2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 19 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Bendel Insurance 2 Kwara Utd 0

Akpan Emmanuel (16th min)

Kayode Oke        (36th min)

*Kano Pillars 3 Nasarawa Utd  0

Mustapha Umar (24th, 72nd min)

Jude Okorie (67th min)

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 19 FIXTURES

SUN, DEC 28:

Kano Pillars vs Nasarawa Utd 3:30pm

Bendel Insurance vs Kwara Utd  4:00pm

Ikorodu City vs Remo Stars    6:00pm

MON:

Rivers Utd      vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm

Kun Khalifat    vs Katsina Utd     4:00pm

Niger Tornadoes vs FC Barau    4:00pm

Plateau Utd     vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm

Warri Wolves  vs Wikki Tourists 4:00pm

Enyimba         vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm     

Bayelsa Utd    vs El-Kanemi Warriors 4:00pm

2025/26 EPL MATCHDAY 18 FIXTURES

FRI., DEC, 26:

Man United vs Newcastle 9:00pm

SAT, DEC. 27:

Nottm Forest vs Man City 1:30pm

West Ham      vs Fulham    4:00pm

Liverpool       vs Wolves    4:00pm

Burnley           vs Everton   4:00pm

Brentford      vs Bournemouth 4:00pm

Arsenal          vs Brighton   4:00pm

Chelsea         vs Aston Villa 6:30pm

SUN:

Sunderland   vs Leeds Utd    3:00pm

C'Palace       vs Tottenham    5:30pm

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 18 FIXTURES

SUN, Dec. 21

Kano Pillars vs Plateau Utd 3:30pm

Enugu Rangers vs Ikorodu City 4:00pm

Remo Stars vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm

Wikki Tourists vs Kun Khalifat 4:00pm

El-Kanemi Warriors vs Enyimba 4:00pm

Abia Warriors vs Warri Wolves  4:00pm

Shooting Stars vs Niger Tornadoes 4:00pm

Kwara Utd vs Bayelsa Utd 4:00pm

MON:

Katsina Utd vs Rivers Utd 4:00pm

TUE:

Nasarawa Utd vs FC Barau 4:00pm

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 16 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Kwara United 2 Niger Tornadoes 0

Babatunde Bright (15th min)

Seun Ogunribide (37th min)

*Remo Stars 2 Enyimba 1

Victor Mbaoma-Remo (brace)

Edidiong Ezekiel-Enyimba (32nd min)

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 15 RESULTS, SCORERS

*FC Barau 3 Kwara Utd 2

Maidubji-Pillars (20th min)

Eze-Kwara (34th min)

Muhammad-Barau (45+3 min)

Aule-Kwara (49th min)

Stanley-Barau (90th min)

*Shooting Stars 1 El-Kanemi Warriors 0

Ismail Ayodele (29th min)

*Ikorodu City 1 Abia Warriors 0

Chidera (69th min)

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 14 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Nasarawa Utd 3 El-Kanemi Warriors 0

Anas Yusuf (38th, 46th min)

Garba Mohammed (second half)

*Katsina United 3 Enyimba 2

Jamilu Yusuf-Katsina Utd (32nd min) 

Uche Collins-Katsina Utd (51st, 62nd min) 

Stanley Dimgba-Enyimba (60th min)

Issah Mohammed-Enyimba (64th min)

*Kano Pillars 2 Ikorodu City 1

Rabiu Ali-Pillars (3rd min)

Olakunle Alaka-Pillars (30th min)

Joseph Arumala-Ikorodu (45th min)

*Enugu Rangers 1 Niger Tornadoes 0

Kenechukwu Agu (70th min)

*Warri Wolves 1 Kun Khalifat 1

*Wikki Tourists 1 Bayelsa Utd 1

*Remo Stars 2 FC Barau 0

*Kwara Utd 0 Shooting Stars 0

*Abia Warriors 0 Bendel Insurance 0

Caption: Action recorded during one of the Matchday NPFL 14 fixtures this season.

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 14 FIXTURES

SUN: Nov 23:

Kwara Utd           vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm

Remo Stars         vs FC Barau      4:00pm

Enugu Rangers  vs Niger Tornadoes 4:00pm

Wikki Tourists   vs Bayelsa Utd 4:00pm

Abia Warriors    vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm

Warri Wolves     vs Kun Khalifat  4:00pm

Nasarawa Utd    vs El-Kanemi      4:00pm

MON:

Kano Pillars      vs Ikorodu City     4:00pm

Katsina Utd        vs Enyimba          4:00pm

Plateau Utd        vs Rivers Utd        (pp)

.......................

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 13 FIXTURES

SAT: Nov 15:

Bendel Insurance vs Kano Pillars 4:00pm

SUN:

El-Kanemi Warriors vs Kwara Utd 4:00pm

Niger Tornadoes    vs Katsina Utd 4:00pm

Enyimba          vs Wikki Tourists 4:00pm

Bayelsa Utd    vs Abia Warriors  4:00pm

Ikorodu City   vs Plateau Utd  4:00pm

Rivers Utd      vs Warri Wolves 4:00pm

Kun Khalifat  vs Nasarawa Utd  4:00pm

MON:

Barau FC    vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm

Shooting Stars  vs Remo Stars (pp)

........................

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 13 RESULTS, SCORERS

*El-Kanemi Warriors 2 Kwara Utd 0

Muktar Ismail (37th min)

Daddy Abdulrahman (80th min)

*Enyimba 0 Wikki Tourists 1

Abubakar Aliyu (33rd minute)

...............

2025/26 EPL MATCH DAY 12 FIXTURES

SAT: Nov. 22:

Burnley           vs Chelsea    1:30pm

Bournemouth vs West Ham 4:00pm

Brighton         vs Brentford  4:00pm

Liverpool        vs Nottm Forest 4:00pm

Wolves            vs C'Palace     4:00pm

Fulham            vs Sunderland  4:00pm

Newcastle        vs Man City     6:30pm

SUN:

Leeds Utd   vs Aston Villa       3:00pm

Arsenal      vs Tottenham        5:30pm

MON:

Man Utd    vs Everton            9:00pm

2025/26 EPL MATCH DAY 11 FIXTURES

SAT: Nov. 8:

Tottenham vs Man Utd 1:30pm

West Ham  vs Burnley  4:00pm

Everton     vs Fulham   4:00pm

Sunderland vs Arsenal 6:30pm

Chelsea      vs Wolves   9:00pm

SUN:

Nottm Forest vs Leeds Utd   3:00pm

Aston Villa vs Bournemouth 3:00pm

C'Palace    vs Brighton     3:00pm

Brentford  vs Newcastle   3:00pm

Man City   vs Liverpool    5:30pm

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 12 FIXTURES

SAT: NOV. 8

Katsina Utd vs Barau FC 4:00pm

SUN:

Nasarawa Utd vs Kwara Utd 4:00pm

Wikki Tourists vs Niger Tornadoes 4:00pm

Warri Wolves  vs Ikorodu City  4:00pm

Abia Warriors vs Enyimba 4:00pm

Enugu Rangers vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm

Kano Pillars   vs Bayelsa Utd 4:00pm

MON:

Kun Khalifat  vs Rivers Utd 4:00pm

Remo Stars    vs El-Kanemi 4:00pm

Plateau Utd    vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm

..................................

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 11 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Kwara United 3 Remo Stars    1

Junior Aimufua-Kwara (30th min)

Babatunde Bright-Kwara (75th min)

Junior Aimufua -Kwara (87th min)

Jabbar Malik-Remo (90th min)

*Bendel Insurance 1 Warri Wolves 1

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 11 FIXTURES

SUN, Nov 2:

Rivers Utd  vs Nasarawa Utd         4:00pm

El-Kanemi Warriors vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm

Bayelsa Utd           vs Plateau Utd 4:00pm

Shooting Stars       vs Katsina Utd   4:00pm

Ikorodu City         vs Kun Khalifat   4:00pm

FC Barau              vs Wikki Tourists 4:00pm

Niger Tornadoes   vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm

Enyimba                vs Kano Pillars    4:00pm

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 10 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Katsina United 1 El-Kanemi Warriors 0

Auwal Sadiq Abubakar (7th min)

* Kano Pillars 0 Niger Tornadoes 2

Abdulrasheed Dabai (2nd half)

Terdoo Shimagande  (2nd half)

* Enugu Rangers 0 Kwara United 0

* Wikki Tourists 2 Shooting Stars 0

Abdullahi Usman   (30th min)

Jonathan Mairiga (42nd min)

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY 10 FIXTURES

FRI, OCT 24:

Katsina Utd     vs El-Kanemi Warriors 4:00pm

SAT:

Kano Pillars vs Niger Tornadoes 4:00pm

SUN:

Abia Warriors vs FC Barau 4:00pm

Warri Wolves  vs Bayelsa Utd 4:00pm

Enugu Rangers vs Kwara Utd 4:00pm

Plateau Utd    vs Enyimba    4:00pm

Wikki Tourists vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm

Kun Khalifat   vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm

Rivers Utd     vs Ikorodu City (pp)

Nasarawa Utd vs Remo Stars (pp)

2025/26 EPL MATCH DAY NINE FIXTURES

FRI: OCT. 24:

Leeds Utd vs West Ham 8:00pm

SAT:

Newcastle vs Fulham  3:00pm

Chelsea     vs Sunderland 3:00pm

Man Utd    vs Brighton   5:30pm

Brentford  vs Liverpool 8:00pm

SUN:

Arsenal vs C'Palace 3:00pm

Wolves  vs Burnley   3:00pm

Aston Villa vs Man City 3:00pm

B'nemouth  vs Nottm Forest 3:00pm

Everton      vs Tottenham  5:30pm

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY NINE FIXTURES

SUN, OCT 19:

Niger Tornadoes vs Plateau Utd 4:00pm

El-Kanemi Warriors vs Wikki Tourists 4:00pm

Kwara Utd vs Katsina Utd 4:00pm

Barau FC   vs Kano Pillars 4:00pm

Enyimba     vs Warri Wolves 4:00pm

Bayelsa Utd vs Kun Khalifat  4:00pm

Shooting Stars vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm

Ikorodu City  vs Nasarawa Utd  4:00pm

Remo Stars  vs Enugu Rangers (pp)

Bendel Insurance vs Rivers Utd (pp)

2025/26 EPL MATCH DAY EIGHT FIXTURES

SAT: OCT. 18:

Nottm Forest vs Chelsea 12:30pm

Burnley         vs Leeds Utd 3:00pm

Brighton        vs Newcastle 3:00pm

Sunderland   vs Wolves       3:00pm

C'Palace      vs Bournemouth 3:00pm

Man City      vs Everton        3:00pm

Fulham         vs Arsenal      5:30pm

SUN:

Tottenhan   vs Aston Villa 2:00pm

Liverpool    vs Man Utd    4:30pm

MON:

West Ham  vs Brentford   8:00pm

ITTF tourney: Assar, Goda set new records

Omar Assar and Hana Goda cemented their dominance in African table tennis by setting new records at the 2025 ITTF Africa Championships in Tunis on Wednesday. 

Assar clinched his fifth Men’s Singles title, while Goda, at just 17, became the youngest African to win three consecutive Women’s Singles titles.

Assar, who made no secret of his ambition to reclaim the title in Tunis, was pushed to the limit by compatriot Youssef Abdelaziz in a thrilling final that had all the hallmarks of a classic showdown. 

In contrast, Goda cruised to victory, overpowering Dina Meshref 4-0 in a commanding display that confirmed her status as the continent’s rising star. With this win, Assar has become the first player to clinch five singles titles in the continent.

“Winning this year’s title wasn’t easy — it was mentally tough,” Goda said. “The scoreline might look simple, but the match was intense. I’m proud to become the first African woman to win three consecutive singles titles.”

While Goda wrapped up her match in under an hour, Assar had to dig deep, coming from behind twice to secure his fifth singles crown. 

Reflecting on the hard-fought win, Assar said, “This final reminded me of the roller-coaster matches I’ve had with Aruna, where I had to come back from 3-1 down. Today, I stayed focused and kept telling myself not to give up — I needed this badly. I’m proud to win my fifth title, marking my 14th singles title in Africa. I hope to make it to 15 soon.”

Egypt’s dominance extended beyond the singles events, as the nation swept all three doubles titles — Mixed Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Men’s Doubles —at the championships.

In the Mixed Doubles final, defending champions Youssef Abdelaziz and Mariam Alhodaby retained their crown with a straight-sets victory over fellow Egyptians Mostafa Badr and Marwa Alhodaby (11-4, 11-7, 11-9).

The newly formed duo of Dina Meshref and Hana Goda proved formidable in the Women’s Doubles, defeating the Alhodaby twins, Mariam and Marwa, 3-1 (11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4) to claim their first title together. The pair had previously reached the final at the WTT Contender Lagos in July.

In the Men’s Doubles, Abdelaziz added to his medal haul by teaming up with Mohamed El-Beiali. The Egyptian pair overcame Algeria’s Bella Maheidine and Jellouli Milhane in an entertaining 3-1 final (11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-2).

Joshua's comeback fight could break 10-year streak

Two-time heavyweight world champion, Anthony Joshua, could be set to fight on the undercard for the first time in a decade, reports www.mirror.co.uk.

'AJ' has not stepped into the ring since his fifth-round knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois, witnessed by over 95,000 fans in September 2024. 

Joshua is expected to make a comeback in the coming months after recovering from elbow surgery, which has kept him out of action for most of 2025.

However, there's a slim possibility that his return could happen before the year ends, according to his promoter, Eddie Hearn. In a recent interview on Sportico and The Boxing Mob, Hearn unveiled Matchroom's schedule for the remainder of 2025, featuring trips to Australia, Monaco, Birmingham, Los Angeles, and Africa just before Christmas, reports All Out Fighting.

In a new update from the Matchroom boss, Hearn disclosed that Joshua might feature on the undercard of a potential end-of-year event. If this happens, it would mark the British boxer's first appearance lower down an event for the first time in 10 years - when he knocked out Kevin Johnson on the undercard of Kell Brook vs Frankie Gavin.

In a chat with IFL TV, Hearn revealed: "All I'm saying is, if he (Anthony Joshua) fights this year, it will just be a 'run out' fight. Because, coming back and fighting in a big arena, in a tough fight after being out for a year and a half, it's not easy." He further added: "And it ain't about the money [in] this fight this year. It's 50/50 if he fights this year, but if he does, he'll be added to a card. He won't be headlining."

As Joshua prepares for his much-awaited comeback, he has already been challenged by numerous heavyweight stars. Arslanbek Makhmudov stated that he will be Joshua's next opponent following his victory over Dave Allen. "I already have a deal with him. We spoke with him on Instagram. He said, 'Okay go fight with Dave Allen and [we] fight next year. He confirmed. Now, it's his turn. I'm going to go for win like this night. I go for win, try to win [and] to make a good fight. I'm a boxer. What am I gonna do? I'm gonna box," he declared.

However, Matchroom's CEO Frank Smith has dampened those expectations, stating: "Not necessarily front runner. Look, we'll be working with Arslanbek moving forward on what's next, and we'll work hard to deliver big opportunities. He deserves big opportunities.

"But I have said time and time again that it is a fickle sport that we are in. He loses to Agit Kabayel, and people say 'oh, he's finished'. Kabayel is in the top five of the heavyweight division, so we'll be working on that. [But] not necessarily the front runner for Anthony Joshua. AJ is on his own path of what he's going to do. I know he [Makhmudov] wants Anthony Joshua, but we all want a lot of things."

Just hours following Makhmudov's victory over Allen, Guido Vianello threw his hat into the ring to face Joshua next year after his knockout win against Alexis Barriere. "Now I want a big name," said Vianello. 

"You want to know what big name I want? Anthony Joshua. I want Anthony Joshua. I want him in front of me. Let's fight in Rome, in The Coliseum, in London – whatever you want. But give me a big name, please. I'm 31, I don't have extra time, I want to win now."

Joshua is anticipated to take on a lesser opponent for his comeback bout in order to secure some vital rounds under his belt before potentially pursuing a blockbuster clash with long-time rival Tyson Fury next summer.

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY EIGHT FIXTURES

SUN, Oct. 12

Kun Khalifat vs Enyimba 4:00pm

Abia Warriors vs El-Kanemi Warriors 4:00pm

Nasarawa Utd vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm

Wikki Tourists vs Kwara Utd 4:00pm

Ikorodu City     vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm 

Plateau Utd     vs FC Barau   4:00pm

Rivers Utd     vs Bayelsa Utd 4:00pm

Warri Wolves  vs Niger Tornadoes 4:00pm

Katsina Utd    vs Remo Stars   4:00pm

Kano Pillars   vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm

Why I moved to Saudi, says Plumptre

Super Falcons defender, Ashleigh Plumptre, 27, has revealed why he joined Saudi Women's League side, Al Ittihad in September 2023.

The move came after she featured at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup where Nigeria got eliminated in the round of 16 via penalties at the hands of the Three Lionesses of England.

“I spoke to some teams in the UK, US and Europe, then Dad said there was a team in Saudi Arabia who are interested in you.

“I was shocked. My initial reaction was ‘no', but I wanted to give them a chance,” Plumpre said in an interview with BBC Sports UK.

The former Leicester City stated that she didn't make the Saudi move because of money.

“I had an hour-long call with the coach and two people in the management staff, and I said to Dad, ‘I have a really good feeling about this.

“We barely even spoke about football, but about ourselves and what we were passionate about.

“I'm someone who goes off feeling and intuition. But I wanted to go out and visit – I wanted to see what it was really like. I visited for two days and really liked it, and when I left there I thought ‘this is where I want to be',” the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) winner said.

Plumptre pointed out that the quality of the Saudi Women's Pro League is steep, in comparison to the WSL in England.

“It's not something I will ever hide away from – the standard is not what I'm used to in the WSL or at the international level, and I worried how that would impact me and my development.

“One of my club and international teammates, Francisca Ordega, said in Saudi Arabia, we must do more.

“The pace is not as fast, so you must think in different ways, and push yourselves beyond boundaries that you didn't before. There is more responsibility on you."

**********************************************

Caption: Plumptre (right) battles for ball possession with her compatriot, Asisat Oshoala, during their Saudi Premier League clash recently.

2025/26 EPL MATCH DAY SEVEN FIXTURES

FRI: OCT. 3:

Bournemouth vs Fulham 8:00pm

SAT: Oct. 4:

Leeds Utd vs Tottenham 12:30pm

Arsenal      vs West Ham 3:00pm

Man Utd vs Sunderland 3:00pm

Chelsea   vs Liverpool    5:30pm

SUN:

Newcastle  vs Nottm Forest 2:00pm

Everton      vs C'Palace 2:00pm

Wolves       vs Brighton   2:00pm

Aston Villa vs Burnley    2:00pm

Brentford   vs Man City  5:30pm

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY SEVEN FIXTURES

SAT: OCT 4:

Bendel Insurance vs Nasarawa Utd 4:00pm

SUN, OCT. 5:

Kwara United vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm

Shooting Stars vs Plateau Utd 4:00pm

Enyimba    vs Rivers Utd 4:00pm

Bayelsa Utd vs Ikorodu City 4:00pm

Enugu Rangers vs Katsina Utd 4:00pm

Barau FC      vs Warri Wolves  4:00pm

Niger Tornadoes vs Kun Khalifat 4:00pm

El-Kanemi Warriors vs Kano Pillars 4:00pm 

TUE, OCT 7:

Remo Stars  vs Wikki Tourists 4:00pm

2025/26 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES

TUESDAY, SEPT. 30, 2025 

Atalanta vs Club Brugge 5:45pm

Kairat vs Real Madrid    5:45pm

Galatasaray vs Liverpool 8:00pm

Bodo/Glimt  vs Tottenham 8:00pm

Marseille vs Ajax          8:00pm

Chelsea   vs Benfica     8:00pm

Pafos       vs Bayern      8:00pm

Atletico   vs E'Frankfurt 8:00pm

Inter Milan vs S'Praha   8:00pm

WED. OCT. 1

Qarabag FK  vs Copenhagen 5:45pm

Union SG       vs Newcastle     5:45pm

B'Dortmund   vs Athletic Club 8:00pm

Villarreal       vs Juventus     8:00pm 

Monaco         vs Man City  8:00pm

Napoli            vs Sporting 8:00pm

Arsenal          vs Olympiacos  8:00pm

Barcelona      vs PSG        8:00pm

B'Leverkusen vs PSV       8:00pm

Caption: Victor Osimhen, set to dazzle against Liverpool.

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY SIX RESULTS, SCORERS

*Warri Wolves  1 Shooting Stars   2

Igbunu Evwiehurhoma -Wolves (53rd min)

Qamar Adegoke-Shooting (85th min)

Adam Mustapha-Shooting (87th min)

*Wikki Tourists 2 Enugu Rangers 2

Longbak Klinshak -Wikki (12th min)

Godwin Obaje-Rangers (30th min)

Jonathan Mairiga -Wikki (56th min)

Godwin Obaje-Rangers (78th min)

*Nasarawa United 2 Katsina United 0

Anas Yusuf (45th min)

Abubakar Abdullahi (73rd min)

*Bendel Insurance 1 Bayelsa United       1

*Plateau United      1 El-Kanemi Warriors  0 

2025/26 EPL MATCH DAY SIX FIXTURES

SAT: Sept. 27

Brentford   vs Man Utd 12:30pm

Chelsea       vs Brighton 3:00pm

C'Palace      vs Liverpool 3:00pm

Leeds Utd     vs Bournemouth 3:00pm

Man City     vs Burnley    3:00pm

Nottm Forest vs Sunderland 5:30pm

Tottenham      vs Wolves 8:00pm

SUN:

Aston Villa vs Fulham   2:00pm

Newcastle  vs Arsenal   4:30pm

MON:

Everton     vs West Ham  8:00pm

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY SIX FIXTURES

SAT: Sept 27:

Bendel Insurance vs Bayelsa Utd 4:00pm

Plateau Utd          vs El-Kanemi Warriors 4:00pm

SUN:

Warri Wolves vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm

Nasarawa Utd vs Katsina Utd     4:00pm

Ikorodu City    vs Enyimba         4:00pm

Wikki Tourists vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm

Kun Khalifat    vs Barau FC        4:00pm

Wed, Oct 1:

Abia Warriors vs Remo Stars 4:00pm

Rivers Utd      vs Niger Tornadoes 4:00pm

Wed, Oct. 8:

Kano Pillars   vs Kwara United  4:00pm

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY FIVE RESULTS, SCORERS

*Enyimba  3 Bendel Insurance 2

Chinedu Nwosu-Insurance (3rd min)

Abiodun Joseph-Enyimba  (18th min)

Wisdom Udom-Insurance (60th min)

 Kalu Nweke-Enyimba (66th min, pen)

Chidera Michael-Enyimba (winner)

*Shooting Stars 2 Kun Khalifat 1

Ghali Falke (6th min)

Sodiq Ibrahim (47th min)

Henry Ezeonye-Kun Khalifat (76th min)

*El-Kanemi Warriors 1 Warri Wolves 0

Muktar Ismail (19th min)

*Bayelsa United 1 Nasarawa Utd 2

Mustapha Jawad-Bayelsa (36th min)

Ekeson Okorie-Nasarawa Utd

Collins Onovuke-Nasarawa Utd

*Niger Tornadoes 4 Ikorodu City 2

Sariki Ismaila-Tornadoes (2nd min) 

Abba Khalid-Tornadoes (14th min)

Abdulazeez Dalhatu-Tornadoes (16th min)

Abdulrasheed Dabai-Tornadoes (2nd half)

*Katsina Utd 1 Wikki Tourists 0

 Usman Barau (17th min)

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY FIVE FIXTURES

SUN, SEPT. 21:

Bayelsa Utd       vs Nasarawa Utd 4:00pm

Niger Tornadoes vs Ikorodu City 4:00pm

El-Kanemi Warriors vs Warri Wolves 4:00pm

Enyimba    vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm

Shooting Stars  vs Kun Khalifat 4:00pm

Enugu Rangers vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm (pp)

Barau FC           vs Rivers Utd (pp)

Remo Stars          vs Kano Pillars (pp)

Kwara Utd        vs Plateau Utd (pp)

MON:

Katsina Utd       vs Wikki Tourists 4:00pm

2025/26 EPL MATCH DAY FIVE FIXTURES

SAT: Sept. 20

Liverpool vs Everton 12:30pm

Burnley     vs Nottm Forest 3:00pm

West Ham  vs C'Palace   3:00pm

Brighton  vs Tottenham 3:00pm

Wolves     vs Leeds Utd  3:00pm

Man Utd  vs Chelsea   5:30pm

Fulham    vs Brentford   8:00pm

SUN:

Bournemouth vs Newcastle 2:00pm

Sunderland    vs Aston Villa 2:00pm

Arsenal           vs Man City  4:30pm

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY FOUR FIXTURES

 SAT; Sept 13:

Bendel Insurance vs Niger Tornadoes 4:00pm

SUN:

Rivers Utd  vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm

Kun Khalifat vs El-Kanemi Warriors 4:00pm

Kano Pillars  vs Enugu Rangers  4:00pm

Abia Warriors vs Katsina Utd   4:00pm

Nasarawa Utd vs Wikki Tourists 4:00pm

Bayelsa Utd    vs Enyimba        4:00pm

Warri Wolves  vs Kwara Utd    4:00pm

Plateau Utd     vs Remo Stars   4:00pm

Ikorodu City   vs Barau FC      4:00pm

2025/26 EPL MATCHDAY FOUR FIXTURES

SAT: Sept. 13 

Arsenal      vs Nottm Forest 12:30pm

Newcastle  vs Wolves            3:00pm

C'Palace     vs Sunderland    3:00pm

Bournemouth vs Brighton     3:00pm

Everton        vs Aston Villa    3:00pm

Fulham       vs Leeds Utd       3:00pm

West Ham   vs Tottenham      5:30pm

Brentford    vs Chelsea          8:00pm

SUN:

Burnley    vs Liverpool           2:00pm

Man City  vs Man Utd           4:30pm

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY THREE RESULTS, SCORERS

* Kwara United     2 Kun Khalifat    0

Aule Shirsha Johnmark  (24th min)

Kingsley Obiorah (82nd min)

*Barau FC             1  Bendel Insurance 1

Alex Oweilayefa-Insurance (7th min)

Yahaya Ibrahim -Barau (45+4 min)

*Enyimba    0 Nasarawa Utd  0

*Enugu Rangers 2 Plateau Utd  0

Chidozie Iwundu (45th min)

Chidiebere Nwobodo (80th min)

*Katsina Utd       1 Kano Pillars     0

Azeez Falolu (86th min)

*Niger Tornadoes 1 Bayelsa Utd   0

Ismail Sarki (First half)

*El-Kanemi Warriors 0 Rivers Utd 0

*Wikki Tourists     1 Abia Warriors  0

Jonathan Mairiga (77th min)

*Shooting Stars    1 Ikorodu City    1

Sodiq Ibrahim- 3SC (10th min)

Shola Adelani - Ikorodu (42nd min) 

*Remo Stars   1 Warri Wolves   0

Samson Olasupo (77th min)

NPFL 2025/26 MATCHDAY ONE RESULTS, SCORERS

*Remo Stars          1 Rivers United   1

Aniekeme Okon-Rivers Utd (3rd min)

Victor Mbaoma -Remo Stars (9th min)

Niger Tornadoes  1 Nasarawa Utd 0

Kwara United      0 Ikorodu City    0

Abia Warriors      1 Kano Pillars   0

Wikki Tourists     1 Plateau Utd     0

Enugu Rangers    0 Kun Khalifat  0

Katsina Utd          0 Warri Wolves  1

El-Kanemi Warriors 2 Bendel Insurance 0

Shooting Stars      0 Bayelsa United 1

Barau FC             0 Enyimba 0

Caption: An action captured during the season's opener between Remo Stars and Rivers United.

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY TWO RESULT

*Bendel Insurance 1 Shooting Stars 1

Ismail Ayodeji -3SC (5th min)

Alex Owelayefa-Insurance (14th min)

2025/26 NPFL MATCHDAY TWO FIXTURES

Sat, 30 Aug

Bendel Insurance vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm

SUN:

Nasarawa United vs Abia Warriors  4:00pm

Bayelsa United     vs Barau FC         4:00pm

Plateau Utd    vs Katsina Utd        4:00pm

Enyimba         vs Niger Tornadoes 4:00pm 

Kano Pillars   vs Wikki Tourists    4:00pm

Ikorodu City   vs El-Kanemi Warriors 4:00pm

Warri Wolves  vs Enugu Rangers  4:00pm 

Rivers Utd vs Kwara United       4:00pm

MON:

Kun Khalifat   vs Remo Stars         4:00pm

Caption: A player of Ikorodu City trying to outwit a player of Kwara United, during their Nigeria Premier Football League matchday one fixture last Sunday at the George Innih Stadium, Ilorin.

2025/26 EPL MATCH DAY THREE FIXTURES

Saturday: Aug 29, 2025

SAT:

Chelsea vs Fulham               12:30pm

Tottenham vs Bournemouth 3:00pm

Sunderland vs Brentford      3:00pm

Wolves        vs Everton         3:00pm

Man Utd     vs Burnley          3:00pm

Leeds Utd    vs Newcastle     5:30pm

SUN:

Brighton    vs Man City      2:00pm

Nottm Forest vs West Ham 2:00pm

Liverpool   vs Arsenal         4:30pm

Aston Villa vs C'Palace      7:00pm

Parker deserves next world title fight, not Joshua, says Carl Frampton

Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel should be given a world title shot ahead of Anthony Joshua, according to Carl Frampton.

The former two-weight world champion believes it would be 'a travesty' if Parker was overlooked for the opportunity.

Joshua has continued to be linked to a potential world title bout on his return to the ring.

AJ has not fought since losing his IBF title tilt against Daniel Dubois back in September.

The 35-year-old was counted out after being knocked down four times in the opening five rounds.

Meanwhile, Parker and Kabayel both hold interim world titles amid a string of impressive recent performances.

Discussing the heavyweight title picture, Frampton told talkSPORT: "If anybody jumps ahead of Joseph Parker it’d be very, very unfair."

The New Zealander is in pole position to take on the winner of Dubois' undisputed title bout against Oleksandr Usyk.

They are scheduled to meet at Wembley Stadium on July 19, following their first fight two years ago.

Parker is the current WBO interim champion, having held the belt since March 2024.

He has since defended it once, beating Martin Bakole in February to record a sixth consecutive victory and move to 35-3 as a professional.

Asked if it would be a travesty for Parker to miss out, Frampton added: "Yeah, it would be. Parker deserves a shot next definitely.

"Kabayel maybe. If Kabayel gets it in front of Parker you’d feel a little bit disappointed for Joe. I still feel he’s more deserving than Kabayel.

"But if AJ gets it in front of either of those two I think it would be unfair but I get it because he’s a huge, huge draw."

Kabayel himself won the interim WBC title in February with a vicious body shot stoppage of Zhilei Zhang.

The unbeaten German had recovered from an earlier knock down to claim his 18th knockout win.

As for Joshua, he has already been a two-time heavyweight world champion in his career.

His first reign included a unanimous decision victory over Parker in Cardiff back in 2018.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested a long-awaited bout against Tyson Fury could instead represent AJ's comeback fight.

However, any potential fight with the Gypsy King would require him to come out of retirement.

Hearn has also revealed he expects Joshua to hang up his gloves by the end of next year.

His loss to Dubois leaves the British fighter's professional record at 28-4 with 25 wins via knockout.

...............................

Caption: Anthony Joshua (right), during one of his recent bouts.

Joshua could retire in 2026, says Hearn

Heavyweight boxing great, Anthony Joshua's career in boxing will likely be over by the end of 2026.

That is according to promoter Eddie Hearn who has guided the stellar career of the former two-time heavyweight champion from his professional debut in 2013.

Joshua hasn't fought since losing by brutal KO to Daniel Dubois last September, and is currently recovering from surgery.

AJ hoped to fight bitter rival Tyson Fury before the end of his time as a pro, but the 'Gypsy King' insists he is retired.

The former Olympian himself is now 35 and he is approaching the twilight years of his stint in the squared circle.

He will fight again, but Hearn believes next year could see his final bow in the ring.

Hearn told Ariel Helwani: "AJ will have been out of the ring just over a year by the time he steps back into the ring.

"He'll be coming off surgery. I don't think Tyson Fury will be ready to fight around that time.

"I imagine it will be someone who gears him up for a really big fight in 2026.

"2026 will probably be his last year in the sport. Thinking about it [retirement], it's probably three fights away.

"If I'm advising AJ, 'We're back this year, we have two Tyson Fury fights, and what else is there to do?'

"Maybe fight Daniel Dubois. Once AJ fights Tyson Fury, he's kind of done it all.

"Something feels right about coming back this year, fighting Tyson Fury twice next year, and then sailing off into the sunset."

Joshua has had a frustrating year so far as he has been hit with injuries and setbacks.

But he is still arguably the biggest commercial draw in the heavyweight division, and could earn more lucrative paydays.

A two-fight deal with Fury would of course be Joshua's preference but some huge alternative opponents could lay in waiting.

He is reportedly in talks with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh over a new two-fight deal.

Reports indicate that fights with Dillian Whyte, Jared Anderson or Deontay Wilder will be explored.

And a huge showdown with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has also been on the radar.

The iconic Brit will hope he can make one last push to the world title mix first.

Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois will rematch on July 19, and AJ 

could well eye a shot at putting his name in the mix.

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 38 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Shooting Stars 5 Enugu Rangers 1

Sodiq Ibrahim-Shooting (2nd, 51st min)

Usman Bashir-Rangers (43rd min)

Adelowo Gbolagade-Shooting (64th min)

Alex Aghahowa-Shooting (68th min)

Akpan Joshua-Shooting (71st min)

*Katsina United 1 Kwara United 0

Said Mubaraq (34th min)

*Niger Tornadoes 3 Kano Pillars 2

Rabiu Ali-Pillars (4th min)

Joseph Godstime-Tornadoes (6th min, pen)

Ismael Sarki-Tornadoes (66th min)

Eyo Ebong-Tornadoes (84th min)

Nasiru Auwalu-Pillard (87th min)

*Enyimba 0 Plateau United 1

Yusuf Abdullahi (40th min)

*Bayelsa United 3 Remo Stars 0

Rabiu Abdullahi (44th, 84th min)

Ibrahim Yahaya (90+3 min)

*Heartland 2 Akwa United 1

Isaac Nassy-Heartland (2nd min)

Daniel Ekpo-Heartland (76th min)

Chisom Orji-Akwa (83rd min)

*Lobi Stars 2 Bendel Insurance 1

Uche Collins-Insurance (5th min, pen)

Kumaga Suur-Lobi (28th min)

Japhet Kunduahima-Lobi (53rd min)

*El-Kanemi  1 Sunshine Stars 0

*Rivers United 2 Nasarawa Utd 1

Muyiwa Fehintola-Rivers (35th min)

Shina Kumater-Nasarawa (37th min)

Aniekeme Okon-Rivers (55th min)

*Ikorodu City 3 Abia Warriors 2

Ayomide Cole-Ikorodu (37th min)

Sunday Megwo-Abia (45+5 min)

Tosin Oyedokun-Ikorodu (58th min)

Musa Malik-Ikorodu (65th min)

Paul Samson-Abia (75th min)

2024/25 EPL MATCHDAY 37 FIXTURES

Fri, May 16:

Aston Villa vs Tottenham 7:30pm

Chelsea      vs Man Utd    8:15pm

SUN:

Everton vs Southampton 12:00pm

West Ham  vs Nottm Forest 2:15pm

Brentford vs Fulham        3:00pm

Leicester  vs Ipswich        3:00pm

Arsenal    vs Newcastle    4:30pm

MON:

Brighton vs Liverpool 8:00pm

Tue:

C'Palace  vs Wolves     8:00pm

Man City vs Bournemouth 8:00pm

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 36 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Lobi Stars 2 Nasarawa United 1

Japhet Kundushima-Lobi (4th min)

Shina Kumater--Nasarawa (47th min)

Anas Yusuf-Nasarawa (58th min)

*Ikorodu City 3 Bayelsa United 2

Nwanna Okechukwu-Ikorodu (2nd min)

Tosin Oyedokun (Own goal, 10th min)

Tosin Oyedokun-Ikorodu (19th min)

Auwal Sadiq-Bayelsa (25th min)

Shola Adelani-Ikorodu (52nd min)

*Enyimba 2 Kwara United 0

Brown Ideye (12th, 45th min)

*Shooting Stars 1 Sunshine Stars 0

Ikouwem Utin (88th min, pen)

*El-Kanemi Warriors 2 Remo Stars 0

Ismail Mukhar (54th min)

Samuel Ajiji (60th min)

*Heartland 2 Plateau United 0

Suraju Lawal (18th, 75th min)

*Katsina United 1 Kano Pillars 0

Abdulbari Nura (42nd min)

*Rivers United 1 Enugu Rangers 0

Samson Obi (45+2 min)

*Niger Tornadoes 1 Abia Warriors 1

Mohammed Hussaini-Tornadoes (50th min)

Saidu Idris-Own goal (90+3min)

*Bendel Insurance 1 Akwa United 0

Meyinwa Oritseweyinmi (53rd min)

Caption:

Brown Ideye, nets all goals for Enyimba against Kwara United in Aba.

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 36 FIXTURES

May 7, 2025:

Lobi Stars vs Nasarawa United 3:00pm

El-Kanemi Warriors vs Remo Stars 3:00pm

Heartland  vs Plateau United 4:00pm

Katsina United vs Kano Pillars 4:00pm

Rivers United vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm

Niger Tornadoes vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm

Enyimba   vs Kwara United 4:00pm

Shooting Stars vs Sunshine Stars 4:00pm

Bendel Insurance vs Akwa United 4:00pm

Ikorodu City vs Bayelsa United  5:30pm

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 35 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Kano Pillars 2 Rivers United 0

Ahmed Musa (64th min)

Rabiu Ali (76th min, pen)

*Remo Stars 1 Niger Tornadoes 0

Olamilekan Adedayo (84th min)

*Kwara United 4 Lobi Stars 0

Alalade Wasiu (1st min)

Junior Aimufua (12th, 81st min)

Ismail Gata (89th min)

*Abia Warriors 3 Shooting Stars 1

Adejoh Ojonugwa-Warriors (7th min)

Ijoma Anthony-Warriors (19th min)

Sunday Megwo-Warriors (50th min)

Alex Aghahowa-Shooting (57th min)

*Akwa United 2 Ikorodu City 1

Uche Sabastine-Akwa (31st min)

Wisdom Ubani-Ikorodu (19th min)

Osoba Kabir-Akwa Utd (76th min)

*Sunshine Stars 2 Katsina United 0

Waheed Adebayo (71st, 90+4min)

*Bayelsa United 2 El-Kanemi Warriors 1

Mustapha Jawad-Bayelsa (19th min, pen)

El-Kanemi equaliser

Eyong Ofem-Bayelsa (89th min)

*Enugu Rangers 1 Enyimba 2

Innocent Okey-Enyimba (21st min)

Ekene Awazie-Enyimba (26th min)

Chiedozie Okorie-Rangers (66th min)

*Plateau United 2 Bendel Insurance 1

Sadiq Adamu-Plateau (17th, 49th min)

Stanley Okoroma-Insurance (90+1 min)

*Nasarawa United 1 Heartland 0

Anas Yusuf (45+1 min)

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 35 FIXTURES

April 25:

Kano Pillars vs Rivers Utd 4:00pm

April 27:

Nasarawa Utd vs Heartland 3:00pm

Kwara Utd    vs Lobi Stars 4:00pm

Abia Warriors vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm

Bayelsa Utd    vs El-Kanemi Warriors 4:00pm

Akwa Utd     vs Ikorodu City 4:00pm

Sunshine Stars vs Katsina Utd 4:00pm

Plateau Utd   vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm

Enugu Rangers vs Enyimba 4:00pm

Remo Stars       vs Niger Tornadoes 5:30pm

........................

EPL MATCHDAY 34 FIXTURES

April 26:

Chelsea  vs Everton 12:30pm

Newcastle vs Ipswich 3:00pm

Southampton vs Fulham 3:00pm

Wolves      vs Leicester 3:00pm

Brighton   vs West Ham 3:00pm

SUN:

Bournemouth vs Man Utd 2:00pm

Liverpool vs Tottenham 4:30pm

THURS:

Nottm Forest vs Brentford 7:30pm

Joshua left with one or three fights before retirement, says Eddie Hearn

Anthony Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has suggested that the former world heavyweight champion could have anywhere between one and three fights left in his illustrious career.

The Watford powerhouse hasn't stepped between the ropes since suffering a fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September.

AJ was initially planning to return to the ring in May or June; however, an undisclosed upper body injury means he is yet to restart training properly.

As a result, Joshua's handlers are unable to pin down an exact date for his comeback.

“The next decision is really important, he’s got anywhere between one and three fights left," Hearn told the Independent.

"We’ve got to get it right, but he is 100 per cent fighting this year.

“He is definitely fighting in 2025, when I don’t really know because he’s probably got about two weeks before we can go back to training and start punching properly.

"That’s been the problem for him, but once he does that we can start thinking about a realistic date.

“We’re not really in any rush because the decision is so important. Obviously, in a dream scenario, Mr [Tyson] Fury just wakes up one morning and goes, ‘Yeah, we’ll give everyone the biggest fight in boxing.' 

“Probably calls AJ and then they get a deal done on the phone, in five minutes.

"But, we can’t operate on that basis, so right now we are just looking to meet up in a couple of weeks and go through the options.”

If Joshua returns to full training in May, then Hearn affirms that a fight in August or September is realistic.

Recently retired Tyson Fury remains the main target, although the former two-time heavyweight champion is not short of options.

Hearn told talkSPORT.com in March that Joseph Parker, Deontay Wilder, Martin Bakole, Agit Kabayel, and Dubois also remain outsiders to box Joshua next.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.com he said: "Daniel Dubois still [is the back up].

"In an ideal world, he will fight Fury, if not Dubois.

"There is also Joseph Parker, who I think would be a great fight, there is Agit Kabayel and Deontay Wilder, obviously, His Excellency (Alalshikh) has stated he would love to see that fight.

"We will have to see, but really the talks are imminent with AJ now to lock in that opponent for the summer."

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 34 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Katsina Utd 5 Abia Warriors 1

Mubarak Sa'id-Katsina (2nd min)

Anthony Ijoma-Abia (11th min)

Bello Lukman-Katsina (3rd, 59th min)

Abdulbari Nura-Katsina (56th min)

Abdul Taofeek-Katsina (90th -1min)

*Enyimba 2 Kano Pillars 1

Joseph Atule-Enyimba (35th min)

Brown Ideye-Enyimba (48th min)

Naibe Akpesiri-Pillars (81st min)

*Lobi Stars  2 Enugu Rangers 4

Godwin Obaje-Rangers (63rd min)

*Bendel Insurance 1 Nasarawa Utd 1

Abubakar Garba-Nasarawa (42nd min)

Michael Enaruna-Insurance (74th min)

*Niger Tornadoes 1 Bayelsa Utd 1

Peter Williams-Tornadoes (38th min, pen)

Rabiu Abdullahi-Bayelsa (79th min)

*Heartland 0 Kwara Utd 0

*El-Kanemi Warriors 1 Ikorodu City 1

Emmanuel Solomon-Ikorodu (41st min)

Sama'ila Bello-El-Kanemi (45th min)

*Rivers Utd 1 Sunshine Stars 0

Suleiman Abba (84th min)

*Shooting Stars 0 Remo Stars 1

Alex Oyowah (30th min)

*Plateau Utd 1 Akwa Utd 0

Vincent Temitope (22nd min)

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 33 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Bayelsa Utd 3 Shooting Stars 0

Ogba Ifeanyi (27th min)

Magbisa Wisdom (40th min)

Kehinde Lawal (46th min)

*Enugu Rangers 0 Heartland 2

Suraju Lawal (21st min)

Isaac Nassy (58th min)

*Sunshine Stars 2 Enyimba 1

Elmer Arunta-Sunshine (8th min)

Christian Nnaji-Enyimba (28th min)

Waheed Adebayo-Sunshine (41st min)

*Nasarawa Utd 3 Plateau Utd 2

Anas Yusuf-Nasarawa (22nd min)

Leonard Ugochukwu-Nasarawa (54th, 74th min)

Vincent Temitope-Plateau (58th min)

Pam Samuel-Plateau (90+4min)

*Abia Warriors 2 Rivers Utd 0

Emmanuel Ogbuagu (45+1min)

Anthony Ijoma (76th min)

*Remo Stars 0 Katsina Utd 0

*Kwara Utd 0 Bendel Insurance 1

Kayode Solomon (36th min)

*Ikorodu City 3 Niger Tornadoes 0

Ayomide Cole (70th, 90+3min)

Shola Adelani (83rd min)

*Akwa Utd 1 El-Kanemi 1

Osoba Kabir-Akwa Utd (19th min)

Wisdom Ndon-El-Kanemi (73rd min, own goal)

*Kano Pillars 2 Lobi Stars 0

Ahmed Musa (54th min)

Naziru Auwalu (90+3min)

Caption:

Ahmed Musa on song for Kano Pillars last Sunday against Lobi Stars.

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 33 FIXTURES

April 11:

Bayelsa Utd vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm

April 13:

Enugu Rangers vs Heartland 3:00pm

Nasarawa Utd vs Plateau Utd 4:00pm

Kano Pillars   vs Lobi Stars 4:00pm

Sunshine Stars vs Enyimba  4:00pm

Abia Warriors  vs Rivers Utd 4:00pm

Remo Stars     vs Katsina Utd 4:00pm

Akwa Utd      vs El-Kanemi   4:00pm

Ikorodu City  vs Niger Tornadoes 5:30pm

Kwara Utd  vs Bendel Insurance 5:30pm

........................

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 32 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Enyimba 2 Abia Warriors 1

Ijoma Desouza-Warriors (20th min)

Kalu Nweke-Enyimba (35th min)

Joseph Atule-Enyimba (66th min)

*Katsina Utd 1 Bayelsa Utd 1

Rabiu Abdullahi-Bayelsa (44th min)

Bello Lukman-Katsina (77th min)

*Heartland 2 Kano Pillars 0

Samuel Agu (39, 77th min)

*Niger Tornadoes 2 El-Kanemi 0

Mohammed Hussaini (33rd min)

Ahmed Family (90+12min, pen)

*Bendel Insurance 0 Enugu Rangers 0

*Plateau United 0 Kwara United 0

*Shooting Stars 0 Ikorodu City 0

*Lobi Stars 1 Sunshine Stars 1

Ahmadu Liman -Sunshine (9th min)

Johnmark Aule -Lobi Stars (55th min)

*Nasarawa Utd 2 Akwa Utd 0

Leonard Ugochukwu (2nd min)

Abubakar Garba (85th min)

*Rivers Utd 1 Remo Stars 0

David Sholumade (84th min)

EPL MATCHDAY 31 FIXTURES

April 5, 2025

Everton vs Arsenal          12:30pm

C'Palace vs Brighton        3:00pm

Ipswich Town vs Wolves   3:00pm

West Ham  vs B'nemouth  3:00pm

Aston Villa vs Nottm Forest 5:30pm

SUN:

Tottenham vs Southampton 2:00pm

Brentford  vs Chelsea 2:00pm

Fulham     vs Liverpool 2:00pm

Man Utd   vs Man City  4:30pm

MON:

Leicester vs Newcastle 8:00pm

2024/25 NPFL MATCHDAY 32 FIXTURES

April 5, 2025

Lobi Stars vs Sunshine Stars 4:00pm

Bendel Insurance vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm

SUN:

Plateau Utd vs Kwara Utd 4:00pm

Niger Tornadoes vs El-Kanemi 4:00pm

Enyimba vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm

Nasarawa Utd vs Akwa Utd 4:00pm

Rivers Utd   vs Remo Stars 4:00pm

Katsina Utd  vs Bayelsa Utd 4:00pm

Heartland  vs Kano Pillars  4:00pm

Shooting Stars vs Ikorodu City 5:30pm

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 31 RESULTS, SCORERS

*El-Kanemi Warriors 2 Shooting Stars 0

Gideon Monday-Shooting (35th min)

Sadiq Ibrahim-Shooting (45+2min)

Daniel Barnabas-El-Kanemi (50th min)

Suleiman Alabi-El-Kanemi (81st min)

*Abia Warriors 2 Lobi Stars 0

Sunday Megwo (25th min)

Anthony Ijoma (90+2min)

*Bayelsa United 1 Rivers United 0

 Kehinde Lawal (13th min)

*Kano Pillars 0 Bendel Insurance 0

 

*Kwara United 1 Nasarawa United 0

Lawal Abayomi (64th min)

*Sunshine Stars 0 Heartland  0

*Remo Stars 2 Enyimba 0

Olamilekan Adedayo (28th min)

Samson Olasupo (69th min)

*Akwa United 2 Niger Tornadoes 0

Ifeanyi Okoye (44th min, Own goal)

Mare Abson   (69th min)

*Enugu Rangers 1 Plateau Utd 0

Samuel Kalu (73rd min)

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 30 RESULTS, SCORERS

 *Nasarawa Utd 1 Enugu Rangers 0

Kabiru Balogun (90th min, pen)

*Katsina Utd 3 El-Kanemi Warriors 0

Moses Effiong (39th min)

Bello Lukman (70th min, pen)

Abdul Taofeek (76th min)

*Shooting Stars 3 Niger Tornadoes 1

Ayodeji Bamidele-Shooting (38th min)

Okachi Anthony-Shooting (43rd min)

Sunday Williams-Tornadoes (66th min)

Okon Samuel-Shooting (79th min)

*Heartland 0 Abia Warriors 1

Ojonugwa Adejoh (81st min)

*Kwara United 0 Akwa United 2

Osoba Kabir (26th min)

Uche Sabastine (73rd min)

*Plateau United 2 Kano Pillars 1

Jerry Alex-Pillars (31st min)

Pam Samuel-Plateau (58th min)

Gafar Saka-Plateau  (77th min)

*Rivers Utd 1 Ikorodu City 0

Stephen Egbe (90+6min)

*Bendel Insurance 2 Sunshine Stars 0

Kayode Solomon (20th min)

*Enyimba 1 Bayelsa Utd 1

Ekene Awazie-Enyimba (8th min)

Ogba Ifeanyi-Bayelsa (9th min)

*Remo Stars  vs Lobi Stars (pp)

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 29 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Enugu Rangers 3 Kwara United 0

Chiedozie Okorie (1st min)

Isaac Saviour (29th min)

Frank Uwumiro (62nd min)

*Niger Tornadoes 1 Katsina United 0

Peter Williams (85th min)

*Kano Pillars 1 Nasarawa United 1

Auwalu Malam-Pillars (18th min)

Idris Ajiya-Nasarawa (68th min)

*El-Kanemi Warriors 1 Rivers United 2

Taofeek Otaniyi-Rivers Utd (47th min)

Samson Obi-Rivers Utd (61st min)

Risilanu Ismail-El-Kanemi (90th min)

*Akwa United 2 Shooting Stars 0

Ebedebiri Eddy (61st min)

Uche Sabastine (68th min)

*Abia Warriors 1 Bendel Insurance 0

Sunday Megwo (42nd min)

*Remo Stars 2 Heartland 0

Olamilekan Adedayo (31st min)

Samson Olasupo (80th min)

*Bayelsa United 1 Lobi Stars 0

Magbisa Wisdom (55th min)

*Ikorodu City 2 Enyimba 0

Tosin Oyedokun-Ikorodu (41st min)

Mojeeb Odufeso-Enyimba (66th min)

Joseph Atule-Enyimba (73rd min)

Ayomide Cole-Ikorodu (90+7min)

*Sunshine Stars 2 Plateau United 2

Vincent Temitope--Plateau Utd (8th min)

Stephen Chukwude-Sunshine (18th min)

Sabbath Mancha--Plateau Utd (30th min)

Anthony Nwadioha-Own goal (67th min)

NPFL 2024/25 MATCHDAY 28 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Katsina United 1 Shooting Stars 0

Ahmed AbdulTaofik (90+7min)

* Plateau United 1 Abia Warriors 0

Olawale Doyeni (54th min, pen)

*Kwara United 2 Kano Pillars 0

Wasiu Alalade (20th min, pen)

Wasiu Jimoh   (52nd min)

*Bendel Insurance 2 Remo Stars 1

Meyinwa Oritseweyinmi-Insurance (2nd, 55th min)

Arinze Anakwe-Remo Stars (82nd min)

*Enyimba 1 El-Kanemi Warriors 0

Joseph Atule (29th min)

*Enugu Rangers 1 Akwa United 1

Osoba Kabir-Akwa Utd (24th min)

Isaac Saviour-Rangers (48th min)

*Nasarawa Utd 1 Sunshine Stars 1

Idris Ajiya-Nasarawa (5th min)

Ahmadu Liman-Sunshine (36th min)

*Rivers United 1 Niger Tornadoes 0

Samson Obi (83rd min)

*Lobi Stars 0 Ikorodu City 1

Shola Adelani (81st min)

*Heartland 1 Bayelsa United 1

Issa Yusuf-Bayelsa (54th min)

Suraju Lawal-Heartland (60th min)

Caption: 

Kwara United's Wasiu Alalade, dazzles during a league game, he was on song last Sunday against Kano Pillars in Ilorin.

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 28 FIXTURES

March 8:

Rivers United  vs Niger Tornadoes 3:00pm

Bendel Insurance vs Remo Stars    4:00pm

Lobi Stars             vs Ikorodu City 4:00pm

SUN:

Plateau United vs Abia Warriors 3:00pm

Kwara United vs Kano Pillars 4:00pm

Enyimba         vs El-Kanemi Warriors 4:00pm

Nasarawa Utd  vs Sunshine Stars 4:00pm

Enugu Rangers vs Akwa United 4:00pm

Heartland        vs Bayelsa Utd  5:30pm

RESULT: Katsina United 1 Shooting Stars 0

Ahmed Abdultaofik (90+7min) 

EPL MATCHDAY 28 FIXTURES

March 8, 2025

Nottm Forest vs Man City 1:30pm

C'Palace        vs Ipswich 4:00pm

Liverpool vs Southampton 4:00pm

Brighton   vs Fulham         4:00pm

Brentford    vs Aston Villa 6:30pm

Wolves       vs Everton     9:00pm

SUN:

Tottenham  vs Bournemouth 3:00pm

Chelsea      vs Leicester City 3:00pm

Man Utd    vs Arsenal           5:30pm

MON:

West Ham Utd vs Newcastle 9:00pm

NPFL 2024/25 MATCHDAY 27 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Sunshine Stars 4 Kwara United 2

Ahmadu Liman-Sunshine (11th min)

Adeshina Issa Gata-Kwara (22nd min)

Wasiu Alalade-Kwara (27th min)

Own goal-Sunshine (32nd min)

Ahmadu Liman-Sunshine (45+1min)

Ahmadu Liman-Sunshine (47th min)

*Abia Warriors 1 Nasarawa United 1

Sunday Megwo-Warriors (36th min)

Garba Mohammed-Nasarawa (41st min)

*Bayelsa United 2 Bendel Insurance 1

Kayode Solomon-Insurance (36th min)

James Emo-Bayelsa (45+2min)

Bina Tombiri-Bayelsa (64th min)

*Niger Tornadoes 0 Enyimba 1

Joseph Atule (62nd min)

*Kano Pillars 1 Enugu Rangers 1

Bashir Usman-Rangers (33rd min, pen)

Rabiu Ali-Pillars (42nd min, pen)

Jerry Alex-Pillars (60th min)

*Remo Stars 1 Plateau United 0

Samson Olasupo (74th min)

*Ikorodu City 2 Heartland 0

Leonard Ngenge (9th min)

Ayomide Cole (58th min)

*Akwa United 1 Katsina United 0

Uche Sebastine (20th min)

*El-Kanemi Warriors 1 Lobi Stars 0

Jonathan Jacob (52nd min)

*Shooting Stars 0 Rivers United 0

NPFL 2024/25 MATCHDAY 26 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Enyimba 1 Shooting Stars 1

Sodiq Ibrahim-Shooting (16th min)

Ekene Awazie-Enyimba (42nd min)

*Kwara United 0 Abia Warriors 0

*Plateau United 1 Bayelsa United 0

Umar Farouk (75th min)

*Heartland 0 El-Kanemi Warriors 0

*Kano Pillars 1 Akwa United 0

Rabiu Ali (83rd min, pen)

*Nasarawa United 1 Remo Stars 0

Anas Yusuf (25th min)

*Lobi Stars  0 Niger Tornadoes 2

Daniel Akanbek (45+1min)

Victor Okoro (66th min)

*Enugu Rangers 3 Sunshine Stars 0

Bashir Usman (25th min)

Joel Odoh (28th min)

Kingsley Maduforo (41st min)

*Rivers United 1 Katsina Utd 0 

Ubong Friday (17th min)

*Bendel Insurance 2 Ikorodu City 1

Stanley Okoroma-Insurance (52nd min)

Shola Adelani-Ikorodu (54th min)

Uche Collins-Insurance  (69th min)

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 27 FIXTURES

March 1, 2025:

Sunshine Stars vs Kwara United 4:00pm

SUN:

Kano Pillars vs Enugu Rangers  3:00pm

Bayelsa Utd vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm

Abia Warriors vs Nasarawa Utd 4:00pm

Niger Tornadoes  vs Enyimba    4:00pm

Ikorodu City   vs Heartland       4:00pm

Remo Stars   vs Plateau United 5:30pm

MON:

El-Kanemi Warriors vs Lobi Stars 3:00pm

Akwa United    vs Katsina United 3:00pm

Shooting Stars vs Rivers United     5:30pm

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 26 FIXTURES

Feb. 26

Kwara United vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm

Plateau Utd vs Bayelsa Utd 4:00pm

Heartland vs El-Kanemi Warriors 4:00pm

Enyimba   vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm

Kano Pillars vs Akwa United 4:00pm

Nasarawa Utd vsRemo Stars 4:00pm

Lobi Stars      vs Niger Tornadoes 4:00pm

Enugu Rangers vs Sunshine Stars 4:00pm

Feb. 27.

Rivers United vs Katsina Utd 4:00pm

Bendel Insurance vs Ikorodu City 5:30pm

EPL MATCHDAY 27 FIXTURES

Feb. 25, 2025:

Brighton vs Bournemouth 8:30pm

Wolves    vs Fulham          8:30pm

C'Palace  vs Ason Villa     8:30pm

Chelsea   vs Southampton 9:15pm

WED:

Tottenham   vs Man City   8:30pm

Nottm Forest vs Arsenal   8:30pm

Brentford       vs Everton  8:30pm

Man Utd        vs Ipswich   8:30pm

Liverpool       vs Newcastle 9:15pm

THURS:

West Ham   vs Leicester City 9:00pm

EPL MATCHDAY 26 FIXTURES

Feb. 21, 2025

Leicester City vs Brentford 9:00pm

SAT:

Everton         vs Man Utd 1:30pm

Ipswich Town vs Tottenham 4:00pm

Arsenal      vs West Ham      4:00pm

Bournemouth vs Wolves   4:00pm

Southampton vs Brighton 4:00pm 

Fulham           vs C'Palace 4:00pm

Aston Villa     vs Chelsea   6:30pm

SUN:

Newcastle    vs Nottm Forest 3:00pm

Man City      vs Liverpool      5:30pm

NPFL 2024/25 MATCHDAY 25 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Shooting Stars 2 Lobi Stars  2

Joshua Akpan-Shooting (18th min)

Sadiq Ibrahim-Shooting (52nd min)

Ossy Martins-Lobi Stars (34th, 45+2min)

*Katsina United 2 Enyimba 1

Bello Lukman-Katsina (41st, 50th min)

Ekene Awazie-Enyimba (90+2min, pen)

*Remo Stars 2 Kwara United  0

Arinze Anakwe (79th min)

Hadi Haruna (90+4 min)

*Abia Warriors 1 Enugu Rangers 0

Ijoma Desouza (43rd min)

* El-Kanemi Warriors 0 Bendel Insurance 0

*Sunshine Stars 1 Kano Pillars 1

Chigozie Iwundu -Sunshine (59th min)

*Niger Tornadoes 2 Heartland 1

Goal-Heartland (6th min)

Ismael Sarki-Tornadoes (59th, 89th min)

*Ikorodu City 2 Plateau United 1

Albert Hilary-Plateau (38th min)

Abdulmalik Olatunji-Ikorodu (74th min)

Tosin Oyedokun-Ikorodu (80th min)

*Bayelsa United 2 Nasarawa United 2

Nasarawa -(1st min, 45+2 min)

Rabiu Abdullahi-Bayelsa (38th min)

Ogba Ifeanyi-Bayelsa (90+8 min)

*Akwa United 1 Rivers United 1

Ubong Friday-Rivers Utd (8th min)

Akwa Utd- (52nd min)

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 25 FIXTURES

Feb. 19, 2025:

El-Kanemi Warriors vs Bendel Insurance 3:00pm

Sunshine Stars          vs Kano Pillars 4:00pm

Katsina United vs Enyimba 4:00pm

Bayelsa United vs Nasarawa United 4:00pm

Abia Warriors vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm

Akwa United vs Rivers United 4:00pm

Niger Tornadoes vs Heartland 4:00pm

Ikorodu City   vs Plateau United 5:30pm

Shooting Stars vs Lobi Stars    5:30pm

Feb 20:

Remo Stars    vs Kwara United  5:30pm

NPFL 2024/25 MATCHDAY 24 RESULTS, SCORERS

 *Enugu Rangers 2 Remo Stars    1 

Isaac Saviour-Rangers (30th min)

Kingsley Maduforo-Rangers (49th min)

Hadi Haruna-Remo (89th min)

*Heartland  2  Shooting Stars   1 

Chukwuma Agor-Heartland (30th min)

Adam Mustapha-Shooting (80th min, pen)

John Bassey-Heartland (88th min, pen)

*Bendel Insurance 3 Niger Tornadoes 0

Emiloju Julius (5th min)

Uche Collins (55th min)

Kayode Solomon (76th min)

*Kano Pillars 1 Abia Warriors 0

Mustapha Umar (42nd min)

*Enyimba       1 Rivers United   0 

Imo Obot (41st min)

*Kwara United 1 Bayelsa United 0

Wasiu Jimoh (78th min)

*Plateau United 2 El-Kanemi 0

Emmanuel Ihezuo (40th min)

Olawale Doyeni (80th min)

*Lobi Stars       1 Katsina United 1

Goal -Lobi (68th min)

Promise Damala-Katsina (86th min)

*Nasarawa Utd 0 Ikorodu City 0

*Sunshine Stars 1 Akwa United 0

Samuel Matthew (29th min)

Caption:

Wasiu Jimoh, nets Kwara United's winner against Bayelsa United last weekend at the Rashidi Yekini mainbowl of the George Innih Stadium, Ilorin.

City's Akanji undergoes surgery

 Manchester City defender, Manuel Akanji, will require surgery on a thigh injury and is expected to be absent for up to 10 weeks.

Switzerland international Akanji, 29, sustained the injury in Tuesday's 3-2 Champions League knockout phase play-off defeat by Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium.

"He has surgery on Saturday. Eight to 10 weeks out," manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.

The groin injury suffered by Jack Grealish in the same first-leg match is less serious. However, Guardiola said he does not think the England international will be available for Saturday's Premier League home game against Newcastle United.

On Grealish, Guardiola said: "It's not as tough as what Manu [Akanji] has done, but I don't know if he will be ready tomorrow.

"I don't think so, but we will assess him."

Akanji has started 20 of City's 24 Premier League games this season, among 30 appearances across all competitions.

City, who lost key defensive midfielder Rodri when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in September, are fifth in the Premier League - with last season's champions 16 points adrift of leaders 

Liverpool.

Akanji's injury comes after fellow defenders John Stones, Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias only recently returned from absences.

"We only wish the best recovery for Manu [Akanji]. The effort he has done this season has been unbelievable," Guardiola said.

"Him and Nathan [Ake] have played in difficult conditions. Help the team in [an] emergency. Helped in right-back.

"In the end the body said enough is enough."

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 24 FIXTURES

Feb. 15, 2025:

Kano Pillars vs Abia Warriors 3:00pm

Enyimba       vs Rivers United 3:00pm

Kwara United vs Bayelsa United 4:00pm

Plateau United vs El-Kanemi Warriors 4:00pm

Lobi Stars    vs Katsina United 4:00pm

Nasarawa Utd vs Ikorodu City 4:00pm

Sunshine Stars vs Akwa United 5:30pm

SUN:

Enugu Rangers vs Remo Stars 3:00pm

Heartland          vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm

Bendel Insurance vs Niger Tornadoes 5:30pm

EPL MATCHDAY 25 FIXTURES

Feb. 14, 2025

Brighton vs Chelsea 9:00pm

SAT:

Leicester    vs Arsenal   1:30pm

Southampton vs Bournemouth 4:00pm

Man City       vs Newcastle   4:00pm

West Ham vs Brentford 4:00pm

Aston Villa vs Ipswich   4:00pm

Fulham       vs Nottm Forest 4:00pm

C'Palace    vs Everton        6:30pm

SUN:

Liverpool    vs Wolves   3:00pm

Tottenham  vs Man Utd 5:30pm

NPFL 2024/25 MATCHDAY 23 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Niger Tornadoes 1 Plateau United 1

Papa Daniel-Tornadoes (59th min)

Samuel Kalu-Plateau Utd (88th min)

*Shooting Stars 1 Bendel Insurance 

Godwin Odibo (81st min)

*Akwa United 2 Enyimba 1

Ogunleye Olayemi-Akwa (26th min)

Isaah Mohammed Enyimba (39th min)

Uche Sabastine-Akwa (75th min)

*Rivers United 1 Lobi Stars 0

Timothy Zechariah (88th min)

*Bayelsa United 0 Enugu Rangers 0

*Abia Warriors 3 Sunshine Stars 0

Chigozie Iwundu (18th min, own goal)

Ijoma Desouza (36th, 90+2min)

*Ikorodu City 2 Kwara United 1

Junior Aimufua-Kwara Utd (2nd min)

Toyeeb Ajeyigbe--Ikorodu (7th min)

Shola Adelani-Ikorodu (64th min)

*El-Kanemi Warriors 1 Nasarawa United 0

Umar Al-Amin (29th min)

*Katsina United 1 Heartland 0

Mohammed Ibrahim (74th min)

*Remo Stars 2 Kano Pillars 1

Sikiru Alimi-Remo (5th min)

Ibrahim Aboubaker-Remo (40th min)

Abba Adam-Pillars (45+8min)

Agbonlahor defends EPL players on goal celebrations

Gabby Agbonlahor has defended Premier League players as chiefs consider implementing sanctions on celebrations.

Excessive celebrations have been a hot topic of late with Myles Lewis-Skelly imitating Erling Haaland’s signature move during Arsenal's 5-1 win over Manchester City last weekend.

The 18-year-old did not receive any punishment but the same cannot be said of Everton's Iliman Ndiaye against Brighton, who received a yellow card after he netted the winner and flapped his arms like a seagull.

The Premier League's chief football officer, Tony Scholes, said: “There's a balance. I think we all like to see celebrations. Some of the celebrations have been very funny, entertaining, but there's a line.

“Once it crosses over into mockery or criticism then we would need to deal with it.”

If the Premier League were to introduce celebration regulations they would be following in the footsteps of the NBA and NFL.

Tottenham beat Arsenal to record-breaking transfer for Irish wonderkid after deadline day

NFL referees have clamped down on prolonged celebrations, violent or offensive acts such as mimicking gunfire, sexually suggestive moves and taunting opponents.

This can result in an on-field punishment or a hefty fine.

Similar to the NBA where players can receive what is called a technical foul which comes after unsportsmanlike conduct.

Receiving two in a game will result in the player being ejected from the match permanently. 

Phil Foden and Joshua Zirkzee who have their own signature gun celebrations will be the most likely to receive punishment for celebrations if the PGMOL were to clamp down on them.

Jamie Vardy has also been known to ridicule rival fans as he did against Tottenham last month after pointing to the Premier League badge in mockery of Spurs’ lack of trophies.

He also imitated an Eagle after he scored against Crystal Palace in 2019 and did not receive a card.

talkSPORT host Agbonlahor used Vardy as an example when defending Premier League players over their celebrations.

The former Aston Villa striker said on talkSPORT Drive: "From playing the game and being one of those guys when they score, you celebrate in front of the away fans or home fans.

"Players get called every name under the sun by fans, Jamie Vardy for instance, he gets all sorts called to him, if he wants to run over to the Spurs fans and show them the Premier League badge...

"Just do what you want to do."

Agbonlahor continued to label the potential rule change as 'embarrassing' while Andy Goldstein added more on the topic.

Fellow talkSPORT host Goldstein said: "The only line that can be crossed is if something is offensive or has racist connotations.

"If someone scores and flaps their arms, let him flap his arms.

"If someone wants to sit on the floor and cross their legs like they're doing an Erling Haaland celebration, let them do it.

"It's called housery, it's called banter and it's what makes the world go round. It's doing no harm whatsoever."

One potential concern over the celebrations is that they may cause some unsavoury scenes on the pitch between players.

Usually, celebrations do not lead to players clashing on the pitch but that was not the case for Neal Maupay last season.

The Frenchman mocked James Maddison’s darts throw celebration which led to a passive-aggressive exchange with the two holding each other and slapping their chests.

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 23 FIXTURES

Feb 8:

Katsina United   vs Heartland   3:00pm

El-Kanemi          vs Nasarawa Utd     3:00pm

Remo Stars        vs Kano Pillars  4:00pm

Shooting Stars   vs Bendel Insurance 5:30pm

SUN:

Rivers United vs Lobi Stars 4:00pm

Akwa United vs Enyimba 4:00pm

Bayelsa United  vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm

Abia Warriors vs Sunshine Stars 4:00pm

Niger Tornadoes vs Plateau Utd 4:00pm

Ikorodu City   vs Kwara Utd    5:30pm

NPFL 2024/25 MATCHDAY 21 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Bayelsa United 4  Sunshine Stars 1

Ogba Ifeanyi-Bayelsa (15th, 68th min)

Waheed Adebayo-Sunshine (37th min)

Auwal Sadiq-Bayelsa (51st min)

Eyong Ofem-Bayelsa (90+5min)

*El-Kanemi Warriors 2 Enugu Rangers 1

Salihu Nasiru (18th, 73rd min)

Isaac Saviour-Rangers (63rd min)

*Akwa United 1 Lobi Stars 1

Onyekachi Okafor-Lobi (27th min)

Friday Apollos-Akwa (72nd min)

*Remo Stars 3 Abia Warriors 2

Ezekiel Ayodele-Abia (25th min)

Ijoma Desouza-Abia (26th min)

Olamilekan Adedayo-Remo Stars (38th min)

Jabbar Malik-Remo (45+1min)

Franck Mawuena-Remo (53rd min)

*Ikorodu City 4 Kano Pillars 1

Shola Adelani-Ikorodu (3rd min)

Austin Uzondu-Ikorodu (20th min)

Abba Adam--Pillars (44th min)

Rabiu Ali-Own goal (54th min)

Marvellous Freedom-Ikorodu (70th min)

*Shooting Stars 2 Nasarawa United 0

Tijani Kabiru (14th min)

Sadiq Ibrahim (82nd min)

*Enyimba 1 Heartland 1           

Daniel Ekpo-Heartland (18th min pen)

Joseph Atule-Enyimba   (55th min)

*Niger Tornadoes 2 Kwara United 1   

Ifeanyi Okechukwu-Tornadoes (2nd min)

Abdulrasheed Dabai-Tornadoes (86th min)

Kwara Utd's goal (90+2 min)   

*Katsina United 1 Plateau United 0 

Goal (90+5 min, pen)   

*Rivers United   2 Bendel Insurance 2 

Meyinwa Oritseweyinmi-Bendel (6th min)

Uche Collins-Bendel (49th min)

Ubong Friday-Rivers Utd (34th, 51st min)

NPFL 2024/25 MATCHDAY 22 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Sunshine Stars 1 Remo Stars 2

Alex Oyowah-Remo (9th min)

Auwalu Abubakar-Remo (28th min)

Samuel Matthew-Sunshine (67th min)

*Plateau United  1 Shooting Stars 1

Tijani Kabiru-Shooting (74th min)

Albert Hilary-Plateau Utd (76th min)

*Kano Pillars 0 Bayelsa United 0

*Nasarawa United 2 Niger Tornadoes 0

Anas Yusuf (3rd min pen, 71st min)

*Lobi Stars 0 Enyimba 1

Ifeanyi Ihemekwele (40th min)

*Enugu Rangers 2 Ikorodu City 0

Godwin Obaje (45th min)

Isaac Saviour  (89th min)

*Heartland 2 Rivers United 0

Christian Molokwu (62nd, 74th min)

*Abia Warriors 2 Akwa United 0

Ijoma Desouza (26th min)

Samuel Christian (90+3 min)

*Bendel Insurance 1 Katsina United 0

Emiloju Julius (26th min)

*Kwara United 2 El-Kanemi Warriors 0 

Wasiu Alalade (39th min)

Wasiu Jimoh (89th min)

Caption: 

Shooting Stars' Tijani Kabiru, in a world of his own during Sunday's NPFL matchday 22 clash with Plateau United. His goal was cancelled out by Albert Hilary.

EPL MATCHDAY 24 FIXTURES

Feb. 1, 2025:

Nottm Forest vs Brighton     1:30pm

Everton          vs Leicester City 4:00pm

Bournemouth vs Liverpool   4:00pm

Newcastle       vs Fulham     4:00pm

Ipswich Town vs Southampton 4:00pm

Wolves          vs Aston Villa 4:00pm

SUN:

Man United vs Crystal Palace 3:00pm

Brentford    vs Tottenham       3:00pm

Arsenal        vs Man City         5:30pm

MON:

Chelsea       vs West Ham     9:00pm

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 21 FIXTURES

Jan. 29.

Bayelsa United          vs Sunshine Stars 2:00pm

El-Kanemi Warriors vs Enugu Rangers 3:00pm

Akwa United             vs Lobi Stars         4:00pm

Remo Stars               vs Abia Warriors   4:00pm

Ikorodu City           vs Kano Pillars         4:00pm

Shooting Stars       vs Nasarawa United  5:30pm

Jan. 30.

Enyimba                 vs Heartland         4:00pm

Niger Tornadoes    vs Kwara United   4:00pm

Katsina United       vs Plateau United     4:00pm

Rivers United         vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm

NPFL 2024/25 MATCHDAY 20 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Sunshine Stars 4 Ikorodu City 3

Ahmadu Liman-Sunshine (16th min)

Promise Awosanmi-Sunshine (21st, 34th, 74th min)

Shola Adelani-Ikorodu (45+1min, 66th min)

Emmanuel Solomon-Ikorodu (90+3min)

*Nasarawa Utd 1 Katsina Utd 0

Qamar Adegoke (34th min)

*Enugu Rangers 1 Niger Tornadoes 2

Ismael Sarki-Tornadoes (17th min)

Collins Ugwueze-Rangers (21st min)

Ifeanyi Okechukwu-Tornadoes (64th min)

*Abia Warriors 1 Bayelsa United 0

Sunday Megwo (4th min)

*Akwa United 1 Remo Stars 2

Uche Sebastine-Akwa Utd (6th min)

Arinze Anakwe -Remo (74th min)

Olamilekan Adedayo--Remo (85th min)

*Heartland  1 Lobi Stars 0

John Bassey (57th min)

*Plateau United 2 Rivers United 1

Olawale Doyeni--Plateau (21st min)

Ndifreke Effiong-Rivers Utd (87th min)

Emmanuel Ihezuo-Plateau (90+4min)

*Kwara United     2 Shooting Stars          0

Muhammad Kabiru (22nd min)

Abdullahi Ojifinni       (57th min)

*Kano Pillars  2 El-Kanemi Warriors 1

Rabiu Ali-Pillars (62nd min)

Umar Al-Amin-El-kanemi (65th min, pen)

Rashid Alhassan-Pillars (90th min)

*Bendel Insurance 1 Enyimba                    0  

Kayode Oke (55th min)   

Djokovic unsure of Australian Open return

Novak Djokovic says he will return to the Australian Open next year if he is still "fit, healthy and motivated", reports BBC Sport.

The 37-year-old Serb, aiming for a record-extending 11th men's singles title, retired injured from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev on Friday.

He raised both thumbs in the air towards the 15,000 fans as he left Rod Laver Arena - which he has often described as his "second home".

Asked if it might be his final appearance at Melbourne Park, Djokovic said. "I don't know. There is a chance. Who knows? I'll just have to see how the season goes.

"I want to keep going. But whether I'm going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I'm not sure."

It is the second successive year that Djokovic has lost in the Melbourne semi-finals.

Djokovic has stripped back his schedule in recent seasons and prioritised being ready for the biggest tournaments - namely the four Grand Slams.

The former world number one continues to seek a 25th Slam to move clear of Australia's Margaret Court, who won 24 women's singles titles between 1960 and 1973.

The Australian Open is where Djokovic has enjoyed most of Grand Slam success followed by Wimbledon, where he has won seven titles.

He has also won three French Open and four US Open titles.

"I normally like to come to Australia to play," seventh seed Djokovic added.

"I've had the biggest success in my career here. So if I'm fit, healthy, motivated, I don't see a reason why I wouldn't come.

"But there's always a chance [it is the last time]."

...Booed off by fans at Aussie Open

Novak Djokovic was booed off court by some Australian Open fans after retiring injured from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev.

Djokovic, who was bidding for a record-extending 11th title, quit after losing the first set 7-6 (7-5) in 80 minutes.

The 37-year-old Serb had his upper left leg heavily taped after injuring it in Tuesday's quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz.

"I did everything I possibly could do to manage the muscle tear that I had," said Djokovic, who was also aiming for an all-time standalone record of 25 major titles.

"Towards the end of that first set I just started feeling more and more pain.

"It was too much to handle for me."

After he slapped a volley into the net on set point, seventh seed Djokovic immediately approached Zverev and shook his hand.

He waved to the crowd and gave them a double thumbs up, despite audible boos from some sections inside Rod Laver Arena.

Asked by Serbian media, external about the reaction, Djokovic said: "I don't know what to say.

"People have come and paid for the tickets expecting a great match and a big fight, which they didn't get.

"From that perspective, I can understand. I am doing my best to understand them, but I am not sure whether they understand me or if they even want to."

German second seed Zverev is still bidding for his first Grand Slam title after twice losing in major finals.

He will face world number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner in Sunday's final after the Italian beat Ben Shelton.

From the moment Djokovic lunged for a drop-shot towards the end of the first set against Alcaraz and immediately grimaced to his box, there have been questions over his fitness.

Djokovic, as he has on countless occasions in his stellar career, somehow managed to defy the injury to earn a remarkable win against the 21-year-old.

But doubts remained how equipped he would be to play Zverev.

"I knew even if I won the first set, that it's going to be a huge uphill battle for me to stay physically fit enough to stay with him," added Djokovic.

"I don't think I had that in the tank."

Djokovic had not practised at Melbourne Park since Tuesday night's victory, cancelling a planned hit on Thursday before spending an hour warming up on court shortly before the semi-final.

Djokovic did not practise between matches during his 2023 title run and later revealed he had a three centimetre tear in his hamstring.

He also won the 2021 title despite tearing an abdominal muscle in the third round.

"The very first thing I want to say is, please guys, don't boo when a player is injured," said Zverev, addressing the crowd in his on-court interview.

"I know everyone paid for tickets and wants to see a five-set match but

you have to understand Novak Djokovic is someone who has given absolutely everything to tennis.

"He has won this title with an abdominal tear, he has won this title with a hamstring tear.

"If he cannot continue this match, it means he really cannot continue."

Former Australian player John Millman, working at Melbourne Park as a television summariser, said the crowd's reaction showed a "total lack of respect".

He added in a post on X: "Novak getting booed off is a disgrace. Classless."

Caption: Djokovic in action.