Iheanacho leads Adidas Golden Shoe race with 5 goals

GOLDEN Eaglets' Kelechi Iheanacho on Tuesday brightened his dream of emerging the Adidas Golden Shoe winner of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates after scoring his fifth goal of the competition in Nigeria 4-1 win over Iran in a Round of 16 game.
Iheanacho, who netted four times in Nigeria's 6-1 win over defending champions, Mexico in the opening fired blank in the last two games against Sweden and Iraq.
He however, scored Nigeria 's second goal against a stingy Iranian side when his clinical grounder off a cross from Taiwo Awoniyi beat goalkeeper Mahdi Amini in the 25th minute.
Iheanacho's goal came two minutes after defender Samuel Okon had scored the curtain raiser through a low diagonal pass.
Interestingly, another Nigerian wonder kid, Musa Yahaya is in the race for the Golden Shoe after scoring four goals in the competition.
Yahaya, who assisted Okon to score the first goal scored Nigeria's fourth goal in the 76th minute when he out of sheer brilliance outpaced two Iranian defenders before he unleashed a grounder which caught Amini helpless.
Captain of the Eaglets, Musa Muhammed also scored his second goal of the championship through a
solo effort which he sensationally capped with a blinder at the edge of the box for Nigeria's third goal.
The first time a Nigerian player emerged the Golden Shoe winner of the cadet World Cup was at
Japan '93 when Wilson Oruma, who also captained the Golden Eaglets finished with six goals ahead of teammate, Nwankwo Kanu who scored five goals.
Chrisantus Macaulay equalled Oruma's feat in 2007 when he claimed the Golden Shoe award with
seven goals to also inspire the Nigerian team to capture the cadet mundial for the third time.
Meanwhile, Iheanacho is battling for the Golden Boot award also alongside Brazilian striker, Mosquito with four goals in the kitty.
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General Manager bemoans ABS relegation

General Manager of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC, Alloy Chukwuemeka has described the relegation of the team from the Globacom Premier League as a temporary setback.
"The relegation of the club is very unfortunate and sad considering the personal efforts our boss Senator Saraki put in to sustain the team for three seasons in top flight football.
"I think we were victims of a bad system as well as other environmental factors that don't support private sector participation in top flight football but I'm sure we will bounce back soonest," said ACc as he is fondly called by his admirers.
He stated that the team will consolidate the structure already in place to perform well in the Nigeria National League and regain its slot in the elite cadre.
"Our team is intact for next season though, we have created an enabling environment for our players to remain as one big family. The management and the players have met and resolved to remain with the team in order to actualise the objective of the club to return to the Globacom Premier league as soon as possible," said Chukwuemeka who is also the secretary of the Club Owners in Nigeria.

Caption of the photo above: Kelechi Iheanacho gunning for the Golden Shoe award with five goals.

Globacom Premier League Update: Seven-goal thriller in Ilorin

UNDER a closed-door, only a handful of people made up of  journalists, football officials as well as medics could witness the seven-goal thriller today (Wednesday) at the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin as Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC mauled Nembe City of Bayelsa 6-1 in a Globacom Premier League Week 37 game.
It turned out to be a Sallah gift to their darling teeming fans compelled to remain at their various homes to monitor the result via available means especially through social media following the ruling of the league authorities.
AbduRahman Bashir and Kadiri Aminu scored two goals each with Zenke Thomas and Ibrahim
Abdullahi completing the routing of the Nembe lads who got a consolatory goal through Frank Egharevba in the 80th minute.
Team Manager of ABS, Alloy Chukwuemeka expressed hope that his team will maintain its tradition through Sunday's last match of the season against Warri Wolves in Warri.
"The race is not yet over and we are hoping that our players will reenact this form in Warri that will enable us to come out with the result that we need to remain in the premier league next season. Everybody in the team is very hopeful and today's result is a morale booster for us," ACC as he is fondly called by his admirers said.
A five-star performance by Sunshine Stars ended the title race of Enyimba FC as they left Akure Stadium with a 0-2 defeat. Auta Philip scored through a spot-kick before half time while a glancing header by Ebenezer Odunlami's in the 80th minute off a free-kick ensured the People's Elephant left Akure empty-handed on the day they needed an away victory badly.
Gambo Muhammad's first half goal gave Kano Pillars a one nil victory over Dolphins at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja to brighten their chances of retaining the title they won last season having garnered 63 points with a game left against relegation-haunted Lobi Stars.
Bayelsa United rallied to a 2-1 win over Kwara United to remain second on the log with 61 points.
Samuel Akinbinu scored twice in the 16th and 21st minute for Shooting Stars Sports Club to help the team secure a 2-0 win over Warri Wolves at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan but the effort was not good enough to move the position of the Oluyole warlords from the last on the log.
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Globacom Premier League table, matches played and points

1 Kano Pillars         37   63

2 Bayelsa United    37   61

3 El-Kanemi        37   60

4 Enyimba            37   59

5 Rangers             37   55

6 Sharks              37   53

7 Warri Wolves     37   52

8 Heartland        37   52

9 Sunshine Stars   37   52

10 Gombe United    37   52

11 Dolphins        37   50

12 Akwa United     37   50

13 ABS             37   50

14 Kaduna United   37   50

15 Kwara United    37   49

16 Nasarawa Utd    37   49

17 Lobi Stars      37   49

18 Nembe City      37   49

19 Wikki Tourists  37   49

20 Shooting Stars  37   46
........

Globacom Premier League Week 37 results:

Heartland        2         Rangers               1
Sharks            3         Nasarawa Utd     1
Sunshine         2         Enyimba               0
ABS              6          Nembe City        1
3SC               2         Warri Wolves       0
Akwa Utd      3         Kaduna Utd        2
Bayelsa Utd    2        Kwara Utd          1
Wikki            1         Gombe Utd         0
Kano Pillars   1        Dolphins              0
El-Kanemi    1         Lobi Stars            0
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Week 38 fixtures, October 20

Nasarawa Utd     vs Heartland
Enyimba          vs Sharks
Nembe City       vs Sunshine Stars
Warri Wolves     vs ABS
Kaduna Utd       vs 3SC
Kwara Utd        vs Akwa United
Gombe Utd        vs Bayelsa Utd
Dolphins         vs Wikki Tourists
Lobi Stars       vs Kano Pillars
Rangers          vs El-Kanemi Warriors
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Caption: AbduRahman Bashir of ABS, who got a brace against Nembe City.

Globacom Premier League Update: Okorocha to witness Oriental war as Heartland, Rangers clash

GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State would be at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri tomorrow (Wednesday) as Heartland FC tackle Rangers of Enugu in a Globacom Premier League Week 37 game.
Media Officer of the Naze Millionaires, Cajetan Nkwopara said deputy governor, Prince Eze Madumere after holding a meeting with members of the club disclosed the intention of Okorocha to watch the team's last home game of the season.
Rangers are in dire need of three points to brighten their chances of securing one of the continental tickets for 2014 as Heartland with 49 points equally need victory to escape relegation with an away game left.
Cash-strapped Heartland perhaps will not want to disappoint Okorocha this time knowing full well that only a win could impress the governor to annouce a lifeline for them after the game.
Skipper Chinedu Efugh speaking ahead of the oriental war said there is no hiding place for the Flying Antelopes in Owerri.
"We need this match than Rangers, they are eyeing the continental ticket but we are condemned to win in order to retain our slot in the premier league. It is surprising that we could end up in the middle of the table despite our impressive performance this season," said Efugh, a former Rangers captain.
Heartland who are battling their employers over unpaid sign-on fees lost 1-3 to Sharks in their last game in Port Harcourt. The team after the oriental battle are left with a game at Lafia against Nasarawa United billed for Sunday October 20.
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Globacom Premier League Week 37 fixtures (October 16)

Heartland    vs       Rangers
Sharks       vs        Nasarawa Utd
Sunshine     vs        Enyimba
ABS          vs        Nembe City
3SC          vs         Warri Wolves
Akwa         vs      Kaduna Utd
Bayelsa       vs     Kwara Utd
Wikki           vs     Gombe Utd
Kano Pillars vs     Dolphins
El-Kanemi    vs     Lobi Stars
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Gov's Cup Lagos Tennis: Nigerian female players in bad outings

NIGERIA'S Sarah Adegoke on Monday lost to Xi-Yao Wang of China 6-0, 6-0 in the women's singles of the ongoing 13th Governor's Cup Lagos Tennis championship at the Lawn Tennis Court, Onikan, Lagos.
Her compatriot Blessing Samuel also crashed out of the singles event of the first leg as she lost to number one seed Tadeja Majeric of Slovakia 6-0, 6-0 while Zarah Razafmahatratra of Madagascar also beat US-based Nigerian lady, Idia Amen 6-3, 6-2 to advance in the competition.
Women's singles number two seed, Nina Bratchikova dumped American Alexandra Riley 6-3, 6-3.
In the men's singles, Sani Adamu defeated another home boy Shehu Lawal 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 as
Clifford Enosoregbe dumped John Otu 6-1, 1-0 (retired) to advance in the tourney.
It was a historic moment for former junior player, Christian Paul who against all odds defeated Eric Vehovec of Canada 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 to move ahead in the International Tennis Federation-sanctioned tournament as Ante Pavic of Croatia handed down defeat to home lad Edward Christopher Anefu 6-2, 6-0
Speaking after her loss, Adegoke said she was already thinking of the second leg tourney.
"I lost to a better player and the fact that I have not been training hard worked against me. My dad has been my only training partner and it has not been easy. I hope to do better next week, anyway," said the 15-year-old player.
Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Open champion, Shehu Lawal attributed his defeat to poor fitness.
"I got tired and was too weak to move around. But that's tennis for you, you can't win always I guess this wasn't my day," Lawal said.
Meanwhile, Bratchikova after her victory over the American opponent said: "This is my first game, I hope to take each match as it comes. I hope to do well this year".
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Caption: Sarah Adegoke

Saraki gives ABS cow for Eid el-Kabir celebration

CHAIRMAN and Proprietor of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC, a Globacom Premier League side, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki (CON) has given players and officials of the team a big cow to celebrate Eid el-Kabir.
Media officer of the Ilorin-based side, Bashir Jimoh made this known in a statement today saying the players were highly appreciateve of Saraki's gesture.
Muslims all over the world will celebrate this year's Eid el-Kabir on Tuesday.
The Sallah gift serves as a morale booster for the youthful ABS boys who will take on Nembe City in their last home of the season In Ilorin on Wednesday.
Saraki charged the team to win the remaining matches in the ongoing season so as to retain their slot in the elite cadre.
Meanwhile, Team Manager of ABS, Alloy Chukwuemeka assured that the team will do everything humanly possible to escape relegation saying "our target is to win the remaining two games that would see us through and I believe this is achievable with God on our side".
It will be recalled that ABS had at the weekend lost 0-1 to Enyimba in Aba in A week 36 game.
The team's last game of the season will be against Warri Wolves at the Warri City Stadium on Sunday, October 20.

Globacom Premier League Update: Abalogu shoots Enyimba back to top

As Namo scores 17th goal

ANDREW Abalogu's 70th minute goal was all what Enyimba FC needed to beat youthful Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC of Ilorin by a lone goal in a Globacom Premier League Week 36 game decided today in Aba.
Abalogu's goal took the People's Elephant back to the top of the log with 60 points amid superior goal difference of +16 over Kano Pillars who lost 0-1 to Gombe United at away to remain on the second spot with 60 points and +7 goal difference.
The hero of the match in Aba, Abalogu however, failed to celebrate after scoring following the position of his former team, ABS on the table.
"We were happy that Abalogu being one of our products is doing well in Enyimba. Honestly, we were taken aback when Abalogu  failed to celebrate after scoring, such attitude is very rare because most footballers would go on wild and even provocative jubilation when they scored against their former teams," an official of ABS owned up after the game.
Relegation-haunted Akwa United created the upset of the week with their sensational 1-0 victory recorded over Warri Wolves right at the Warri City Stadium. The scorer of the goal was Emmanuel Enize.
The defeat gave the Seasiders a setback in their bid to wrestle one of the  2014 continental tickets as they remain fourth on the log with 55 points.
Goal merchant, Victor Namo increased his goal tally to 17 this season with a lone strike which ensured Nasarawa United defeat Sunshine Stars of Akure by a lone goal.
The victory brightened the chances of the Sold Miners under veteran coach Kadiri Ikhana of retaining their slot in the elite division having garnered 49 points with two more games left.
Kwara United at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja settled for a 1-1 draw against visiting Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.
The Tourists scored first in the 13th minute through Ibrahim Shuaibu before the Samson Unuanel-piloted side got the equaliser through Kabiru Sanusi.
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Results:

Globacom Premier League Week 36

Enyimba  1         ABS         0

Dolphins 1         Lobi        0

Nasarawa 1         Sunshine    0

Rangers  2         Sharks      0

Nembe    1         3SC         0

Gombe    2         Pillars     1

Heartland 1        El-Kanemi   0

Kaduna    1        Bayelsa     0

Kwara     1        Wikki       1

Wolves    0        Akwa Utd    1

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League table

Matches played, points & goal difs


1. Enyimba                        36   60   +16
2. Kano Pillars                   36   60   +07
3. Bayelsa Utd                   36   58   +03
4. Warri Wolves                 36   55   +14
5. Rangers                         36   55   +10
6. El-Kanemi                     36   55   +06
7. Gombe Utd                    36   52   -07
8. Sharks                           36   50    00
9. Dolphins                        36   50   -02
10. Kaduna Utd                 36   50   -09
11. Heartland                     36   49   +07
12. Sunshine                      36   49   +04
13. Kwara Utd                  36   49   +01
14. Nasarawa Utd             36   49   -04
15. Lobi Stars                   36   49   -06
16. Nembe City                 36   49   -13
17. ABS                            36   47   -12
18. Wikki                          36   46   -02
19. Akwa Utd                   36   44   -10
20. 3SC                          36   43   -05

Caption: Victor Namo of Nasarawa United.

Globacom Premier League Update: Week 36 games hold Saturday

Globacom Premier League Week 36 fixtures, Oct 12

Rangers            vs          Sharks
Nasarawa Utd       vs      Sunshine Stars
Enyimba            vs           ABS
Nembe City         vs        3SC
Warri Wolves       vs       Akwa United
Kaduna United      vs     Bayelsa Utd
Kwara United       vs      Wikki Tourists
Gombe United       vs     Kano Pillars
Dolphins           vs          Lobi Stars
Heartland          vs         El-Kanemi Warriors

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League table

Matches played, points & goal difs

1. Kano Pillars                  35   60   +08
2. Bayelsa Utd                   35   58   +04
3. Enyimba                       35   57   +15
4. Warri Wolves                  35   55   +15
5. El-Kanemi                     35   55   +07
6. Rangers                       35   52   +08
7. Sharks                        35   50   +02
8. Sunshine                      35   49   +05
9. Lobi Stars                    35   49   -05
10. Gombe Utd                    35   49   -08
11. Kwara Utd                    35   48   +01
12. Dolphins                     35   47   -03
13. Kaduna Utd                   35   47   -10
14. ABS                          35   47   -11
15. Heartland                    35   46   +06
16. Nasarawa Utd                 35   46   -05
17. Nembe City                   35   46   -14
18. Wikki                        35   45   -02
19. 3SC                          35   43   -04
20. Akwa Utd                     35   41   -11