Four-time champions Shooting Stars were one of the major casualties in the first round of the 2018 Aiteo Cup, losing 5-4 on penalties to third tier Supreme Court in Benin in the round of 64.
The game ended goalless in regulation time, and the Ol…
Michael Ibe’s 76th-minute strike for 10-man Akwa United sealed a 1-0 away victory against Yobe Desert Stars on a weekend in which league leaders Lobi Stars were defeated.
Akwa, who had to deal with Ayobami Asekunowo’s first-half dismissal, are just two points behind Stars, who became the latest heavyweight casualty to stumble in Omoku as they lost 1-0 to Go Round at the Krisdera Hotel Stadium. Shedrack Oghali headed in Akinwale Ogunjobi’s 69th-minute cross for the winner.
Go Round, who remain unbeaten…
Ayo Saka struck a late winner to extend Lobi Stars’ lead to six points, while the ninth Oriental Derby of the season failed to ignite and ended in a goalless affair.
Saka was the match-winner for Stars; the veteran midfielder’s 81st-minute effort earning the leaders a 1-0 victory against 10-men Kano Pillars.
Chris Madaki was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence and, within a minute, his dismissal had dire consequences as Saka headed home Ebube Duru’s cross.
It was fourth time…
The title-favourites in the Nigeria Professional Football League failed to show the stuff of champions on match-day 14, on an exciting weekend which saw the top four remain unchanged with 29 goals scored.
Lobi Stars completed an impressive comeback to earn a 3-2 home win against Rivers United, a result which ensured they opened a three-point lead at the top. The leaders had trailed at the half-time interval despite going ahead through Ezekiel Mbah’s 18th-minute penalty.
The visitors turned the…
Plateau United, MFM FC and Akwa United all secured wins in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup on Wednesday, as all of Nigeria’s three representatives progressed.
Plateau United made light work of Eding Sport by securing a 1-0 away victory in Cameroon, progressing to the next round of the CAF Champions League on the strength of a 4-0 aggregate win.
Raphael Ayagwa was the match-winner for the Nigeria league champions, the lanky midfielder’s second-half strike earning the Jos-based…
Title favourites Akwa United, Plateau United and Kano Pillars maintained their early season lead by scoring a combined 11 goals in a frantic match-day seven in the Nigeria Professional Football League.
Akwa United 4-0 Wikki Tourists
Akwa easily …
Transfer shenanigans in the Nigeria domestic league are usually so odd that they have become normal, but champions Plateau United stunned even the most world-weary when they announced that they would register 50 players for the coming season!
Ge…
Ahead of the 2017-18 Nigeria Professional Football League kickoff on Sunday January 14, KweséESPN profiles the key contenders and introduces the division’s new faces.
The Contenders
Kano Pillars
Sai Masu Gida appear fired up for the new season if their eye-catching pre-season form is anything to go by.
They won both the Ahlan Cup and Gold Cup, and their non-involvement in CAF club competitions could be an advantage in comparison to their fiercest challengers, all of whom will have to juggle…
Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles team were held 0-0 by reigning NPFL champions Plateau United in the Super Six tournament as their underwhelming CHAN preparations continue, while Kano Pillars and Akwa United also played out a goalless stalemate in the game’s earlier kick off at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
The pair of draws means that the tournament is yet to produce a victory, with the four sides tied on two points after two fixtures, having drawn their openers on Monday.
The home-based Eagles’…
These may still be early days, but of the four teams representing Nigeria in next year’s continental competitions, only Akwa United and MFM FC are looking convincing during preseason, although the upcoming NPFL Invitational provides an opportunity for Plateau United and Enyimba to improve on their recent toil.
MFM finished second behind Plateau United and will join the champions in the CAF Champions League, while Akwa United are Aiteo Cup champions and will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup along…