for the Local Organizing Committee of the EIC, Onome Obruthe, said the event was shifted at the instance of most of the clubs expected to be on parade.

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Obruthe said: “Many of them wanted more time to allow their players assemble in camp first before coming for our event. One of the teams had only seven players in camp as at Wednesday evening.

“Those coming from other parts of the continent are also asking for more time and we had to move it after crucial round of meetings with our partners and other stakeholders.

“We want to stage a befitting event and that is why we have to shift the timing to suit the logistics of the participating teams.”

FC Kallon of Sierra Leone and Accra Heart of Oaks, Ghana are some of the teams expected to be in Lagos for the pre-season tourney.

Remo Stars, Ikorodu City, Shooting Stars and Enyimba of Aba are the domestic teams that have confirmed readiness to take part in the competition.

“Nothing will affect the fun we intend to bring to Lagos football fans. It is only one week delay and all will be fine with the new timing,” Obruthe added.

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Yusuf Abdullahi scored the only goal of the match for the visitors in the 41st minute to ensure his team into the break.

On resumption from the break, Enyimba players fought to salvage a point from the match but their efforts was  fruitless as the visitors’ defence stood tall till the final whistle.

Coach Mangut Mbwas of Plateau United, said his team faced a lot of difficulties in the course of the season having been deducted three points and three goals which put them in disarray.

“We are pleased to have picked the three points against a big club like Enyimba, and I believe we will do better next season,” Mbwas said.

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Plateau United captain, Charles Henlong, thanked God for a successful season but said he was  disappointed for not getting a continental slot which was the players resolve before the season.

“Now that the season is over and we finished strongly with a win against Enyimba in their home it shows that next season will come with something good,” he said.

Paschal Eze, Enyimba’s captain, said the result was not what they wanted as the match was the last for the season and they had every reason to give the fans something to be excited about.

“It is unfortunate that we lost the match which we are not supposed to,”Eze said.

Enyimba ended the season in sixth position on the table with 55 points while Plateau United finished seventh with 54 points after 38 matches.

Source: NAN

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Anthony Ijeoma put the visitors ahead in the 20th minute before Kalu Nweke of Enyimba restored parity for the host before the break.

However, Enyimba came out from the break smoking  but their efforts were rewarded in the 66th minute when the regular goal scorer, Joseph Atule, made it 2-1 for the host.

In the postmatch interview, Stanley Eguma, coach of Enyimba FC said the match lived up to the expectations of football fans.

“It was a good game and as a derby, we expected this kind of difficult and tough match and the two teams lived up to expectations.

“This is the best NPFL match that I have seen, they have tactics and possession but we have to do some transition and capitalise on counters to get our goals.

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“The most important thing is to get the goals and I think it is a good game and one of the toughest in NPFL matches so far,” Eguma said.

His counterpart, Coach Imama Amapakabo, expressed dismay over the outcome of the match saying, “we created chances but unfortunately, we lost with two goals from outside the 18 yard box.

“We lost and like I told the players before the game, we still have 18 points to play for in the league.

“In spite of the lose, we are still in the race for continental slot and we are going to give it our best,” he said.

The coach said his team would chase the continental slot as much as they could and that the technical team would review the match to get ready for Rivers United in the next match.

“We lost the game because we failed to convert our chances and in games like this, you do not throw away your chances or you will be punished at the end.

The win lifted Enyimba FC to eight position on the table with 46 points while Abia Warriors remain third on the log with 50 points after 32 matches.

Source: NAN

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The 1-0 victory lifted Enyimba to 10th place, with 34 points from 24 matches, following the Saturday fixture at Enyimba Stadium.

Obot scored the match’s only goal in the 41st minute from a free kick, awarded after Rivers United’s Abba Suleiman fouled an Enyimba player just outside the penalty box.

Obot was injured in the 45th minute and had to be substituted by the Enyimba technical crew before halftime.

His absence slightly weakened the team’s attacking force.

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In spite of the substitution, Enyimba’s defence held firm, and the visitors could not find an equaliser, with the match ending in a historic win for Enyimba.

In his post-match interview, Enyimba’s coach, Stanley Eguma, hailed the victory, especially after a long period without a win.

“This is a Valentine’s gift for the Aba fans,” he said.

“We’ve lost many away games, so returning to winning ways is a joy. Rivers United played well, but we were the better side,” Eguma said.

Rivers United coach, Finidi George, admitted his team missed chances that could have changed the outcome. “We had one-on-one situations, but didn’t take advantage.

“We had a free kick before Enyimba’s, which was debatable. The referee awarded the free kick to them, and Obot made the difference.

“Although we lost, I’m proud of my team’s effort. The lucky side won, and we must continue improving in future matches,” George said.

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Ifeanyi Ihemekwala put the hosts ahead in the 5th minute, while Toyeed Ayeyiegbe equalised for the visitors in the 87th minute.

Moses Adikwu’s last minute superb header in the 90th minute ensured a hard fought win for the  ‘people’s elephant’ against a resurgent Ikorodu side.

Coach Yemi Olanrewaju of Eyimba, after the match, expressed reservations over the centre referee’s inability to protect his players from dangerous tackles by the visiting team.

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“I wish to hail the players for being focused and their zeal to win, which won the match for us, in spite of conceding late in the match,” he said.

He expressed concern over the club’s congested fixtures in the NPFL and CAF confederation matches.

Olanrewaju Urged his players to concentrate on winning their matches so as to finish high in the league while playing tactically with caution.

Ikorodu’s coach, Nurudeen Aweroro, congratulated the host team for the win, but said his team target was to avoid a defeat.

“We played well and a draw would have been a good result for us; we have to go home and strategise on our next match.

“First of all, I thank God for injury free game, though, we lost at the last minute and that was due to loss of concentration,” he said.

Source: NAN

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The 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, runners-up crashed out after losing 2-3 aggregate to Moroccan side AS FAR Rabat.

Remo Stars lost 0-2 on the night at the Stade Prince Moulay El Hassan in Rabat.

The Nigerian side had won the first leg fixture on August 18 in Ikenne 2-1, but they could not withstand the Moroccans’ offensive blitz in the second leg game.

Two second half goals did the job for the hosts, with Joel Beya who scored their lone goal in Ikenne opening scores in the 53rd minute.

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With about 12 minutes left and Remo Stars holding out, a penalty kick was awarded to the home side and El Amine Zouhzouh made no mistake from the spot.

Remo Stars loss meant two of Nigeria’s representatives in club football on the continent have crashed out just one round into their respective competitions.

On Saturday, El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club of Maiduguri had been eliminated from the African Confederation Cup competition’s first preliminary round after a 2-3 aggregate loss.

Nigeria now has only one club each in the two continental competitions.

Enyimba International FC of Aba had drawn bye in the opening round into the second preliminary round of the African Confederation Cup competition.

Rangers International FC of Enugu had on Friday advanced into the second preliminary round of the African Champions League competition, after a 2-1 aggregate victory in the opening round.

Source: NAN

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