AYC U 20 ALGERIA 2013 : ALL THE RESULTS FOR THE RECORDS

March 16    17:30    Algeria    0     vs     Benin 0    Stade  Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchen                     March 16    20:30    Ghana     1     vs       Egypt 2    Stade   Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent

March  17   17:30     Nigeria     0     vs      Mali  1     Stade  Ahmed Zabana, Oran      

March 17    20:30     Congo DR  0   vs      Gabon 0       Stade   Ahmed Zabana, Oran

March 19   17:30     Ghana       1      vs      Benin 0     Stade    Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent

March 19   20:30      Algeria     0     vs       Egypt 1      Stade    Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent

March 20  17:30      Mali          2       vs     Congo DR 1        Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran

March 20  20:30      Gabon      0       vs      Nigeria    1          Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran

March 22  17:30      Algeria     0         vs     Ghana  2               Stade Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent

March 22  17:30      Benin      0          vs     Egypt  1                Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran

March 23 20:30      Nigeria     3           vs    Congo DR       1       Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran

March 23 20:30      Mali            0         vs           Gabon      2              Stade  Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchen

                                      SEMI FINALS    FIXTURES

17:00      EGYPT  2 VS  NIGERIA  0                         Stade  Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchen  SF 1

17:00      MALI 2 (0)  VS  GHANA (0) 4 AET                         Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran                 SF 2

                                                  THIRD PLACE FINAL

         MARCH 29 17:30        NIGERIA   2   VS     MALI   1    Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran

                                                         FINAL

       MARCH 30  17:30         EGYPT 1 VS    GHANA  1( 5-4) AET Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran

EGPPT 1 VS GHANA 1 EGYPT 5 VS GHANA 4 AET THE MATCH REPORT : Egypt crowned AYC champions

Egypt won their fourth CAF U-20 Championship title on Saturday after a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over Ghana in the final played at Ahmed Zabana stadium in Oran on Saturday. The two sides had played a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Converting penalties for Egypt were Saleh Gomaa, Ahmed Samir, Ahmed ElSayed, Mahmoud Monem and Hossam Mohamed while Ramy Rabie missed and for Ghana were Richmond Nketiah, Jeremiah Arkorful, Lawrence Lartey, Ebenezer Ofori while Attama Joseph and Moses Odjer missed.

The 12th Orange CAF Youth Championship final opened with two early goals, the first coming after only three minutes when Ghanaian defender Richmond Nketiah brought down left winger Mahmoud Monem in the box. Up stepped Saleh Gomaa to convert the spot kick and the Young Pharaohs went in front. Two minutes later at the other end Ahmed Samir went for a kick clearance and fouled Moses Odjer who was first to the ball with his head resulting in the second penalty of the game. Jeremiah Arkorful sent keeper Mossad Awad the wrong way and with 7 minutes on the clock it was 1-1.

The quick goals seemed to have helped the two sides settled down into the game and flowing passing football befitting a final was soon on show. Ghana were productive attacking from the right flank where Nketiah, Odjer and Ebenezer Assifuah were combining well. Egypt on the other hand were channeling the bulk of the play via the left wing looking to use Monem who was a constant threat to the Ghanaian defenders with his silky skills each time he was on the ball. The game brought out some interesting tassels in the midfield as Gomaa, Hossam Mohamed and Mahmoud Ahmed for the Egyptians wrestled with Clifford Aboagye, Ebenezer Ofori and Salifu Seidu in a bid to control and influence the game. 

On 30th minute Arkorful almost doubled the Black Satellites’ score with a delightful free-kick that cannoned off the cross bar and bounced back into play to be cleared by the Egyptians. The first half ended 1-1 and the game maintained its tempo upon resumption. The evenly balanced contest continued with action swing from one end to the other much to the delight of a good appreciative crowd that came to Ahmed Zabana stadium.   

Nketiah was in the mood to shoot and on 60th minute he warmed Awad ‘s palms with a rasping shot and not long after Arkorful saw his free-kick sail centimeters wide as Ghana accumulated a few free kick around the edge of the Egyptian box. Egypt’s response was swift, captain Ramy Rabia started a run from half-way and found Omar Bassam with a pass but his progress towards goal was well checked by outstanding Ghanaian captain Lawrence Lartey who was at the hearty of most of his side’s fine defending.

Going into the last fifteen minutes it was Ghana who close to adding to the score line and a combination of keeper Awad’s reflexes and solid defending from Mahmoud Elmetwaly and Yasser Ahmed kept the Satellites at bay. Some substitutions revived Egypt’s attacking play in particular the contribution of pacey substitute Ahmed ElSayed. The last five minutes both sides seemed resigned to play extra time, as they pass the ball round not too keen to concede at this late stage.Extra time could not separate the sides and it was left to a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner.

EGYPT VS GHANA IN AYC FINAL SHOWDOWN AS NIGERIA DEFEATED MALI 2-1 NIGERIA,MALI KNOW WORLD CUP FOES IN FRESH WORLD CUP DRAW

EGYPT VS GHANA IN  AYC FINAL SHOWDOWN
AS NIGERIA DEFEATED MALI 2-1
NIGERIA,MALI KNOW WORLD CUP FOES IN FRESH WORLD CUP DRAW

 

Egypt and Ghana will play in the final of the 2013 Orange CAF U-20 Championship on Saturday at Ahmed Zabana stadium in Oran, Algeria. The Young Pharaohs go into the match as favourites after notching four straight wins including an opening 2-1 victory over same opponents, Ghana two weeks ago.

Ghana coach Sellas Tetteh was at pains dispelling the suggestions that the Black Satellites will be seeking revenge.  “ It worries me when l hear such talk about being motivated by revenge, and wanting to get back at Egypt for that loss in the first game. That match is in the past and our approach to the final is not based on a need to even things or any such intention. We are in a final and will play to win, regardless of what has happened before. “ said Tetteh
Tetteh’s counterpart, Rabie Yassine said he would be expecting a challenging encounter with Ghana but he too will not be dwelling on the result from their last meeting. “First of all, we have a lot of respect for Ghana and their football but we are ready to face them on Saturday and l have been working on my team and concentrating on what we need to do to win.  We want to make our own history, we have our destiny in our own hands and I believe we can win this tournament. We are capable, we have what it takes to win,” Yassine said.

When the sides met last time Ghana created more scoring chances but Egypt were more efficient with theirs and thus carried the day. According to coach Yassine his side will strike a balance between offensive and defensive play but will definitely take the game to the opposition and continue with the style and combinations that has served the side well so far. “We have done our homework on Ghana and hopefully my boys will again execute the game plan the coaching staff will set like they have done so well so far. We will play our football on the pitch and yes after the match l will say more too and by then God willing l will talking as a winner then” concluded Yassine

Both coaches are hoping a have a clean bill of health but admitted they have some waiting to do on some key players currently nursing injuries. The Egyptian captain Rami Rabea will have to pass a late fitness test on his injured ankle but coach Yassine is hopeful he will have his captain on the field. Rabea scored the only goal in a 1-0 win against the host nation, Algeria and has been a vital cog in Egyptian side. 
Meanwhile coach Tetteh is hoping that Derrick Mensah will recover in time to be considered for selection.
Sellas Tetteh famously engineered Ghana U-20’s finest year in 2009 leading the side to the African Youth Championship in Rwanda before Ghana won the FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Egypt in 2009 to become the first African side to do so. “By God’s grace we shall see how the final goes but l believe this one is for us, they had theirs in the first game. We have come very far and we are looking forward to this match. These boys do need any more motivation than being in the final. That alone is self-motivation enough to have made it this far , so we are going to work very hard to overcome and we are in high spirits, so God willing we shall be victorious." Tetteh said

Both Ghana and Egypt currently have three African U-20 Championship titles each so the winner will move onto four (4) which is tow behind record holders Nigeria with six. The final match will be played at Ahmed Zabana stadium in Oran, Algeria and kick off is 17h30 local time

 AS FLYING EAGLES KNOW WORLCUP FOES AFTER ANOTHER FIFA DRAW

Meanwhile FIFA announces that a draw will be conducted  on 30th of March 2013 to determine  which groups the teams finishing second, third and fourth at the on-going 2013 African U-20 Youth Championship will be in for the FIFA U-20 World Cup,Turkey 2013.

After FIFA organized a draw in Turkey on March 25, 2013, for the final tournament of the World Championship the eventual African U-20 winners have been drawn in a group designated as  "African champion " and Saturday’s draw will be about placing the remaining three teams which have been designated as “CAF” after the draw on March 25,2013 into other groups.
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria defeated the young Eagles of mali by two goals to one to place third leaving the Malians at the fourth place in a match decided  friday evening in oran algiers  .

The draw will take place after the final match between Egypt and Ghana and the  medal ceremony on 30th  March 2013 at Ahmed Zabana Stadium in Oran, Algeria.
 

PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIA LEAGUE MANAGEMENT COMPANY,NDUKA IRABOR, WRITES YOU

   

PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT:
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIA LEAGUE MANAGEMENT COMPANY,NDUKA IRABOR, WRITES YOU

    To All Nigerians (especially football lovers, football administrators, Football Club promoters, sponsors and potential sponsors of the Nigeria Professional Football League).





    Revamping the Nigerian Professional Football League…in line with the law and present day realities.

    Subsequent to my several press interviews in recent days, I find it necessary to present this communiqué as a forum to consolidate and also provide an update of the workings of the League Management Committee for the benefit of all football stakeholders.

    On the 27th of December, 2012, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) in exercise of its statutory powers set up the League Management Committee, to ‘rescue’ professional league football. At its inauguration by Alhaji Aminu Maigari, President of the NFA, the Committee was charged with the following terms of reference:

    - organize the 2012/2013 league season;

    - review all contractual obligations of the Nigeria Premier League, including TV and sponsorship rights;

    - review existing rules and guidelines for the election into Nigeria Premier League Board;

    - develop new standards for players contracts and welfare;

    - develop strategy and facilitate the reform of the league towards achieving profitability; and



    - any other relevant matters the Committee may deem necessary.



    This committee of eminent Nigerians volunteered for this assignment, motivated by nothing more than patriotism and a desire to revive a moribund local football league mired in litigation, insolvency and administered in a manner that was opaque and inefficient.

    In the discharge of its mandate as an interim task-force, the League Management Committee wishes to publicly acknowledge the immense assistance and cooperation of the NFA President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and the good offices of the Honourable Minister of Sports, Mallam

    Bolaji Abdullahi.



    Legal Entanglements of the League



    Following an exhaustive examination of the legal and financial issues that had paralyzed the football league (resulting in the dissolution of the former board), the committee decided that the interest of all stakeholders, especially the teeming millions of football lovers in Nigeria, would be best served by mapping out a new direction in the structure and management of the local premier football league.

    There could be no other way forward especially after a Federal High Court had adjudged in January 2012 that the Nigeria Football League Ltd, the body hitherto set up to run and manage the local league was an illegal body. The circumstances are set out below.



    Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/179/2010, between Dr. Sam Sam Jaja (Plaintiff) and Nigeria Football League Limited and 4 others (Defendants), is the chief source of the legal entanglements surrounding the League in Nigeria. The judgment of the Court in the suit delivered on January 20, 2012 erodes completely the identity and legal capacity of the body critical to the organization and management of professional football in Nigeria; this is Nigeria Football League Limited (NFL LTD), the 1st Defendant in the suit.

    At page 51 of the judgment, Hon Justice D.U. Okorowo, of the Federal High Court, Abuja declares as follows concerning NFL Ltd,



    “3. That the incorporation of the 1st Defendant as a company with the 1st and 2nd Defendant as the only subscribers to its Memorandum and Articles of Association is tantamount to incorporation by one person and thus illegal and void in so far as the 1st Defendant was not a legal person at the time of the subscription to the Memorandum and Articles of Association.”

    Finally, at page 52, the Court specifically directs the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) (5

    th Defendant) as follows concerning NFL Ltd,



    “7. That the 5th Defendant is hereby mandatorily directed to immediately commence steps for winding up of the 1st Defendant for infraction of the provisions of Companies and Allied Matters Act.”

    It must be pointed out that the actual management and operation of the NFL Ltd itself, while it existed, was fraught with all sorts of illegalities. For instance, all manner of persons with definitively questionable motives had intruded in the affairs of the company and purported to be holding elections to its Board. The Federal High Court in the same judgment also declared these activities illegal as follows:



    “4. That any election to the Board of the 1st Defendant can only be validly conducted in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the 1st Defendant and the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, rather than in line with the so-called guidelines issued by the purported electoral committee (having the 3rd and 4th Defendants as chairman and vice chairman respectively) set up by the 1st Defendant. That Electoral Committee is not a body contemplated by the Companies and Allied Matters Act nor the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the 1st Defendant and as such not competent to issues election guidelines, qualify candidates, on the basis of the said guidelines or take any other action in relation to the election into the Board of Directors of the 1st Defendant”

    In summary, the Federal High Court declared that:



    i. the Nigeria Football League Ltd is an illegal body, having been incorporated in contravention of the law the Court has ordered its winding up.

    ii. Nigeria Premier League (a creation of the illegal NFL) has no corporate personality and is unknown to Nigerian law.

    iii. No aspect of the administration or management of football in Nigeria can be conducted in the names of either NFL of NPL.

    iv. This judgment has not been overturned on appeal and remains valid.



    The League Management Company (LMC)



    Based on legal advice and in line within our mandate, the management committee in conjunction with the NFA opted for a new management body for the local league that will be structured on corporate governance, transparency and meets the unfulfilled expectations of local football fans.

    This new legal entity was also necessary for us to be in compliance with the laws of the land and also to provide a legal base for entering into new contractual agreements with stakeholders.



    The new entity, the League Management Company (LMC), has taken off unencumbered by the baggage of illegality, absence of due process and insolvency that has bedeviled the growth of the local league. The LMC, taking its mandate from the Nigeria Football Association, will run a Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) that will meet FIFA and global standards of football. The goal is to have a League for Nigeria, run by competent Nigerians and clubs for the benefit of both local and international footballers and fans.



    Incorporating a new management structure is only the start, rather than the end of the necessary reforms for the local league. The football clubs will also need individual reforms to restructure as legal, corporate entities able to meet mutually agreed upon terms for their management and operations as members of the NPFL.



    We have already set out to work.

    The LMC has commenced the processes of restructure by putting in place machineries to deliver its mandate.

    We are preparing for instance a new league rules framework which includes new rules for the qualification and licensing of clubs within the league to bring our local clubs in line with international standards.

    The new rules will guarantee that clubs meet their obligations to players etc by ensuring that they have solid financial bases, setting aside 5% of the income of the LMC solely dedicated for a youth development program which will ensure that all clubs have feeder clubs of players not older than 18 years of age and of not more than 30 trainees.

    These feeder clubs will help identify talents and provide a pool of future talents for the game. New standards of training of players, coaches, referees, medical personnel, match security agents etc will be enforced, amongst other things.



    We are also in the process of developing a corporate governance model for the LMC, the clubs and the league. We are presently re-working and negotiating the Title Sponsorship Agreement as well as the Broadcast Rights Agreement to bring them in line with more commercial and favourable terms for the league and also in compliance with the laws of the land such as the Nigerian Broadcasting Code etc; club licensing rules are being introduced and prepared; and in order to protect our sponsors so as to guaranty the financing of the league, we are preparing Compliance Agreements with the clubs. It is very possible to conduct business in a fair and transparent manner. The business of football should be no exception.



    Those unaware or who feel threatened of this new direction have, rather than ask, taken to imputing ulterior motives and unfounded accusations about what is afoot. It is laughable to suggest that any individual or group can hijack a league that truly belongs to Nigeria’s 160 million football loving citizens. Suffice it to state that the current management committee, being an interim body, can and has only acted in trust on behalf of all stakeholders in Nigerian football in the incorporation of the League Management Company Limited.

    The LMC was incorporated to manage the professional league, under license from the NFA. It has a share capital of 100,000,000 (one hundred million shares). In order to meet the minimum requirement of the law for incorporation, only 25% of its share capital was subscribed on incorporation. The NFA holds golden shares of 5% and the LMC, in the name of its Chairman holds 20%

    in trust for the company, which will be relinquished as the situation warrants. There is a pre-signed Nominees Agreement to this effect and an affidavit sworn to by myself and registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja to further buttress this commitment to relinquish these shares held temporarily by me. The participating clubs of the league will own no less than 60% of the Shares which they will be mandated to take up as soon as they are re-organized and operated as corporate entities in law.



    These clubs are only going to hold the shares allotted to them as long they remain in the professional football league. Once any club is relegated or disqualified from the professional league it will lose its shares and the club taking its place will take over those shares. This is to make the clubs and the league truly professionally run as is the case in other parts. Football fans are aware that Glasgow Rangers was demoted from the Scottish Premier League to Division recently because it could not comply with the mandatory financial regulations of their league. Its demotion was sanctioned by the other clubs in the Scottish Premier League themselves!! Malaga FC in Spain’s La Liga has recently been barred by UEFA from the Champions Leagues because the club failed to comply with the financial regulations stipulated by UEFA for all clubs participating in its tournaments. This means Malaga will not play in the Champions League as from next season, though they are currently at the quarter finals stage of the same competition.

    I implore all to note, that the administration of professional football is not whimsical, but must be in compliance with the law.

    Enthusiasm and passion only cannot manage football of today, as was done in the past.

    In the coming days and weeks the management of the LMC will keep the public and all stakeholders duly abreast of developments in the task to usher in a new day in Nigerian professional football. We appreciate your trust and partnership in bringing back the best of Nigerian football.



    Signed,

Hon. Nduka Irabor

Chairman, League Management Company.

ROAD TO BRAZIL 2014 : FIXTURES AND RESULTS ACROSS THE WORLD

 
  WORLD CUP QUALIFIER FULL TIME RESULTS ACROSS THE WORLD
MARCH 22,2013
World Cup - UEFA Qualification Group A
FT     Croatia     2 - 0     Serbia
FT     Macedonia     0 - 2     Belgium
FT     Scotland     1 - 2     Wales
World Cup - UEFA Qualification Group B
FT     Bulgaria     6 - 0     Malta
FT     Czech Republic     0 - 3     Denmark
World Cup - UEFA Qualification Group C
FT     Kazakhstan     0 - 3     Germany
FT     Austria     6 - 0     Faroe Islands
FT     Sweden     0 - 0     Ireland
World Cup - UEFA Qualification Group D
FT     Andorra     0 - 2     Turkey
FT     Hungary     2 - 2     Romania
FT     Netherlands     3 - 0     Estonia
World Cup - UEFA Qualification Group E
FT     Slovenia     1 - 2     Iceland
FT     Norway     0 - 1     Albania
World Cup - UEFA Qualification Group F
FT     Israel     3 - 3     Portugal
FT     Luxembourg     0 - 0     Azerbaijan
World Cup - UEFA Qualification Group G
FT     Liechtenstein     1 - 1     Latvia
FT     Slovakia     1 - 1     Lithuania
FT     Bosnia-Herzegovina     3 - 1     Greece
World Cup - UEFA Qualification Group H
FT     Moldova     0 - 1     Montenegro
FT     Poland     1 - 3     Ukraine
FT     San Marino     0 - 8     England
World Cup - UEFA Qualification Group I
FT     Spain     1 - 1     Finland
FT     France     3 - 1     Georgia
World Cup - CONCACAF Qualification 4. Round
FT     Honduras     2 - 2     Mexico
World Cup - CONMEBOL Qualification
FT     Colombia     5 - 0     Bolivia
FT     Uruguay     1 - 1     Paraguay
World Cup - OFC Qualification 3rd stage
FT     New Zealand     2 - 1     New Caledonia

   MARCH 23,2013
World Cup - UEFA Qualification Group E
FT     Cyprus     0 - 0     Switzerland
World Cup - UEFA Qualification Group F
Po     N.Ireland     ? - ?     Russia
World Cup - CONCACAF Qualification 4. Round
FT     Jamaica     1 - 1     Panama
FT     USA     1 - 0     Costa Rica
World Cup - CONMEBOL Qualification
FT     Argentina     3 - 0     Venezuela
FT     Peru     1 - 0     Chile
World Cup - CAF Qualification Group A
FT     South Africa     2 - 0     Central African Rep.
World Cup - CAF Qualification Group B
FT     Tunisia     2 - 1     Sierra Leone
World Cup - CAF Qualification Group C
FT     Ivory Coast     3 - 0     Gambia
World Cup - CAF Qualification Group E
FT     Congo     1 - 0     Gabon
FT     Burkina Faso     4 - 0     Niger
World Cup - CAF Qualification Group F
FT     Namibia     0 - 1     Malawi
FT     Nigeria     1 - 1     Kenya
World Cup - CAF Qualification Group I
FT     Cameroon     2 - 1     Togo
World Cup - CAF Qualification Group J
FT     Senegal     1 - 1     Angola
World Cup - OFC Qualification 3rd stage
FT     Tahiti     2 - 0     Solomon Islands 


FIXTURES
24/03/13 15:00    Tanzania     vs     Morocco   
24/03/13 15:00     Lesotho       vs              Zambia   
24/03/13 15:00    Mozambique  vs        Guinea   
24/03/13 15:30     Rwanda vs Mali   
24/03/13 15:30    Congo DR vs    Libya   
24/03/13 16:00     Ethiopia vs    Botswana   
24/03/13 16:00    Ghana     vs    Sudan   
24/03/13 16:00    Liberia    vs    Uganda   
24/03/13 17:00            Equatorial Guinea vs    Cape Verde Islands   
26/03/13 15:00           Solomon Islands    vs    New Zealand   
26/03/13 16:00           Ecuador    vs    Paraguay   
26/03/13 16:00          Bolivia        vs     Argentina   
26/03/13 17:00          Jordan         vs Japan   
26/03/13 18:00         New Caledonia     vs Tahiti   
26/03/13 18:00        Uzbekistan vs    Lebanon   
26/03/13 19:00       Estonia    vs    Andorra   
26/03/13 19:00       Egypt    vs    Zimbabwe   
26/03/13 19:30      Venezuela     vs    Colombia   
26/03/13 19:30     Australia    vs    Oman   
26/03/13 19:45    Wales    vs    Croatia   
26/03/13 19:45  Republic of Ireland   vs Austria   
26/03/13 19:45 Northern Ireland    vs        Israel   
26/03/13 20:00 Korea Republic     vs        Qatar   
26/03/13 20:00 Costa Rica           vs   Jamaica   
26/03/13 20:00 Armenia         vs  Czech Republic   
26/03/13 20:15 Denmark        vs   Bulgaria   
26/03/13 20:30 Mexico       vs    USA   
26/03/13 20:30 Serbia         vs Scotland   
26/03/13 20:30   Chile     vs    Uruguay   
26/03/13 20:30 Turkey vs    Hungary   
26/03/13 20:30 Netherlands  vs    Romania   
26/03/13 20:30 Algeria    vs    Benin   
26/03/13 20:45 Belgium    vs    FYR Macedonia   
26/03/13 20:45 Malta    vs    Italy   
26/03/13 20:45Germany    vs    Kazakhstan   
26/03/13 20:45 Poland   vs    San Marino   
26/03/13 21:00Panama vs Honduras   
26/03/13 21:00 Azerbaijan vs Portugal   
26/03/13 21:00 Montenegro vs England   
26/03/13 21:00 Ukraine   vs    Moldova   
26/03/13 21:00 France   vs    Spain   

AYC U20 ALGERIA 2013: GHANA CONFRONT ALGERIA IN WINNER TAKES ALL TIE AS BENIN BANK ON SLIM CHANCE AGAINST EGYPT

TODAY AT THE AYC.........GROUP A DAY OF RECKONINING
March 22  17:30      Algeria              vs            Ghana                 Stade Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent
March 22  17:30      Benin                vs             Egypt                  Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran
 GHANA CONFRONT ALGERIA IN WINNER TAKES ALL TIE
 AS BENIN BANK ON SLIM CHANCE AGAINST EGYPT

Orange CAF U-20 Championship 2013 hosts, Algeria play their third and final group match looking for all three points to entertain any hopes of reaching the semi-finals. The opposition in that match on Friday in Ain Temouchent will come from Ghana. The Black Satellites themselves need something out of the game if they are to make the semi-finals themselves. That said the stage is set for an interesting contest and the finals positions will also depend on the result from the other Group A match to be played in Oran at the same time where already qualified Egypt will play Benin.
Ghana will have to do without team captain, Lawrence Lartey who misses the match due to suspension. Satellites coach, Sellas Tetteh told Cafonline.com that he expects a tough match against Algeria who will have the proverbial 12th men with the home crowd.” I would have preferred to play the hosts with semi-final place secured, but we now have to do it the hard way. We know what is required from this final group match. I expect an open game with both teams going for a win. “ said Tetteh
Meanwhile local media was full of encouragement and advice to the home side. Many believed the Algerian side has a difficult but do-able task ahead of them. The overwhelming feeling is that the Fennecs should be patient and not too hasty in trying to score. The nation is urging the team, coached by Frenchman, Jean-Marc Nobilo to lift up the country’s spirit after last game’s defeat by arch-rivals, Egypt.
One thing certain is that Omar Oucief stadium in Ain Temouchent will be packed to the rafters with Algerians keen to see their team reach the semi-finals and secure a FIFA World Cup berth, a target Nobilo said he wanted to achieve before the tournament kicked off.

“There is a full game that we have to give of our best and try and get a positive result” said Nobilo. “Do l believe it is possible to win and qualify yes, is there pressure on me and the team, yes but this is football and that is the situation we find ourselves in, so we have to deal with it. I said last time that the third game against Ghana will decide our fate and this is the case, it’s in our hands now”
Algeria who are yet to score from two matches played so far will need to open their scoring account on Friday and will be hoping that striker Haddouche Zakaria and Ouali who went close a couple of times in the last matches will finally hit the back of the net. Fennecs defence marshalled by Ferhat will have to deal with the live-wire Ghanaian striker,  Ebenezer Assifuah. The forward has scored both Ghana’s total of two goals so far in the competition and he will be looking to adding on to that tally.  “We just have to do our part and win and then find the result from Benin/Egypt match but tomorrow’s game is very important for us and we have to deliver and not disappoint the fans again” said Nobilo. Algeria will be looking to beat Ghana and hope that Benin does not win against Egypt by a score line better than theirs.
Meanwhile Nothing is decided yet in the group as the battle for the second qualification ticket is wide open because victory for Benin today against the comfortable Egyptian will and good fortune of result in thier favour elsewhere in the group will see Benin through to the net round and to the world youth championshhip
Benin who go into the match on a point will be looking to win and hope that Algeria win too but an inferior score line to theirs. Should this be the case, Benin will join Egypt in the semis.  Before that happens Benin will have to be the first side to beat a well drilled Egyptian side at the tournament. Although already qualified, Egyptian captain and scorer of their goal against Algeria , Ramy Rabiaa said they would be going for their third win to boast their confidence even further as they enter the knock-out phase of the competition. “We want to continue with our winning ways and there will be no let –up against Benin. We play our normal football and play to win all the time, nothing will change from that on Friday” he said

Benin who are yet to score so far from their two games played will be hoping it’s third time luck for their side and another goalless outing for them will spell doom to their campaign. “ The beauty of it all is that we are still in with a chance to qualify and it depends on how we play against Egypt in the final group game” said Benin coach  Sedogbo Alohotade.

According to Alohotade the side has not been fortunate in front of goal but he wouldn’t fault his boys for commitment and their performance especially against Ghana where he felt they deserved something from the game. “ Should we play as well as we did in our last game and have a bit of luck on our side l would like to think anything is possible and we could come away with a positive result. We will not give up but fight to the end against Egypt” he said. Meanwhile his opposite number Egyptian, Rabei Yassin expressed his satisfaction with his team’s qualification to the semis and World Cup before the final group match and said he wants the team to carry on with that momentum.
ALL THE RESULTS IN THE GROUP SO FAR
Algeria    0     vs     Benin 0    Stade  Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent                   
Ghana     1     vs       Egypt 2    Stade   Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent
Ghana    1      vs      Benin 0     Stade    Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent
 Algeria  0     vs       Egypt 1      Stade    Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent

AYC U20 ALGERIA 2013 UPDATES: GHANA CONFRONT ALGERIA IN WINNER TAKES ALL TIE AS BENIN BANK ON SLIM CHANCE AGAINST EGYPT

 TODAY AT THE AYC.........GROUP A DAY OF RECKONINING

March 22  17:30      Algeria              vs            Ghana                 Stade Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent
March 22  17:30      Benin                vs             Egypt                  Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran
 GHANA CONFRONT ALGERIA IN WINNER TAKES ALL TIE
 AS BENIN BANK ON SLIM CHANCE AGAINST EGYPT

Orange CAF U-20 Championship 2013 hosts, Algeria play their third and final group match looking for all three points to entertain any hopes of reaching the semi-finals. The opposition in that match on Friday in Ain Temouchent will come from Ghana. The Black Satellites themselves need something out of the game if they are to make the semi-finals themselves. That said the stage is set for an interesting contest and the finals positions will also depend on the result from the other Group A match to be played in Oran at the same time where already qualified Egypt will play Benin.
Ghana will have to do without team captain, Lawrence Lartey who misses the match due to suspension. Satellites coach, Sellas Tetteh told Cafonline.com that he expects a tough match against Algeria who will have the proverbial 12th men with the home crowd.” I would have preferred to play the hosts with semi-final place secured, but we now have to do it the hard way. We know what is required from this final group match. I expect an open game with both teams going for a win. “ said Tetteh
Meanwhile local media was full of encouragement and advice to the home side. Many believed the Algerian side has a difficult but do-able task ahead of them. The overwhelming feeling is that the Fennecs should be patient and not too hasty in trying to score. The nation is urging the team, coached by Frenchman, Jean-Marc Nobilo to lift up the country’s spirit after last game’s defeat by arch-rivals, Egypt.
One thing certain is that Omar Oucief stadium in Ain Temouchent will be packed to the rafters with Algerians keen to see their team reach the semi-finals and secure a FIFA World Cup berth, a target Nobilo said he wanted to achieve before the tournament kicked off.

“There is a full game that we have to give of our best and try and get a positive result” said Nobilo. “Do l believe it is possible to win and qualify yes, is there pressure on me and the team, yes but this is football and that is the situation we find ourselves in, so we have to deal with it. I said last time that the third game against Ghana will decide our fate and this is the case, it’s in our hands now”
Algeria who are yet to score from two matches played so far will need to open their scoring account on Friday and will be hoping that striker Haddouche Zakaria and Ouali who went close a couple of times in the last matches will finally hit the back of the net. Fennecs defence marshalled by Ferhat will have to deal with the live-wire Ghanaian striker,  Ebenezer Assifuah. The forward has scored both Ghana’s total of two goals so far in the competition and he will be looking to adding on to that tally.  “We just have to do our part and win and then find the result from Benin/Egypt match but tomorrow’s game is very important for us and we have to deliver and not disappoint the fans again” said Nobilo. Algeria will be looking to beat Ghana and hope that Benin does not win against Egypt by a score line better than theirs.
Meanwhile Nothing is decided yet in the group as the battle for the second qualification ticket is wide open because victory for Benin today against the comfortable Egyptian will and good fortune of result in thier favour elsewhere in the group will see Benin through to the net round and to the world youth championshhip
Benin who go into the match on a point will be looking to win and hope that Algeria win too but an inferior score line to theirs. Should this be the case, Benin will join Egypt in the semis.  Before that happens Benin will have to be the first side to beat a well drilled Egyptian side at the tournament. Although already qualified, Egyptian captain and scorer of their goal against Algeria , Ramy Rabiaa said they would be going for their third win to boast their confidence even further as they enter the knock-out phase of the competition. “We want to continue with our winning ways and there will be no let –up against Benin. We play our normal football and play to win all the time, nothing will change from that on Friday” he said

Benin who are yet to score so far from their two games played will be hoping it’s third time luck for their side and another goalless outing for them will spell doom to their campaign. “ The beauty of it all is that we are still in with a chance to qualify and it depends on how we play against Egypt in the final group game” said Benin coach  Sedogbo Alohotade.

According to Alohotade the side has not been fortunate in front of goal but he wouldn’t fault his boys for commitment and their performance especially against Ghana where he felt they deserved something from the game. “ Should we play as well as we did in our last game and have a bit of luck on our side l would like to think anything is possible and we could come away with a positive result. We will not give up but fight to the end against Egypt” he said. Meanwhile his opposite number Egyptian, Rabei Yassin expressed his satisfaction with his team’s qualification to the semis and World Cup before the final group match and said he wants the team to carry on with that momentum.
ALL THE RESULTS IN THE GROUP SO FAR
Algeria    0     vs     Benin 0    Stade  Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent                  
Ghana     1     vs       Egypt 2    Stade   Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent
Ghana    1      vs      Benin 0     Stade    Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent
 Algeria  0     vs       Egypt 1      Stade    Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent


Egypt and Mali advance to semifinals after two straight wins and qualify for the world youth championship

Egypt became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the 12th Orange CAF U-20 Championship taking place in Algeria after beating the host 1-0 in Ain Temouchent on Tuesday night. Midfielder Ramy  Rabiaa headed powerful past the goalkeeper on the stroke of half time.

The Pharaohs beat Ghana 2-1 in their first group game on Saturday and with six points, they are assured of finishing in the top two and that also means qualification to the FIFA U-20 World Cup to come later in the year in June and July.

The derby had its fair share of passionate and feisty football but clear cut chances were few and far between. The Egyptians made more meaningful use of the ball and possession and looked sharper on attack, with efficient use of wing play. Urged on by a full capacity crowd the hosts tried hard to match their opponents and perhaps were trying too hard as passes often went astray and shots were hurried but you couldn’t fault them for commitment and passion.

The flowing football and supportive play in the midfield by the Egyptians helped them wrestle that area in their favour in the first half forcing Algerians to drop deep and leaving their strikers with little assistance upfront. The two keepers were kept busy with the Algeria keeper impressive as he constantly thwarted the danger on his goal. In one such move he was quick off his line to dive down and stop Rabiaa’s shot after the Egyptian had dribbled his way into the box.

At the other end the crosses from Algeria were well watched most of the time by the goalkeeper and his safe hands clasped the majority of the shots from a distance by the Algerians.

In the second half Algeria threw their all at it and wrestled back the midfield control as they started bombarding Egyptian goal with crosses and shots. Algeria’s constructive play wasn’t always rounded up with the right final touch or decision and with each broken down move the gasps in the stadium became louder. Towards the end Algeria almost got the equalizer but Egypt down to ten men in stoppage time after substitute Mohmoud Hammad got his second yellow during a scuffle hung on for victory over their arch rivals, who now need to beat Ghana on Friday to entertain any hopes of making the semis.

Mali became the second team (after Egypt) to qualify for the 2013 Orange CAF U-20 Championship  following a 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo at Ahmed Zabana stadium in Oran on Wednesday.
Goals from Samba Diallo and live wire striker Niane Adama early in the second half, 51st and 59th respectively were enough to carry the day for Mali. DR Congo scored through a thunderous drive from a free-kick by Emmo Ngoy on 54th minute.  
DR Congo created the first meaningful chances of the game as early as the 5th minute when midfielder Emomo Ngoy tested Ali Yirango in goal for Mali with a plié drive that the keeper punched back into play. Not long after that Malian defence was called upon to clear their lines when Ngoy set up striker Budje Manzia for a shot inside the box.  Mali’s response was swift and Tiekoro Keita plying the left channel sent in a couple of crosses as the game opened up.
The Congolese were playing some flowing football bossing the midfield with Ekiri Litekia, Bamato Botayi and Nekadio Luyindama getting the better of their Malian counterparts. But as the game edged close to half time the sides seem to cancel each other and the game needed a change of gears to lift it up.
Upon resumption the tempo went a notch up with some penetrative passes and more attacking play. Six minutes into the second half Issaka Samake set up Diallo whose ferocious shot nestled into the net with Congolese goalkeeper Landu Bakala well beaten. Three minutes later DR Congo showed that, they took could fashion similar goals when Ngoy left fly from a free- kick from outside the box that landed in the top right hand corner of Yirango’s goal. The goals turned the match on its head and end to end attacking play ensued. On 59th minute Bakala spilt a shot and ever alert Niane pounced to score his second goal of the tournament
Going to their last group match against Nigeria, DR Congo need all three points and hope other results go their way if they are to reach semis in their debut AYC finals.

Mali, on the other hand have now qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup to be played in June and July in Turkey and will also be looking to reach the AYC final and win the trophy as coach Moussa Keita has been saying all along.

FIRST ROUND FALLOUT;NORTH AFRICA CLUBS DOMINATE CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AGAIN AS KANO PILLARS CRASHED OUT

North African clubs were the big winners in the return leg of the first round of qualifying in the CAF Champions League, with seven teams from the region advancing to the last 16 of the competition. As four of the clubs have been drawn against each other, a total of five clubs could remain in the competition once the group stage gets underway later in July. The winner of the event will represent the continent at the FIFA World Club Cup in Morocco at the end of the year.

Game of the week
Enugu Rangers  beats 2-0 Vital'O,Makes historic 2nd Round
Making only their second appearance in the Champions League, Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers advanced to the second round for the first time in their history with a 2-0 second leg and aggregate win against Vital'O. Rangers coach Okey Emordi had to take off two injured defenders late during the game and could not replace them as he had already made his three substitutions, but they had enough of a cushion from early goals by Uche Oguchi and Efe Yarhere. The home side should have been further ahead in the second-half, but Sanusi Sani hit the crossbar and Alhaji Gero saw his shot well saved by the visiting goalkeeper. The visitors were thrown a life-line in second-half injury time when Yarhere brought down a Vital'O player in the box, but Ranger's goalkeeper Godwin Ayalogu pulled off a fine save from Steve Nzigamasabo to deny the club from Burundi a consolation goal.

The surprise
AC Leopards 3-0 Kano Pillars,pillars OUT
After winning the home leg 4-1 against Congolese club AC Leopards, Nigerian champions Kano Pillars were expected to get the job done in the return leg and advance to the final qualifying round of the competition. However, it was not to be as the home side scored in the first half to play themselves back into contention. Two second-half goals - the last an injury-time penalty - saw Leopards advance on the away goal rule after the tie ended 4-4 on aggregate. The result also denies Nigeria an opportunity to have both their Champions League entrants qualify for the lucrative group stage of the competition for the first time since 2009.

Other matches
Egyptian giants Al Ahly, secured a 2-0 win against Tusker for a 4-1 aggregate victory, with Emad Meteab scoring the second goal to take his tally from the tie to three. The defending champions will be joined in the second round by compatriots Zamalek, who played to a goalless draw in Kinshasa against AS Vita Club for a 1-0 aggregate victory. Algeria also have two representatives in the next round as JSM Bejaia surprised Asante Kotoko 1-1 in Kumasi and went through on the away goal rule after a scoreless first leg, while ES Setif beat ASFA Yennenga from Burkina Faso 4-2 for a 5-3 aggregate victory. The only other country with two clubs in the final round of qualifying is Tunisia after Khalil Chammam gave Esperance a 1-0 victory against Primeiro de Agosto, and CA Bizertin advanced 3-1 on aggregate despite losing 1-0 in Zimbabwe against Dynamos. The final North African team in the second round is Moroccan club FUS Rabat, who also lost 1-0 in Cameroon against Union Douala, but went through 3-1 on aggregate.

Ethiopian club Saint George held Djoliba to a 1-1 draw and went through 3-1 on aggregate, while former champions TP Mazembe recorded the biggest win of the round beating Mochudi Centre Chiefs 6-0, with Tresor Mabi Mputu scoring twice. Angola’s Recreativo do Libolo repeated their 2-1 first leg victory against Al-Merrikh in Sudan. Cameroon's Coton Sport, who were runners up in 2008, managed a 2-1 victory against AFAD Djekanou to advance, while Stade Malien also won their second match of the round against Casa Sport 2-0 for a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Player of the week
Côte d'Ivoire club Sewe Sport thought they had done most of the hard work done in their opening game against Sudanese club Al Hilal after a 4-1 victory. But the return leg in Omdurman turned out to be anything but easy, as Mohamed Tahir, Ahmed El Basha and Mohamed Traore gave Al Hilal a 3-0 lead, which would have been enough to go through to the next round on the away goal rule. However, there was last drama as Kako Rostan scored a goal for his side deep into injury time to put the visitors through 5-4 on aggregate. Judging by the young Cameroon striker's performance against Al Hilal, more will be heard of him during the season.

First round  Results
Team 1                       Agg.                 Team 2                                                    1st leg 2nd leg
Zamalek Egypt                1–0     Democratic Republic of the Congo AS Vita Club     1–0     0–0
Saint George Ethiopia     3–1     Mali Djoliba     2–0     1–1
CA Bizertin Tunisia     3–1     Zimbabwe Dynamos     3–0     0–1
Tusker Kenya     1–4     Egypt Al-Ahly     1–2     0–2
Zanaco Zambia     1–3     South Africa Orlando Pirates     0–1     1–2
Mochudi Centre Chiefs Botswana     0–7     Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe     0–1     0–6
Vital'O Burundi     0–2     Nigeria Enugu Rangers     0–0     0–2
Recreativo do Libolo Angola     4–2     Sudan Al-Merrikh     2–1     2–1
JSM Béjaïa Algeria     1–1 (a)     Ghana Asante Kotoko     0–0     1–1
Primeiro de Agosto Angola     0–2     Tunisia Espérance ST     0–1     0–1
FUS Rabat Morocco     3–1     Cameroon Union Douala     3–0     0–1
Séwé Sport Ivory Coast     5–4     Sudan Al-Hilal     4–1     1–3
AFAD Djékanou Ivory Coast     1–3     Cameroon Coton Sport     0–1     1–2
Casa Sport Senegal     1–4     Mali Stade Malien     1–2     0–2
Kano Pillars Nigeria     3–4     Republic of the Congo AC Léopards     4–1     0–3
ASFA Yennenga Burkina Faso     4–5     Algeria ES Sétif     2–1     2–4

Second round Fixtures

Zamalek Egypt                              VS               Ethiopia Saint George             
CA Bizertin Tunisia                 VS               Egypt Al-Ahly    
Orlando Pirates South Africa   VS              DR Congo TP Mazembe    
Enugu Rangers Nigeria                  VS              Angola Recreativo do Libolo    
JSM Béjaïa Algeria                 VS              Tunisia Espérance ST    
FUS Rabat Morocco                 VS     Ivory Coast Séwé Sport    
Coton Sport Cameroon                 VS    Mali Stade Malien    
Kano Pillars Nigeria                  VS               Algeria ES Sétif    

First leg will be played on friday of 19th - Sunday 21st of April and the 2nd leg will come up on Friday 3rd of May  - 5th of May 2013

The losers from the second round enter the 2013 CAF Confederation Cup play-off round. While the winners make it to the Money spinning Group stages

2013 AFRICA U20 YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: fixtures and schedules and results

Africa future Stars go to war as the 19th AYC Kick off this weekend in Algeria                                                     

The 2013 African U-20 Championship will be the 19th edition of the African Youth Championship ,AYC. The competition will take place in Algeria from March 16 to 30  in the  cities of Oran & Aïn Témouchent instead of the popular algiers due to better facilities at the former cities.

The stade ormar oucief (11,000 capacity) in  Ain Temouchent  will host   teams in Group A which comprises  of the host country,Algeria and her North Africa neighbor Egypt both teams will slug it with two west Africa neighbors in Ghana and Benin. The group has been dubbed the group of death and its a pure case of survival of the fittest when hostilities begins on march 16,in a group which have the potentials  of  dividing the fans  along regional sentiments.

While Nigeria,Gabon,Mali and Congo DR were in Group B and they will have their matches at the 40,000 capacity stade Ahmed Zabana, in Oran .The semifinalists will participate in 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey later this year.
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria are the clear favorites to lift the trophy, a feat the team achieved last term out in South africa two years ago as the coach John obuh has named a strong squad that comprises of some of the best legs in the winning squad that won the 18th Edition of the AYC  ( South Africa  2011)  as players like Abdul Jelleel Ajagun, Olanrewaju Kayode and Goyi Aliu will be staging a come back to the AYC and a repeat of their efforts in 2011  where they took all comer  to the cleaners  will be on their cards.

                                       

 GROUP A                                                                  GROUP B

ALGERIA                                                                    NIGERIA
GHANA                                                                      MALI
BENIN                                                                        CONGO DR
EGYPT                                                                        GABON

                          FIXTURES     
March 16    17:30    Algeria    0     vs     Benin 0    Stade  Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchen                     March 16    20:30    Ghana     1     vs       Egypt 2    Stade   Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent

March  17   17:30     Nigeria     0     vs      Mali  1     Stade  Ahmed Zabana, Oran       
March 17    20:30     Congo DR  0   vs      Gabon 0       Stade   Ahmed Zabana, Oran
March 19   17:30     Ghana       1      vs      Benin 0     Stade    Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent
March 19   20:30      Algeria     0     vs       Egypt 1      Stade    Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent
March 20  17:30      Mali          2       vs     Congo DR 1        Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran
March 20  20:30      Gabon      0       vs      Nigeria    1          Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran
March 22  17:30      Algeria     0         vs     Ghana  2               Stade Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent
March 22  17:30      Benin      0          vs     Egypt  1                Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran
March 23 20:30      Nigeria     3           vs    Congo DR       1       Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran
March 23 20:30      Mali            0         vs           Gabon      2              Stade  Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchen
The best two teams from each group qualifies for the semi finals as well as the world youth championship in Turkey later in the year.

                                      SEMI FINALS    FIXTURES

17:00      EGYPT  2 VS  NIGERIA  0                         Stade  Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchen  SF 1
17:00      MALI 2 (0)  VS  GHANA (0) 4 AET                         Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran                 SF 2

                                                  THIRD PLACE FINAL

         MARCH 29 17:30        NIGERIA   2   VS     MALI   1    Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran

                                                         FINAL

       MARCH 30  17:30         EGYPT 1 VS    GHANA  1( 5-4) AET Stade Ahmed Zabana, Oran


                      OFFICIALS
      Referees
    Ethiopia                     Bamlack Tessema Weyesa
    Senegal                       Maguette N'Diaye
    Zambia                        Janny Sikazwe
    Seychelles                 Bernard Camille
    Rwanda                      Hudu Munyemana
    Namibia                     Reinhold Shikongo
    Burkina Faso             Juste Zio
    Burundi                      Thierry  Nkurunziza
    Algeria                        Mehdi Abid Charefa
    Ivory Coast Denis   Dembele

    Reserve Referees

    DR Congo            Achille Madila
    The Gambia       Bakary Camara   

    Assistant   Referees

    Kenya                  Peter Sabatia
    Senegal              El Hadji Malick Samba
    Mauritius          Balkrishna Bootun
    Tunisia                Anouar Hmila
    Angola                 Jerson Dos Santos
    Ivory Coast         Moussa Bayere
    Mozambique     Arsenio Marengula
    Djibouti                Yacine Hassan Egueh
    Algeria                   Mohamed Bechirene
    Chad                       Issa Yaya
    Guinea                   Sidiki Sidibe
    Eritrea                     Berhe Tesfargiorgh
    Burkina Faso         Seydou Tiama
    Cameroon             Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue

   Reserve  Assistant referees

    Ethiopia     Kindie Mussie
    Niger           Yahaya Mahamadou
          
       
             


       
                                             

                  

           

Nigeria professional football league: All the updates and Results

WEEK 7 FIXTURES

3sc vs Akwa utd
ABS fc vs Bayelsa
Heartland vs lobi statrs
Sharks vs kano pillars
Rangers vs Dolphins
Nassarawa vs Gombe
Enyimba vs kwara utd
Nembe vs Kwara
All matches will be on 14th of april,2013 by 4pm


THE NPFL WEEK 6 ROUND UP

KANO PILLARS BEATS SUNSHINE TO CONSOLIDATE LEAD

The Week 6 matches which was played on Wednesday 10th  and Thursday 11th of April  saw Both Rangers  international and Sunshines star relinquished their unbeaten status leaving on Warri wolves to that toga.

Double strikes from Gombe's utd Bishop onyeundo ( top the scorer's chart with 5 goals) is Enough to condemned Rangers  to their first loss of the season . Warri wolves played 1-1 draw with Nembe fc to take drawn matches to four in a row.

Kano pillars bounced back from their shock CAF champions league exit last weekend to take their home winning streak to 157  matches in the Nigeria top flight when they defeated sunshie stars of Akure by a lone goal  to consolidate on their top position on the log especially when their closest rivals, Rangers , have no point to show for the week.
Lobi stars is another team that recovered early enough from their CAF confederation cup mishap last weekend when they exited the competition scandalously by losing 7 goals to 1 on the night to the Liga muchulmana of mozambique.
lobi stars beat struggling sharks fc 2-0 to restore some pride to thier battered image at the continent.

The week also saw Shooting stars scored their first away goal but it's not enough as they continue to search for their first away point in the campaign despite having  won all their home matches. The oluyole warriors lost to Bayelsa united by 3 goals to 1.

Nassarawa utd  beat kwara united in ilorin to take the away victories for the season to a record six in just after match day six.
kaduna utd also beat Enyimba fc  by a solitary goal,the Aba Elephants are struggling to find the form that ensured that they Won CAFCL  back to back and remained the only nigeria side to have won the competition.
Heartland Fc CAF confederation cup travelling woes was compounded by  Dolphins  Fc when the team lost by two goals to one in port harcourt

 Week 6 Results

Wednesday 10th April 2013
Gombe United 2-1 Enugu Rangers
Kwara Utd 0-1 Nasarawa Utd
El-Kanemi Warriors 2-1 Akwa United
Wikki Tourists 1-0 ABS FC
Kano Pillars 1-0 Sunshine Stars

Thursday 11th April 2013
Dolphins 2-1 Heartland
Lobi Stars 2-0 Sharks FC
Warri Wolves 1-1 Nembe City
Bayelsa United 3-1 Shooting Stars
Kaduna Utd 1-0 Enyimba

 THE NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE WEEK FIVE ROUND UP

ITS GOALS RAIN AS KANO PILLAR WIN AT ABS TO REMAIN TOP

The Nigeria Premier Football League on match day 5 Witnessed Goals galore as a total of 28 goals were scored at seven match centres while only two matches ended in a draw.
While the match between Sunshine and Lobi stars Failed to hold.

 Kano pillars got three away goals to remain at the summit while Heartland Fc continue to maintain their newly found form by hitting  four goals past,Enugu Rangers sent Kwara utd to their first lost of the season  with an empathic three goals to one victory at the Nnamdi stadium to remain unbeaten after match day 5.

Also Shooting Stars op Ibadan were stretched to the limit at home when they defeated Wikki tourist at the lekan salami stadium ,the interesting week 5 Encounter produced a whooping 5 goals as the match ended 3-2 .

Akwa utd  put three unreplied goals past Bayelsa utd and Nassarawa utd also scored three home goals against kaduna utd while the away team can only score once .

Enyimba struggled against Warri wolves all through 90 minutes as the highly explosive encounter produces no goal,the same result was recorded at the port harcourt as both sharks and dolphins laboured to boring 90 minutes.

WEEK FIVE RESULTS

SHOOTING STARS 3 VS WIKKI TOURIST  2
ENYIMBA 0 VS WARRI WOLVES 0
SHARKS 0 VS DOLPHINS 0
NEMBE CITY C 2 VS EL KANEMI 1
ABS 2 VS KANO PILLARS 3
HEARTLAND 4 VS GOMBE 0
ENUGU ANGERS 3 VS KWARA UTD 1
AKWA UTD 3 VS BAYELSA 0
NASSARAWA 3 VS KADUNA UTD 1

LEADING GOAL SCORERS
Uche Ihiarulam Bayelsa utd 3goals
Bishop Onyeudo Gombe utd 3goals
Ichull Lardson ABS 3goals
Gambo Mohammed Pillars 3goals
Ubong Ekpai Akwa utd 3goals
Isah Akoh Heartland 3goals

LEAGUE TABLE AS AT MATCH DAY 5

POS                     TEAMS                     PL          PTS

 1     •     Kano Pillars     5     12
2     ↑     Enugu Rangers     5     11
3     ↑     Shooting Stars     5     9
4     ↑     Akwa United     5     9
5     ↓     Sunshine Stars F.C     4     8
6     ↑     Nasarawa United F.C     5     8
7     ↓     Enyimba     5     8
8     ↓     Kwara United F.C     5     8
9     ↑     Heartland FC     5     7
10     ↑     Nembe City F.C     5     7
11     ↓     Bayelsa United F.C     5     7
12     ↓     Lobi Stars     4     6
13     ↓     Gombe United F.C.     5     6
14     •     Dolphins F.C     5     5
15     ↑     Warri Wolves F.C     5     4
16     ↓     Wikki Tourists     5     4
17     ↓     ABS F.C     5     4
18     ↓     Kaduna United F.C.     5     4
19     ↑     Sharks F.C     5     4
20     ↓     El-Kanemi Warriors     5     3

Nigeria Professional Football League

Week 5 Fixtures All matches to be played today

•At Adamashingba Stadium; Shooting Stars vs Wikki Tourists.

•At Lafia Township Stadium; Nasarawa United vs Kaduna United

•At Sharks Stadium; Sharks vs Dolphins

•At Ilorin Township Stadium; ABS vs Kano Pillars.

•At Uyo Township Stadium; Akwa United vs Bayelsa United.

•At Enyimba Stadium; Enyimba vs Warri Wolves.

•At Dan Anyiam Stadium; Heartland vs Gombe United.

•At Samson Siasia Stadium; Nembe City vs Elkanemi Warriors.

•At Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium; Enugu Rangers vs Kwara United.

•At Akure Township Stadium; Sunshine Stars vs Lobi Stars.

All matches to be played on 31st of march,2013

WEEK FOUR ROUND UP

KANO PILLARS DEFEATED 3SC;TOPS THE LEAGUE TABLE AFTER WEEK FOUR

The peak of the week clash between high riding shooting stars of ibadan and league champion kano pillars in kano lived up to expectation as the oluyole warriors find the maisugida too hot to handle and were  condemned to a 2-0 defeat courtsey of a brace from mohammed gambo.
 The same result posted by warri wolves when the team hosted Akwa utd at home in one of the earlier matches played on Wednesday,the  match between Gombe and sharks also recorded similar in favour of Gombe
Kwara utd though cannot put  two past heartland like other victories elsewhere but the lone goal is enough to grabbed all the three points at stake when they confronted Heartland of owerrito keep thir unbeaten intact.
The last victory recorded in this exciting week was recorded by Lobi stars when they defeated ABS in markurdi by a goal to nil.
The other five games ended in draw with four the matches ended in score draw with the highest recorded in far away el kanemi stadium when Bayelsa utd and share the spoils in a four goal thriller with both teams scoring two goals apiece while other games ended 1-1 a piece the only match that fails to produce any goal is the encounter Warri Wolves and Nassarawa utd
After four rounds of the defending champion is dictating the pace with 9 points and same thing cant be said of sharks,they occupied the rear position on the log as they are yet to win any of their games in the four weeks old league. The other teams that are yet to post any win are Elkanemi and warri wolves as the battle for survival has started already with El kanemi occupying the 19th position and warri wolves on 18th all the three teams are on 3points with the team separated by goal difference .
The battle at the top is also fierce as the trio of Sunhine fc,Enugu and kwara remain unbeaten so far and they are on 8 points and closely following the league leader,kano pillars.

NFPL week 4 Results
Dolphins FC 1-1 Sunshine Stars
Gombe Utd 2-0 Sharks FC
Kaduna Utd 1-1 Rangers Int'l
Nembe City 1-1 Enyimba Int'l
Warri Wolves 0-0 Nasarawa Utd
Lobi Stars 1-0 ABS FC
Kano Pillars 2-0 3SC
El-Kanemi Warriors 2-2 Bayelsa Utd
- Wednesday:

Wikki Tourists 2-0 Akwa Utd
Kwara Utd 1-0 Heartland FC.

THE TABLE AS AT 28TH OF MARCH,2013
Pos.     Team     GP     Pts     W     D     L     GF     GA     +/-    
   

1     Kano Pillars     4     9     3     0     1     4     1     3    
   
2     Sunshine Stars     4     8     2     2     0     6     4     2    
   
3     Enugu Rangers     4     8     2     2     0     4     2     2    
   
4     Kwara United     4     8     2     2     0     3     1     2    
   
5     Bayelsa United     4     7     2     1     1     5     3     2    
   
6     Enyimba     4     7     2     1     1     4     2     2    
   
7     Shooting Stars SC     4     6     2     0     2     5     4     1    
   
8     Gombe United     4     6     2     0     2     5     5     0    
   
9     Lobi Stars     4     6     2     0     2     4     5     -1    
   
10     Akwa United     4     6     2     0     2     3     4     -1    
   
11     Nasarawa Utd     4     5     1     2     1     2     2     0    
   
12     Heartland FC     4     4     1     1     2     5     5     0    
   
13     Nembe City FC     4     4     1     1     2     5     6     -1    
   
14     Kaduna United     4     4     1     1     2     4     5     -1    
   
15     Dolphins FC PH     4     4     1     1     2     2     3     -1    
   
16     Wikki Tourists     4     4     1     1     2     2     3     -1    
   
17     ABS FC     4     4     1     1     2     1     2     -1    
   
18     Warri Wolves     4     3     0     3     1     2     3     -1    
   
19     El Kanemi Warriors     4     3     0     3     1     2     4     -2    
   
20     Sharks FC     4     3     1     0     3     2     6     -4


WEEK THREE ROUND UP
SUNSHINE ON TOP
Shooting stars of ibadan recover from their away  defeat in the hands of dolphins last week in port hacourt to beat lobi stars 3-1 who are smarting from recent success at the CAF confederation cup.
Talking about recovering the greatest team that recovered best from the earlier two games slumber was heartland Fc ,they used the week 3 encounter against kaduna utd to tell those who care to listen that they are ready to claim their rightfulplace in the Nigeria league,the FA and Super cup Winner  defeated kaduna utd by four goals to one
Kwara Utd away victory against Sharks of Portharcourt clearly stand them out of the crowd as the best performer of the week as away victory in the Nigeria professional football league is a luxury that is hard to comeby;nevertheless this season so far has witnessed at least an away victory every week a signal to the fact that the officiating is getting better and clearly a break away from the usual norm that home victories are non negiotiable whether the home team deserve it or not ,the referee must conjure a victory either by hook or crook
Nembe city FC one of the teams that have recorded an away victory this season has failed to reproduced the form that saw beat Heartland at owerri as the team has slumped to back to back to defeat since that unexpepectedfeat in owerri ; a bapstism of fire of sort for the new comer,they lost to Rangers at home last week and got beaten by Nassarrawa FC in week 3 ,now they need to re group early enough before their next game in order to put a halt to the free fall they ve found themselves 'after thier initial gra gra' of week one.
Enyimba FC kept it late but did enough to beat Elkanemi two goals to nil,as the two goals came in the 84th and 86th minutes for the Ever vociferous Aba fans to breath a sigh of relieve
While Sunshine of Akure made kept thier unbeaten run so far in the league when they defeated Gombe utd at the Akure township stadium in a five goal thriller,the ended three goals to two in favour of the home side o shoot to the top of the log.
 Rangers international failed to win for the first time this season after playing goalless with warri wolves

Bellow is the summary of the result in week three


3SC 3-1 Lobi
Enyimba 2-0 Elkanemi
Heartland 4-1 Kaduna
Bayelsa 2-0 Wikki
Sharks 0-1 Kwara
Sunshine 3-2 Gombe
ABS 1-0 Dolphins
Akwa Utd 1-0 Pillars
Rangers Int'l 0-0 Warri Wolves
Nasarawa Utd 2-1 Nembe City

WEEK FOUR FIXTURES

Nigeia Professional Football League(NPFL)FIXTURES:

Wednesday 27 Mar 2013

El-Kanemi v Bayelsa United

Kwara United v Heartland

Wikki Tourists v Akwa
United
Thursday
28 Mar 2013

Dolphins v Sunshine Stars

Gombe United v Sharks

Kaduna United v Rangers

Lobi Stars v ABS F.C.

Nembe City v Enyimba

Warri Wolves v Nasarawa United
Kano Pillars vs 3sc
WEEK 3 RESULTS
3SC 3-1 Lobi
Enyimba 2-0 Elkanemi
Heartland 4-1 Kaduna
Bayelsa 2-0 Wikki
Sharks 0-1 Kwara
Sunshine 3-2 Gombe
ABS 1-0 Dolphins
Akwa Utd 1-0 Pillars
Rangers Int'l 0-0 Warri Wolves
Nasarawa Utd 2-1 Nembe City



2012/2013 NPFL WEEK TWO ROUND UP

 WEEK TWO ROUND UP

Wednesday 20: 3: 2013

Gombe Utd 1 ABS 0
Elkanemi 0 Wikki 0,
Kano Pillars 1 Bayelsa Utd 0
Kwara Utd 1 Sunshine 1.


Thursday,21:0 3:2013
Dolphins FC 1Vs 0 Shooting stars
Enyimba FC 1Vs. 0 Nasarawa Utd
Gombe Utd ? Vs.? ABS FC
Kaduna Utd 2 Vs. Sharks FC
Lobi Stars 2 Vs. 1 Akwa Utd
Warri Wolves 1 Vs 1 Heartland FC

Friday 22:03:2013
•Nembe City 1 FC Vs. Enugu Rangers 2

kano pillars last season champion in good start

WEEK ONE ROUND UP
SHOOTING STARS IN EARLY LEAD


The 2012/2013 Nigeria professional football league ,NPFL, got up to flying start Last weekend,with last year champion Kano Pillars recording an away victory with a lone gal victory in far away Wikki to announce to all other teams who care to listen that they are here to retain defend their title.
 Also new comer Nembe city put two away goals past Heartland FC in Oweri to show that they are no push over while the FA cup and super cup Champion can only reply with a goal to join Wikki tourist as the only two teams that have nothing to show for their effort despite playing in front of their of home fans.
Also the oriental league opener between former champions Rangers and Enyimba ended in lone goal victory for Rangers,just like Akwa Sunshine stars, Bayelsa, sharks and Shooting stars recorded an opening three points in front of their home fans.
In far away Northern part of the country,the match between Nassarawa and Elkanemi ended in goalless draw,the same results posted in the kwara derby between  ABS and kwara utd.
A cursory look at the Results shows that Shooting stars are  leading the park with 3 points and +2 goals difference coutsey of the two Unreplied goals scored against Gombe utd to the delight of their vociferous home crowd.
Two away victories was recorded,two matches ended in a draw while six home victories were witnessed
Thirteen goals were scored across the ten Centres with five of them scored by  away teams showing an average of 1.3 goals per match

ALL THE RESULTS

Rangers 1 vs Enyimba 0
Bayelsa 1 vs Lobi Stars 0.
Wikki T. 0 vs  Kano Pillars. 1.
 Akwa utd 1. vs Dolphins 0.
 3SC.2 vs Gombe utd FC. 0
 Heartland 1 vs Nembe City 2.
 Sunshine. 1 vs Kaduna Utd 0.
ABS FC. 0 Kwara Utd FC 0.
 Sharks. FC.2  vs W. Wolves 1.
Nasarawa.0 vs El-kanemi. 0