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Nigeria Football League

Nigeria Top-flight League: Six (6) In-Form And Outstanding Players

Published

9 months ago

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As the first stanza of the abridged 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League reaches halfway, we take a look at some of the top performers and those who have failed to hit the ground running, Abiodun Adewale writes

1. Imade, Sarki, Obasogie (Bendel Insurance)
Newcomers Bendel Insurance aren’t top of the table in Group A because other teams haven’t come to the party. They are simply there because of the involvement of their strikers, Osarenkhoe Imade and Ismael Sarki as well as their goalkeeper Amas Obasogie.

Imade and Sarki have been in the spotlight from match-day one as the striking partners have scored in the same game on four occasions to help Bendel Insurance secure points against Akwa United, Plateau United, Remo Stars and Shooting Stars. Bendel Insurance have won on three of the occasions in which both players scored, while they also drew one.

In the process, both players have ten goals between them, six of them for Imade while Sarki has four. Bendel Insurance has scored thirteen goals this season, so, both players have contributed seventy percent of the goals for the Benin Arsenal so far this season.

While Imade and Sarki are banging the goals, Obasogie has been diligent between the sticks, as he kept seven clean sheets and conceded just three goals in nine games.

While Imade won the League Bloggers January Player of the Month Award, Sarki and Amas were also nominated.

The Benin Arsenal hold a seven-point gap on top of the table with 23 points.

2. Emeka Obioma (Enyimba)
Leading the line for eight-time champions who need to rediscover themselves is no mean feat and Obioma is living up to the expectations for Enyimba.

The striker has scored seven goals already to lead the scorers chart while he has no also equalled his number from the previous season.

Unlike other contenders in the golden boot race, Obioma began to score on match-day four, bagging a brace against Kwara United and has followed it up with two other braces against El-Kanemi Warriors and Shooting Stars as well as one other goal against Gombe United to take his tally to seven.

3. Joseph Atule (Lobi Stars)
Lobi Stars forward, Joseph Atule has been a consistent provider and scorer for the Makurdi side this season.

Majorly operating from the flanks and sometimes through the middle, Atule has scored four goals and also has four assists to his name, helping Lobi stay in strong contention for a top-three finish in group B with 19 points.

Lobi has scored 12 goals in nine games, meaning that Atule has contributed to eight of them.

4.Emmanuel Ifeanyi (Plateau United)
Jos side, Plateau United are the highest scoring side so far in the league with 17 goals. While the names of scorers have been distributed, an unlikely source, Emmanuel Ifeanyi, has however scored four times for the Fidelis Ilechukwu led team.

The defender blazed the trail for Plateau in January and won the club’s player of the month award for the month while he was also nominated in the league.

5. Robert Mizo (Bayelsa United)
After seven years in the Nigeria National League (NNL), Bayelsa United returned to the NPFL with a fading status and relatively unknown players.

However, one of their players, Robert Mizo, has come to the party so far this season with four goals.

Mizo scored eight for the Restoration Boy in the NNL last season and he will be crucial to their survival this season.

6. Henry Udezuka (Abia Warriors)

The Abia Warriors teenager has been in great form in hiss full season in the top-flight league. With a goal and two assist, the sensational youngster has been pivotal for Abia Warriors

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Nigeria Football League

NPL: Three Reasons Coach Kennedy Boboye Will Succeed In Heartland FC

Published

6 days ago

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November 23, 2023

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Renowned Nigeria gaffer, Coach Kennedy Boboye, has been announced as the new head coach of Nigeria Football League side, Heartland Football Club of Owerri , taking over from Coach Obi following the latter strings of poor run of form.

Yet to record a win in the current season after (9) games, Coach Obi who led the ‘Naze Millionaires” back to the Nigeria elite league was relieved of his duties with two time Nigeria topflight league winning gaffer, Coach Kennedy Boboye taking over the helm of affaires.

With Coach Kennedy Boboye faced with an enormous task of getting Heartland back to winning ways and turning around their fortune, here are (3) reasons why the former Akwa United gaffer will succeed with Heartland.

1. EXPERIENCE

Arguably one of the League most decorated gaffer, Coach Kennedy Boboye ranks as one of the finest Nigeria Coach in the league, his achievements speaks volume.

Coming in to pilot the affairs of Heartland Football Club, Coach Kennedy Boboye vast knowledge and experience of the game most especially in the league is one factor that would turn-around the fortunes e of Heartland.

After showing class to lift the league title with Plateau United, Boboye showed further his exploits with the Jos based side wasn’t a fluke as he went ahead to clinch the league title with Akwa United.

With his vast experience of the league, Heartland Football Club will surely flourish under his tutelage.

2. MAN MANAGEMENT

Coach Kennedy Boboye man management prowess has proven to be top notch which are evident in the various clubs coached in the League and in the Nigeria National team.

With his usual coach-players synergy, Heartland would witness a turn-around sooner than expected.

Coach Boboye is well known to always carry his players along in the Scheme of things which usually propels the players r to play for the badge and for the manager in change.

Never been heard of any Coach Kennedy Boboye tutored side Chequered with tales of dressing-room unrest and player revolts, his ability to always ensure a good working relationship with his players will surely bring out the best in them and usher in the turnaround needed in the Heartland Football Club team.

3. STYLE OF PLAY

Watching any of Coach Kennedy Boboye thinkered side has always been a delight to watch following his team free flowing football pattern of play.

With no definite formation peculiar to him, one thing is always certain with his team, they always keep possession and exploits the width of the pitch which makes his players much difficult to cancel out.

In Akwa United, Coach Kennedy won the league title in style listing as the team with the highest number of goals scored at home and away by any other team.

Coach Kennedy Boboye style of play will be key in the revolution needed in Heartland Football Club if only the players would play to instruction.

He always Marshalls the best players in his team on the basis of merit and this always brings out the best from his team.

His pattern of play will bring back the glory days of the Naze Millionaires.

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Nigeria Football League

NPFL: Francis Chilaka Fulfills Promise To Reward Abia Warriors Team

Published

1 month ago

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October 16, 2023

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Football enthusiast and one of Abia Warriors Football Club newly constituted board member, Francis Chibuike Chilaka, has fulfilled his promise to the Abia Warriros Football Club players after its Matchday on Matchday (3) win.

In the bid to motivate the team in the keenly contested fixture against Kano Pillars at the weekend, Francis Chibuike Chilalaka popularly known as ‘Owo Texas’ pledged a whopping sum of, One Hundred Thousand Naira (#100,000) to the players for a win over resilient Kano Pillars side.

After it’s disappointing lose to Kwara United on Matchday 2, Abia Warriros returned home to see off stars studded Kano Pillars side at the Umuahia township stadium, thanks to lanky forward, Sunday Megwo, whose solitary strike made the difference after 90mins.

Known for his Philanthropist gesture and his exceptional love for the growth and development of football in Abia State and beyond, the newly appointed Board member of the club paid off the pledge after the team hard fought win to send the Abia Warriors players into rapture.

Next for the Umuahia Warlords is a date with Lobi Stars on Matchday (4) at the Lafia City Township Stadium.

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Nigeria Football League

Nigeria Topflight League Review: Megwo’s Strike Sinks Kano Pillars As Malomo Brace See Off Gombe

Published

1 month ago

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October 16, 2023

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Actions resumed in the Nigeria top-flight at the weekend across the stadias as teams gets involved in its Matchday 3 fixture of the new season.

Below is a brief details how various teams fared in their various Matches.

1. Abia Warriors vs Kano Pillars (1-0)

Abia Warriors who narrowly lost to Kwara United on Matchday 2 returned home to make up for the lost points with its highly rated striker, Sunday Megwo scoring the only goal of the game.

2. Shooting Stars vs Gombe United (2-1)

The highly and keenly contested fixture had the host coming from behind to earn a win.

Gombe United took an early lead at the first half and it Shooting Stars Malomo Taofeek brace to overturn the scoreline at full time.

3. Enyimba vs Akwai United (3-2)

The free scoring fixture had the defending champions, Enyimba International establishing a 2-0 lead but surprisingly had the scoreline overturn to a 2-2 by the Promise Keeper’s.

Enyimba showed off class to steal a win after center-back Somari.A free kick settled at the back fo the net.

4. Rivers United vs Kwara United (0-0)

One of the are star match of the week (3) ended on a barren draw as the share of spoils witnessed no goals.

5. Enugu Rangers vs Niger Tornadoes (2-1)

Enugu Rangers who lost narrowly on Matchday (2) fought through to claim a 2-1 win over Niger Tornadoes at the Awka Township stadium.

6. Sporting Lagos vs Doma United (0-0)

New boys, Sporting Lagos, lost another point but this time at home ass they were caged by hungry Doma United.

7. Sunshine Stars vs Heartland (1-1)

The exciting fixtures between the two renowned Clubsides ended on a 1-1 draw ensuring a share of spoils.

8. Bayelsea United vs Remo Stars (1-2)

The fixture produced the only away win of Matchday 3 as Adams.O and Sikiru Alimi goals were enough to earn the Skye Blue stars Maximum points.

9. Katsina United vs Lobi Stars (0-0)

The highly anticipated fixture ended in a share of spoils with the two sides providing nothing to separate the two sides at full time

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