CAF Champions League: Enyimba go for broke in Mali

Two-time African champions, Enyimba, will have their hands full this weekend as they face AS Real Bamako in a make-or-mar tie after a 1-2 defeat in the first leg of the CAF Champions League first round game.
Enyimba need two unreplied goals or higher goal margin such as 3-1 or 4-1 to turn the tables against the Malian side and progress to the next stage of the competition.
Poor goalkeeping by Femi Thomas largely contributed to Enyimba's home defeat aside the wasteful attack which failed to maximally convert several scoring chances that came the way of the Nigerian team.
Perhaps, the job of Coach Zachary Baraje with his assistant, Imama Amapakabo is on the line and only the qualification of Enyimba in Mali will give some respite..
Enyimba boss, Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu believes his team could create an upset in Mali on Saturday.
“No doubt, it was painful to lose at home in front of our supporters but I see the hunger in my players to turn the tables in the return leg. It would have been better had the game had ended in a draw. Surely, it is now very difficult but not impossible for us to get the result in Mali to remain in the competition,” Agwu, who led Enyimba to the 2003 and 2004 CAF Champions League triumphs.
Sibi Gwar had scored Enyimba's lone goal before the Malians equalised through Mocter Mohamed Cisse in the 65th minute and the winner through Amadou Samake in the 74th minute.
Already, AS Real Bamako coach, Nouhome Diane knows the pedigree of Enyimba that the battle is not lost and won yet.
Diane said in Aba after their victory that they will play return leg tie on a clean slate adding that it will not going to be a formality match for his wards in Bamako.
Meanwhile, Warri Wolves after a 3-2 victory over Union Douala in Cameroon will settle their differences in the CAF Confederation Cup. A draw will see Wolves through but the likes of Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Musa Najare, Oghenekharo Etebo and Azubuike Egwuekwe, among others will want to make it double and claim fat match bonus from the Davidson Owumi-led management.
Similarly, Bayelsa United after a barren draw at away will this weekend in Sapele face As Kondzo FC of Congo in a second leg tie of the Confederation Cup.


Caption: Sibi Gwar: Can he save Enyimba in Mali?

Nigeria Premier League opener: Rangers open campaign with Nembe City

THE much anticipated 2014 season of the Nigeria Premier League kicks off tomorrow, Friday with Rangers FC taking on Nembe City at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
Perhaps, all eyes will be on gangling striker, Christian Obiozor whose goal gave Nigeria bronze medal at the recently-concluded third African Nations Championship (CHAN 2014) in South Africa at the expense of Zimbabwe.
It is also going to be the baptism of fire for the former coach of the Flying Eagles, John Obuh who took over from veteran Okey Emordi.
Obuh is expected to put his wealth of experience to bear on handling one of the traditional teams in the land.
Obuh good a thing handled the recruitment of players having been in the Coal city for the past two months to oversee the pre-season activities of the Flying Eagles especially at Nnewi.
He will no doubt bank on the combination of Obiozor and Meshack Chukwubuikem in the attack to start the season on a good note more so as a way of assuring the club's teeming fans of their readiness to break new grounds this season.   
Meanwhile, coach Ladan Bosso will also on Saturday lead Abia Warriors to their debut appearance in the elite league against Kaduna United. Bosso was a few days ago unveiled as head coach of the Umuahia-based side and he has promised to take the newly-promoted side to reckoning in no time.
The management of Warriors led by Chief Emeka Inyama has already dangled N5million bonus before the former coach of Wikki Tourists, Niger Tornadoes and Bayelsa United if he wins a continental ticket at the end of the season.
Three games are scheduled to hold on March 8 as three more games hold on Sunday, March 9 while
the teams involving in the continental campaign, Enyimba, Warri Wolves and Bayelsa United will now play on Thursday, March 13.
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Caption: Obiozor ready for Nembe City.

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Premier League week one fixtures

Friday, March 7

Rangers vs Nembe

Saturday, March 8
Giwa FC vs Kano Pillars
FC Taraba vs Nasarawa United
Abia Warriors vs Kaduna United

Sunday, March 9

Lobi Stars  vs Crown
Heartland   vs Dolphins
Akwa Utd  vs Gombe Utd

Thursday, March 13)

Sunshine Stars     vs   Enyimba
Warri Wolves      vs   El-Kanemi
Bayelsa Utd       vs    Sharks
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NNL tables at week 4

Division A Table:

1. Wikki Tourists—-9pts— +6
2. Mighty jets——-7pts—-+4
3. Adamawa Utd—–7pts——-1
4, Plateau Utd—–7pts——-1
5. Kwara utd——-7pts——-1
6. Spotlight——–7pts—– 0
7. Kogi Utd——– 6pts—–+2
8. Niger Tor——–6pts—–+1
9. Ranchers B——6pts—– -1
10. Supreme C——6pts—– -2
11. Sokoto Utd—4pt———-1
12. Teap FC——–3pts——-0
13. FRSC————3pts—- -1
13. DSS FC———3pts—– -4
14. Jigawa GS——3pts—- -4
16. Nigeria Prisons–2pts— -3

 Division B Table:

1. Gabros FC———-9pts—- +2
2. Shooting Stars—–7pts—–+1
3. Prime FC———–7pts—- +1
4. First Bank——–6pts——+1
5. Abia Comets——–6pts—–+1
6. Go Round———–6pts——0
7. Ekiti United——6pts——-0
8. MFM FC————5pts—– +3
9. ABS FC————5pts——-0
10. Remo Stars———5pts—–0
11. Gateway Utd——5pts—– -1
12. Stationery S—–5pts—– -2
13. COD Utd———–4pt—— -1
14. Bendel Ins——-4pts—— -1
15. Akwa Starlets——4pts—– -2
16. Unicem Rovers ———2pt—— -2.

NNL Week four review: Adepoju gets brace in 3SC demolition of Go Round FC

SHOOTING Stars Sports Club today at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan hammered Go Round FC 3-1 in a week four of the Nigeria National League division B game with Taofeek Adepoju becoming the match hero with a brace.
Adepoju's header shot the Oluyole warlords ahead in the 24th minute after a pocket of scoring chances had been wasted just as their opponents showed a high level of team work especially in the better part of the first half.
The visitors later in the 64th minute drew parity through Chidi Nwachukwu to make the match a ding-dong affair.
The coach Franklin Howard-piloted 3SC later restored their lead in the 76th minute through Oladele Eweje before Adepoju scored again in the 89th minute to make the scoreline 3-1.
The Garden City side finished the game with 10 men as Nwagua Nyima was given a red card right in the first half for attacking the medical personnel who had wanted to attend to his injured teammate.
Adepoju, a younger brother of ex-international, Mutiu Adepoju it will be recalled in June last year also got a brace in the 3-1 victory over Nembe City in a Globacom Premier League game then.
Meanwhile, a late minute equaliser by Mark Kelechi gave Abia Comets a 1-1 draw with visiting Prime FC of Osogbo in another division B NNL game.
The Omoluabi Giants shot into the lead in the fifth minute of the game through Ibukun Ojo before the hosts rallied to an equaliser during the added time.
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NNL Week 4 Results:

Division A

Supreme Court 1-0 Kogi United
Spotlight 1-0 Jigawa Stars
Ranchers B 3-2 Nigeria Prisons
Kwara 1-0 Mighty jets
Adamawa 1-0 Wikki Tourists
TEAP 0-0 FRSC
Plateau Utd 1-0 Niger Tornadoes
Sokoto Utd 3-0 DSS

Division B

Shooting stars 3-1 Go Round
Ekiti United 1-0 COD United
Abia comets 1-1 Prime
First Bank 3-1 Akwa Starlets
ABS 0-0 Unicem Rovers
Gabros 1-0 Remo stars
Gateway 1-0 Bendel Insurance
MFM 4-0 Stationery stores

Rufai savours Stores' return

THE return of Stationery Stores FC to the Nigerian soccer scene has become a source of joy to former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai a.k.a. Dodo Mayana saying it is a dawn of an era in Nigerian football.
Rufai who was at the Onikan Stadium when the Flaming Flamingoes hammered perennial rivals, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan 2-0 in a Nigeria National League (NNL) Division B game said the team he played for between 1980 and 1984 need time to regain their lost glory.
"Really, I'm overwhelmed to see the team that propelled me to limelight back to Nigerian football action after years of absence. The return of Stores will in no small way bring back glamour to local football not only in Lagos State but in Nigeria at large.
"I believe this team will get better with time though I am happy with their performance against 3SC. In fact, I am excited by the fact that Stores are back for good," said Rufai who played for Stores in the final of the then African Cup Winners Cup in 1981 against Union Douala of Cameroon.
The hero of two World Cup finals, USA '94 and France '98 however, warned that much should not be
expected from the Super Stores saying that "what matters most now is how fund could be injected into the team to make it financially okay".
Meanwhile, Stores after the midweek victory tasted their first defeat of the season as they lost 0-4 to city rivals, Mountain of Fire Miracles, MFM FC this afternoon in a week four game at the Agege Stadium.
Stores were down by 0-3 in the first half before they conceded one more goal in the second half.
The Flaming Flamingoes last featured in the Nigerian league in 2004 and the continental championship in 1993 when they lost to Zamalek of Egypt in the semi-final of the CAF Champions League.
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Caption: Peter Rufai, one of the Stationery Stores FC legends.
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Results: Nigeria National League
    
Teap, Abuja        0              FRSC                     0
Plateau Utd        1              Niger Tornadoes      0    
Sokoto United    3              DSS FC Kaduna     0    
Kwara United    1              Mighty Jets              0    
MFM, Lagos     4              Stores                      0
Gateway            1             Bendel Insurance       0

NNL: War as Stores, Shooting Stars clash at Onikan

THE atmosphere which characterised the match involving Stationery Stores  FCand Shooting Stars Sports Club two decades ago would be reenacted on Thursday (Februry 27) this time at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos.
The week three NIgeria National League (NNL) fixture is expected to pull crowd to one of the most popular stadia in the country in the 50s then known as the King Goerge V Stadium through the 80s.
The rejuvenated Stores which last featured in the Nigerian league in 2004 returned this season having bought the slot of Union Bank FC, another Lagos side.
The Flaming Flamingoes' struggled in their debut game penultimate Sunday at the Onikan waterfront which used to be their slaughter slab' as they shared points with visiting Abia Comets FC.
The visitors were almost running away with three points before Stores secured an equaliser at the dying minutes of the group B game.
Perhaps, Stores are beginning to regain confidence in the eyes of their beloved loyalists as they last weekend in Abeokuta held Gateway FC to a 1-1 draw thus; will be facing the Oluyole Warriors on Thursday with an unbeaten run.
Interestingly, 3SC being handled by returnee coach, Franklin Howard are yet to lose as well having picked a point at Ijebu Ode against Remo Stars and last weekend at home (the Lekan Salami Stadium) pipped City of David, COD of Lagos 2-1 to amass four points.
For a team in search of lost glory, Stores will not want to disappoint their fans this time more so that they need the result that can bring back their die-hard fans back to the stadium.
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Caption: The Flaming Flamingoes.

Bosso lands Abia Warriors' N1.5m monthly job,

.NIGERIA Premier League debutants, Abia Warriors have named coach Ladan Bosso as their new Technical Adviser.
Bosso, who guided the Flying Eagles to the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Canada 2007 is to earn N1.5million monthly for one season from the Umuahia-based side.
Chairman of Abia Warriors, chief Emeka Inyama said that Bosso's appointment was based on his track record of coaching saying that he possessed what it takes to lead the team to the promised land. 
“Bosso is an experienced coach and Abia Warriors would benefit immensely from his wealth of experience. We don’t want Abia Warriors to make up the numbers in the Globacom Premier League but compete favourably. We have done our feasibility study and Bosso happens to be the right man Abia Warriors need to guide them in the elite league," said Inyama who is a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
He stated that the appointment of Bosso was not a measure to relegate ex-international, Emeka Ezeugo to the background saying that "Ezeugo was never the technical adviser of Abia Warriors rather the chief coach and he remains the chief coach of the side”.
Bosso, who has since assumed duty coached Bayelsa United last season to finish third and won a CAF Confederation Cup ticket. He also coached Bayelsa United to the League Monitoring Company, LMC-organised Super 4 League held  in Abuja last month which was won by Enyimba FC.
The Niger State born coach would also earn get a bonus of N5million if he wins a continental ticket at the end of the season.
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Caption: Bosso.

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