2016 NPFL Match day 38 fixtures

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Plateau United   vs Heartland
Rangers             vs El-Kanemi Warriors
Warri Wolves    vs Ikorodu United
Wikki Tourists  vs Sunshine Stars
Abia Warriors  vs Shooting Stars
Akwa United    vs Rivers United
Lobi Stars         vs Nasarawa United
MFM, Lagos   vs FC IfeanyiUbah
Kano Pillars    vs Niger Tornadoes

2016 NPFL Match day 37 results, scorers, table

*Heartland          1 Kano Pillars 0
Emeka Ogbugh (65 mins)

*El-Kanemi Warriors 1 Plateau United 0
Hussain Mohammed (59 mins)

*Ikorodu United     2 Enugu Rangers 1
Obinna Nwobodo   -Rangers (25 mins)
Chisom Egbuchulam-Rangers (38 mins)
Paul Dike        -Ikorodu (68 mins)

*Sunshine Stars    1 Warri Wolves 0
Dayo Ojo (62 mins)

*Shooting Stars    1 Wikki Tourists 0
Olabisi Samuel (52 mins)

*Nasarawa United   2 Akwa United 2
Esosa Igbinoba   -Nasarawa (13 mins)
Hassan Babangida -Akwa Utd (23 mins)
Cyril Olisema    -Akwa Utd (26 mins)
???????????????  -Nasarawa (89 mins)

*FC IfeanyiUbah    1 Enyimba 0
Isaac Loute (3 mins)

*Niger Tornadoes    3 MFM, Lagos 1
Solomon Owello -Tornadoes  (5, 18 mins)
Gabriel Wassa  -Tornadoes  (50 mins)
Stephen Odey   -MFM, Lagos (75 mins)

*Rivers United    0 Abia Warriors 0
............................


                  NPFL  League Table, one game to go

1 Rangers                 35    17    9    9     60
2 Rivers United        35    18    3    14    57
3 FC Ifeanyiubah     35    16    8    11    56
4 Wikki Tourists      35    15    9    11    54
5 Sunshine Stars     35    14    11    10   53
6 Lobi Stars             35    15    7    13    52
7 Kano Pillars          35    15    6    14    51
8 El-Kanemi            35    16    3    16     51
9 Nasarawa FC       35    16    2    17    50
10 Enyimba FC       36    14    8    14    50
11 Tornadoes          35    15    3    17    48
12 Plateau Utd        35    13    9    13    48
13 Akwa United      35    13    8    14    47
14 Shooting Stars   35    14    5    16     47
15 Abia Warriors   35    11    12    12    45
16 Heartland FC    35    11    10    14    43
......................................................................
17 MFM, Lagos    35    11    9    15     42
18 Warri Wolves    35    11    9    15     42
19 Ikorodu Utd      35    07    11    17   32
20 Giwa FC            00    00    00    00   00

Asaleye wins Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club intra-club championship

Yemi Asaleye on Saturday won the Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club's intra-club championship as he defeated Otunba Oladimeji Olatunde in straight sets 6-0, 6-1.

The competition which was sponsored by one of the members of OATC, Mr Tunji Adesina, produced a lot of exciting moments for the spectators, who watched the matches  especially the final decided at the centre court of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.
 
Asaleye, had defeated Obinna Odigwe to qualify for the final, while Oladimeji created what turned out be the major upset of the tournament with his 4-2, 4-2 victory over Barrister Leye Olubajo in the second semi-final.
 
Cash prizes were later presented to the winner and the runner-up after the exhilarating final.

 
In his remarks, Club Captain of OATC, Mr Kunle Yusuf lauded the sponsor of the tournament, Mr Adesina, saying such gesture will go a long way in helping members of the club to improve in their standard of play.
 
He stated that efforts were being intensified to ensure that the club organises regular competitions to keep members busy.

Also speaking, another member of OATC, Engineer Niyi Adekola, said "Mr Adesina has pioneered a unique initiative that should be emulated by all" adding "every player who participated in the tournament is a winner because there is joy in participation as well." 

In her remarks, the Director of the OATC Tennis Academy, Coach Adepeju Faboyinde, expressed satisfaction with the quality of play of each participant saying with regular competitions, the standard would improve in no time.
 
The former international tennis player equally thanked Mr Adesina for providing an avenue for members to engage in a healthy competition.
 
"I am glad that one of us, Mr Adesina sponsored this tournament and we are grateful to him. Tournament makes every player to improve and if we continue to have more of this competitions, our standard of play will surely improve," coach Faboyinde, 1985 National Sports Festival gold medallist said.
.............
Caption:
SPIRIT OF SPORTSMANSHIP: Dimeji Olatunde (left) with his conqueror, Yemi Asaleye after the final. PHOTO: GANIYU SALMAN.

London derby: Arsenal targets "new era" against Chelsea--Wenger

MANAGER Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal is ready to begin “a new era” by beating Chelsea on Saturday (September 25) at the Emirates Stadium in a Premier League game.
Interestingly, the derby would see Nigerian internationals on parade as Arsenal boasts youngster Alex Iwobi, while the Blues are likely to parade Victor Moses, as John Mikel Obi remains doubtful for the clash billed to start at 5:30pm.
Aside from the Gunners victory in last year’s Community Shield, the Blues have held the upper hand in recent years, but Wenger is confident that will change.
“It is an important game for us because we feel we are on the way up and Chelsea is a good test and a good opportunity for us to continue our progress,” Wenger who clocked 20 years with Arsenal as manager last week told the Gunners' official website.
“Chelsea in the last 10 years had very, very strong teams. You realise that today as well. Before that period, we were always beating them, after they were always the stronger team for a few years.
“Now, it looks like it’s a new era where it’s a bit more balanced again and we feel we are progressing at the moment so we have a good opportunity to grab and to change what I call ‘the inconvenient facts’ of the recent years.
“Chelsea have always come to the Emirates with a strong defensive solidity and to [try to] catch us on the break, because they know we like to take the initiative,” added Wenger.
“[Antonio] Conte has very strong players in transition, like Hazard, like Willian, like Diego Costa. For us to stop them, these three players, from being dangerous will be one of the keys of the game.”
Another key will be keeping 11 men on the pitch, something we didn’t manage in two Premier League games against Chelsea last season.
“Yes, we talk about that because in the last two games, we’ve played against Chelsea with 10 men,” said the French manager.
“Of course for the result on Saturday, it will be important the way we play football, but as well the way we behave, because discipline and results are strongly linked. The results we’ve had in the last two games are that we couldn’t play 11 against 11.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea manager, Antonia Conte says Saturday's clash means a lot to one of
Arsenal's former players, Cesc Fabregas now in his squad. 
"For Cesc [ Fabregas] this is a special game but the most important thing for Cesc now is that he is a Chelsea player and he is playing very well for Chelsea. I am seeing him very focused and concentrated during the training and he played a good game in the cup. It is a possibility he can start [against] Arsenal. I have another day to make the decision.
"We know tomorrow we face a good team and for sure they will fight until the end to win the title. Arsenal has good young players with great technique and good potential and organisation. They play good football.
"This is a big game between two big rivals and it is important to play a good game after the defeat against Liverpool," the Italian manager, Conte told the official website of the Blues after his media conference on Friday afternoon.

...............
We need discipline to win--Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says maintaining discipline is the key to beating Chelsea as both sides clash at the Emirates today in the English Premier League.
The Gunners have been shown four red cards in their past five Premier League matches against their London rivals, and the squad know that keeping cool will be essential.
“It’d be nice to keep 11 men on the pitch against Chelsea this time round,” Oxlade-Chamberlain told the Arsenal's official website.
“I know it sounds funny but generally speaking in the last few games against them, it’s always a big clash with a lot of emotions and maybe some mind games.
“First and foremost, it’s a massive game and we just need to keep our discipline and stay in the game. I’d back this team to be able to beat anyone in the league on our day.
“It’s going to be a big occasion but we can’t get too caught up in it, we just need to go out and play our game.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain also stressed the importance the home crowd can play today, and hopes
that he can play his part in sending the fans home happy.
“It will make a difference, but at the same time you’ve got to keep a cool head and you can’t let all of that cloud your judgement or get the better of you on the day," he said.
“You know, if you go a goal up and the crowd starts getting right behind you it can push you on. At the same time, sometimes you might end up going a goal down and the crowd can show their frustration and you can’t let that affect you too much because you’ve got to focus on getting the right result and keep plugging away.
“The crowd will be massive and I’m sure the atmosphere will be great. It always is for the big games and we’ve got to use that to our advantage. We need to get the right result so everyone leaving the Emirates happy.”
.......

Caption: Nigeria's Iwobi (Arsenal) faces compatriot, Moses in a London derby at the Emirates.

2016 NPFL Match day 37 fixtures

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Heartland                    vs Kano Pillars
El-Kanemi Warriors   vs Plateau United
Ikorodu United           vs Rangers
Sunshine Stars           vs Warri Wolves
Shooting Stars            vs Wikki Tourists
Rivers United             vs Abia Warriors
Nasarawa United       vs Akwa United
FC IfeanyiUbah         vs Enyimba
Niger Tornadoes       vs MFM, Lagos
...............

2016 NPFL matchday 36 results, scorers

*Plateau Utd    1 Ikorodu United  0
Kelechi John (11 mins)

*Rangers        2 Sunshine Stars  0
Bobby Clement (37, 49 mins)

*Warri Wolves   1 Shooting Stars  0
Sikiru Alimi (18 mins)

*Wikki Tourists 1 Rivers United   0
Christopher Waziri (80 mins)

*Abia Warriors  2 Nasarawa United 1
Ogbonnaya Okemmiri -Abia Warriors (18 mins)
Douglas Achiv      -Nasarawa Utd  (59 mins)
Abdulbasit Shittu  -Nasarawa Utd  (87 mins, Own goal)

*Lobi Stars     2 FC IfeanyiUbah  1
Kone Soumaila -Lobi    (32 mins)
Ismaila Gata  -If/Ubah (52 mins)
Kone Soumaila -Lobi    (72 mins)

*Enyimba        0 MFM, Lagos      0

*Kano Pillars  ? El-Kanemi Warriors ? (Wed. Sept 21) 
*Heartland     ? Niger Tornadoes    ?    (Wed. Sept 21)

2016 NPFL Matchday 36 fixtures

Sunday, September 18

Kano Pillars   vs El-Kanemi (pp)
Plateau Utd    vs Ikorodu
Rangers        vs Sunshine Stars
Warri Wolves   vs Shooting Stars
Wikki Tourists vs Rivers Utd
Abia Warriors  vs Nasarawa Utd
Lobi Stars     vs FC IfeanyiUbah
Enyimba        vs MFM, Lagos
Heartland      vs Niger Tornadoes (pp)
........

2016 NPFL Match day 35 results, scorers

*Shooting Stars  2 Enugu Rangers  1
Ajani Ibrahim -Shooting (47 mins)
Ifegwu Ojukwu -Shooting (50 mins)

*FC IfeanyiUbah  2 Akwa United    0
Seka Pascal  (8 mins)
Ismaila Gata (79 mins)

*Sunshine Stars  3 Plateau United 1
Dele Olorundare -Sunshine (2 mins)
Samad Kadiri    -Sunshine (17 mins)
Kabir Umar      -Plateau  (51 mins)
Dele Olorundare -Sunshine (76 mins)

*Rivers United   3 Warri Wolves   1
Kelvin Itoya  -Wolves (10 mins)
Godwin Obinze -Rivers (34 mins)
Bernard Ovoke -Rivers (40 mins)
Guy Kuemian   -Rivers (82 mins)

*Nasarawa Utd    2 Wikki Tourists 1
Esosa Igbinoba -Nasarawa (90 mins)
Aminu Kadir    -Nasarawa (+90 mins)     

*Ikorodu Utd     4 Kano Pillars   1
Rabiu Ali        -Pillars (41 mins)
Onyelonu Chinedu   -Ikorodu (44 mins)
Muyiwa Lawal         -Ikorodu (47 mins)
Paul Dike                 -Ikorodu (62 mins
Onyelonu Chinedu   -Ikorodu (75 mins)

*Niger Tornadoes 1 Enyimba        0
Solomon Owello (75 mins)

*MFM, Lagos      3 Lobi Stars     1
Sikiru Olatunbosun -MFM (21 mins)
Musa Newman        -MFM (51 mins)
Sikiru Olatunbosun -MFM (58 mins)
Barnabas Imenger -Lobi (63 mins)

*El-Kanemi Warriors 1 Heartland 0
Ibrahim Mustapha (7 mins)
 ----------------------------------
Rescheduled game:

Ikorodu United 3 Enyimba 2
Fatai Abdullahi -Ikorodu (28 mins)
Mfon Udoh       -Enyimba (32 mins)
Oluwole Johnson -Ikorodu (53 mins)
Musa Najare     -Enyimba (61 mins)
Michael Okoyoh  -Ikorodu (68 mins)

2016 NPFL Match day 34 results, scorers

*El-Kanemi Warriors 2  Niger Tornadoes 0
Chinedu Ohanachom (45 mins)
Hussaini Mohammed (65 mins)

*Rangers 4 Rivers United 0
Tope Olusesi   (40 mins)
Godwin Aguda   (47 mins)
Obinna Nwobodo (84 mins)

*Lobi Stars 1 Enyimba 0
Barnabas Imenger Junior (3 mins)

*Kano Pillars 2 Sunshine Stars 0
Amos Gyang     (42 mins)
Gambo Mohammed (51 mins)

*Warri Wolves 1 Nasarawa Utd 0
Kelvin Itoya (66 mins)

*Plateau United 1 Shooting Stars 0
Benjamin Turba (78 mins)

*Akwa United 3 MFM, Lagos 1
Hassan Babangida -Akwa Utd (18, 72 mins)
Ubong Friday     -Akwa Utd (86 mins)
Ifeanyi Ifeanyi  -MFM      (+90 mins)

*Heartland 0 Ikorodu United 1
Fatai Abdullahi (54 mins)

 *Abia warriors  1 IfeanyiUbah 1
Ndifreke Effiong -Abia Warriors (23 mins)
Kojo Baah            -IfeanyiUbah   (86 mins)
.............
Rescheduled match

*Enyimba 2 Wikki Tourists 1
Godwin Obaje         -Wikki   (42 mins
Nzube Anaezemba  -Enyimba (45, 50 mins)

2016 NPFL Match day 34 fixtures

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Heartland                    vs Ikorodu United
Kano Pillars               vs Sunshine Stars
Plateau United           vs Shooting Stars
Rangers                     vs Rivers United
Warri Wolves            vs Nasarawa United
Abia warriors             vs IfeanyiUbah 
Akwa United             vs MFM, Lagos
Lobi Stars                 vs Enyimba
El-Kanemi Warriors vs Niger Tornadoes