2019 NWFL PREVIEW : All you need to know

Nigerian Women soccer fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the 2019 Nigeria Women Premier League season after a long summer break. The new season begins on Wednesday, the 24th of July 2019 with eight matches across all centres on match day one. 

*WHICH CLUBS MAY SPRING SURPRISES*?

Bayelsa Queens may once again be starting the new season as top title contender. However, the league is more evenly balanced than it has ever been.

With the grouping shared into four, there is every possibility that we would have more than two new clubs at the 2019 Super 4 away from the big guns like Nasarawa Amazon's, Bayelsa Queens, Rivers Angels, Delta Queens and Sunshine Queens. 

For the first time Edo Queens, Ibom Angels, Adamawa Queens and Confluence Queens all have opportunities to qualify for the most prestigious play offs in the country. 

*EXIT OF ANAM IMO, RASHEEDAT AJIBADE, PEACE EFIH, CHRISTY UCHEIBE, CHARITY RUEBEN*

The focus with clearly be on the big teams and the calibre of players they posses. Star studded Bayelsa Queens, Rivers Angels and Nasarawa Amazons have all it takes to start well in the league. However with the exit of Anam Imo, Rasheedat Ajibade, Peace Efih, Christy Ucheibe and others to top European clubs, the focus now will clearly be on some younger players to establish themselves this season.

Maryann Ezeanagu, Anjor Mary, Christopher Precious, Rafiat Sule, Vivian Ikechukwu, Joy Omewa, Emem Essien, Yemisi Samuel, Esther Oyenezedie and many others all have a lot to prove in the 2019 NWPL season. 

*WHAT SHOULD WE LOOK OUT FOR*?

Rivers Angels were not safisfied with their performance in the league last season. The AITEO Cup was all that came of their hoped-for a double win. More is expected from them now and they have recruited well this season hoping for the league to kick off. 

Their closest competitor in group A, Delta Queens has hired a new manager, George Emenetie who is ambitious and wants to play at the Super 4. 

Adamawa Queens and Edo Queens look good to go in group B, 

while Group C remains the toughest group with Bayelsa Queens, Sunshine Queens and Nasarawa Amazons all jostling for just a spot for the Super 4. 

While Group D might be among these three clubs Confluence Queens, Ibom Angels and Abia Angels. 

2019 NNL Play offs: Akwa starlets dims Shooting Stars of Ibadan to qualify for their maiden NPFL season as Warri wolves,Adamawa utd and Jigawa Golden stars also make a return

Akwa starlet have gained promotion to the NPFL for the first time in history.  

They achieved this historic feat after they defeated shooting stars of Ibadan  by three goals to nil at the Stephen keshi International stadium, Asaba yesterday in one of the matches of the Nigeria National League promotion play offs.

Warri wolves also make a return three years after they were relegated from the elite football league of Nigeria football.

Warri wolves played goalless with dynamite FC and prevailed 5 -3 on penalties to book their place in the league.

Jigawa Golden stars also make a return after 7 years of Absence in the League. The team edged NAF FC by three goals to two. The Jigawa based team last played in 2012 in the league .

Adamawa United gained promotion at the expense of FRSC FC, Adamawa utd beat the Road Safety boys by two goals to one to book their slot in the NPFL after over a decade of attempts to play in the elite league since there demotion to the lower league in the year 2007

The 20 teams that would be plying their trade in 2019/2020 NPFL Season are Enyimba International
Kano Pillars, Enugu Rangers,Akwa United, Lobi Stars FC ifeanyi Ubah, Rivers United Kastina United,Nasarawa United
Sunshine Stars,Abia Warriors
Heartland Fc,Delta Force
Plateau United,Wikki Tourist
MFM FC,Akwa Starlet, Adamawa United, Jigawa Golden FC and 
Warri Wolves.

The NPFL run an abridged league last season to align with the new CAF calendar of August to May as it is being run in Europe.

The date for the 2019/2020 NPFL kick off is yet to be announced but its expected to start before the turn of the year. 

Former Super Eagles player,Mutiu Adepoju predicts great future for HIFL stars

Former Super Eagles Player and La Liga Ambassador, Mutiu Adepoju said a bright footballing career awaits the stars of the Higher Institution Football League, HIFL sportspedalng.blogspots.com can report.

He made this assertion in Ibadan,When he was answering questions from journalists after watching the games.

The mercurial midfielder, nicknamed the headmaster is confident that in no distant time some of the stars discover will represent Nigeria at international competitions. 

He  disclosed that the HiFL will help to revive the passion around school football and School sports in Nigeria, and expressed confidence that in no distant time some of the lads who perform excellently might get called up to play for the national team.

"No more competitions in schools,right from primary schools and secondary schools during our time then we used to have lots of competition.

we grew with that and we were developed that way but this time arround its be lagging i believe that with HiFL coming there will be more school competitions,there will be more interest from the  students to play football and to do sports not only football with that i believe as time goes on we can have good players in the national team." 

The HIFL started in 2018 and has been a ground for burden talents to expose their talents for scouting for bigger things.

The current striker of Kano pillars ,Emeka Ebuka was the highest goal scorer of the HIFL in 2018 and his goals have helped Kano pillars qualified for 2019/2020  Confederation of Africa Football Champions League ,CAFCLafter winning the silver medal of the 2019 NPFL championship playoffs as well as qualify the Kano b ased team for the finals of the Federation of Cup .

Many other players have secured professional contracts with NPFL and NNL teams as well semi professional sides across the country.

HiFL® is organised by PACE Sports and Entertainment Marketing in partnership with the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA). 

The league is proudly sponsored by Stanbic IBTC, Premier Cool and Indomie Nigeria.

 The top 32 Universities from NUGA-member institutions will play over a period of 21 weeks, with the final four billed for the Agege Stadium, Lagos.

HIFL week 4 wrap: UI Pioneers beats LASU blazers 2-0 to join Others In Round of 16

UI Pioneers,the University

of Ibadan Football team have secured their placed in the Round of  16 at the on going 2019 HIFL,higher institution football league, after defeating LASU blazers by two goals to nil on Thursday at the University sports complex.

With a win to book their place in the knockout stage, the pioneers quickly settled into the match against an already qualified, LASU blazers, and secured victory with goals from Oladieji Abdumalik and Alabi Salam  University of Ibadan.

The pioneers celebrating their victory

With this Victory Pioneers emerged as group B runners up, with five points, having recorded two consecutive draws against Lead City University Gladiators and Afe Babalola University ABUAD Stars earlier in the series.

LASU Blazers emerged as group winners after garnering six points from three games, the lads from Lagos State University defeated their counterparts, LCU Gladiators and ABUAD Stars by two goals to one  and three goals to one respectively While the match between Lead City Gladiators and Afe Babalola University ,ABUAD stars, ended in three goals to one in favour of the Gladiators but it turned out to be a mere formality as both teams failed in their to make it from the Ibadan centre.

In ABUJA, UNILORIN Warriors, emerged group F leaders following their outstanding finish as part of the super four teams in the 2018 edition of the league. 

They are joined by FUTMINNA Transformers who gathered a maximum six points after a convincing three one win against PLASU Boulders, and an impressive five goals to one trashing of Nile Rovers, the highest goal margin so far in the 2019 edition.

Meanwhile PLASU Boulders lost to Nile Rovers  of Abuja by two goals to one on Thursday in the group's last match but it wasn't enough to propel the Abuja team to the next round.

HiFL® is organised by PACE Sports and Entertainment Marketing in partnership with the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA). 

The league is proudly sponsored by Stanbic IBTC, Premier Cool and Indomie Nigeria. 

The top 32 Universities from NUGA-member institutions will play over a period of 21 weeks, with the final four billed for the Agege Stadium, Lagos.

Rohr urges focus, total commitment ahead semi final clash

 

Even before knowing the identity of their AFCON 2019 semi final opponent, Super Eagles’ technical adviser Gernot Rohr on Thursday morning charged his wards to be focused and fully committed to the task at hand as they countenance another tough session on Sunday night at the Cairo International Stadium.

 

“The next match in a championship is always the toughest, so it is always important to approach it that way. That is why we must now forget what we achieved against South Africa in our quarter final match and start to build up towards the semi final.

 

“There is no time to rest on our oars. We must make all the sacrifices we can now to achieve our objectives at this tournament. We must stay focused and be fully committed.”

 

The three –time champions were back at the Aerosport pitch inside the Cairo Airport on Thursday morning to begin training for Sunday’s encounter, which would be against the winner of the Algeria/Cote d’Ivoire fixture.

 

Also on Thursday morning, the management of the Le Meridien Cairo Airport hotel presented a big cake to the Super Eagles for the 2-1 win over South Africa on Wednesday that has taken Nigeria into the last four of Africa’s biggest and most prestigious football championship.

 

The hotel manager, Atef Wilson, on behalf of the management presented the cake to Coach Gernot Rohr and forward Odion Ighalo, who received on behalf of the team.

 

Victory over South Africa took Franco –German Gernot Rohr’s record with Nigeria to 20 wins in 34 matches, of which he has drawn five and lost nine.

 

2019 AFCON: Dangote,Otedola to reward Super Eagles with $75k for each goals henceforth

 

The day after their exquisite and efficient performance against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa (conquerors of seven –time champions and host nation Egypt) that saw them reach the semi finals of AFCON 2019, the Super Eagles received pledges of more dollar rain from two of Africa’s richest businessmen.

 

On a visit to the team’s Le Meridien Cairo Airport hotel on Thursday morning, during which he urged the players to even redouble their efforts in order to cross the semi final stage on Sunday, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick put a call through to the two well -known philanthropists and tasked them to commit to supporting the team.

 

While Dangote made a pledge of $50,000 to the team for every goal in their remaining two matches at the championship, Otedola pledged the sum of $25,000 for every goal.

 

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who holds Nigeria’s second highest national honour (GCON) is the President of Dangote Group and is ranked as the richest person of African descent in the world. The Dangote Group has interests in various commodities in Nigeria and other African countries.

 

Oil baron Femi Otedola has recently been involved in a number of commendable interventions for ailing former Nigerian international players, including 1980 AFCON winning team –captain Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu and goalkeeper Peter Fregene.

 

Super Eagles beat Bafana Bafana as Ekong Troost Late Winner secure semi final birth for Nigeria at AFCON 2019

 

Nigeria soared into the semi finals of the 32^nd Africa Cup of Nations finals after an unlikely William Ekong winner two minutes to full time at the Cairo International Stadium on Wednesday night.

 

Bongani Zungu scored in the 70^th minute as the ball hit the back of Super Eagles’ forward and tournament top scorer Odion Ighalo from a free kick, to cancel out a Samuel Chukwueze strike in the 26^th minute that had kept Nigeria on top all evening. But Ekong popped up at the far post to slam the ball into an empty net as goalkeeper Ronnie Williams and his entire defence missed the ball from substitute Moses Simon’s corner.

 

No doubt, the game lived up to its billing as a confrontation between two fierce rivals, with both teams sizing each other up in the early minutes and being very cautious in their approach. But Nigeria were quicker off the blocks, with Ahmed Musa guilty of a poor pull out and midfielder Wilfred Ndidi watching his shot sail narrowly over the bar in the 5^th minute.

 

As the game wore on, Samuel Chukwueze tried to stamp his authority on the right wing, combining beautifully with defender Chidozie Awaziem. In the 26^th minute, Alex Iwobi sold a dummy and cantered to the right side of the Bafana Bafana defence, before a sharp cut-back for Chukwueze, whose first shot was blocked. But the young forward followed up and snatched the rebound, and then slotted past Williams for Nigeria’s first goal.

 

The atmosphere was electric at the Cairo International Stadium, with the near 20,000 fans all rooting for the Super Eagles. But Musa, on a counter attack, failed to make it count with a poor cross, and then Chukwueze himself concocted a poor finish from Ahmed Musa’s pass with 10 minutes left before interval.

 

In the second half, Oghenekaro Etebo rocked Williams’ crossbar from a 25 –yard free kick, and Musa and Chukwueze had their hands on their heads from missed opportunities, before South Africa equalized somewhat fortuitously in the 70^th minute.

 

The ball hit the back of forward Odion Ighalo from Percy Tau’s free kick as Nigeria massed to defend, and flew to Zungu, who directed his header to the far corner and beyond a flat footed goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

 

Yet, Nigeria would make hay late, with Ekong’s winner, and now the Super Eagles await the winner of the tie between Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire in the semi finals at the Cairo International Stadium.

 

In the first semi final, Senegal’s Lions of Teranga (1-0 winners of Benin Republic in the first quarter final match on Wednesday) will take on the winner of the Madagascar/Tunisia match.