Rivers United head coach/technical manager, Finidi George, has expressed delight with the performance of the club’s left-back, Ochobi Elias, in their 1-0 win against Niger Tornadoes in a rescheduled NPFL match on Wednesday. Elias played every minute in the win at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt and played a key role in ensuring Finidi’s side finished the match with a clean sheet. Finidi further explained his decision to give the defender a full game despite having not in cameo roles since the start of the season. Elias’ performance also excited Finidi who felt that the player came close to scoring which would have further proven why he believes in his talent. “I think he did well. Normally, we should have been bringing him in gradually, maybe 15 minutes before giving him a 90-minute match. But I trust him, and I’ve spoken to him. He should be relaxed, calm down, and play his football. “I think today (Wednesday), he would have scored a goal, you know, at the last moment, but he still wanted to square the ball, look for somebody. I’m quite happy with his performance, and we will keep encouraging him to do better. I am very, very pleased,” said Finidi. Elias was part of the Rivers United youth team that won the NPFL Youth League in 2024 and has since been promoted to the senior side under Finidi’s watch. He is expected to be named for the trip to Aba where Rivers United will face Enyimba this Sunday.

Warri Wolves reported suspension of its head coach, Napoleon Aluma has been queried by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) as the league body has faulted the club’s failure to adhere to procedures for contracting coaches. In a letter titled, “Notarization and Registration of Contracts” addressed to the club and signed by Davidson Owumi, the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, the club was mandated to ensure full compliance by submitting its contract with all of the club’s technical and management officials. The NPFL letter read, “Information reaching us from the media space suggest that the Delta State Sports Commission has suspended your head coach Mr Napoleon Aluma with immediate effect”. The NPFL cited its Frameworks and Rules for 2025/26 in demanding compliance by Warri Wolves, stating that “you are aware that the framework and rules of the NPFL 2025/2026 season , Section B, article 6 and 11, clearly states the requirements for engagement and procedure for registration of contracts for all club officials. “You are however in breach of these sections as Warri Wolves FC have not submitted the contracts of its officials to the League Board. You are hereby requested to within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, submit all relevant contracts of your technical team, inc luding that of the assumed suspended head coach, Mr Napoleon Aluma to the Secretariat of the NPFL”. The letter warned that the club may have to play its future matches without a bench on account of failure to comply with the directive. “Note that failure to comply with this instruction will lead to the restriction of your technical team from accessing the technical area in future NPFL matches”, the club was warned. Owumi, in a related statement to the NPFL Media made it clear that the Warri Wolves case is not an isolated instance. He said this applies to all clubs that are yet to domicile the contracts with their technical officials with the NPFL. “I must admonish all coaches to get hold of their contracts and lodge a report with the NPFL when there is a violation of the terms. It is the responsibility of the aggrieved to petition the league at all times”, he reminded the coaches.

Securing their first win as a club in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after five matches, may have felt like a title run for Barau FC of Kano. The Kano-based side notched a convincing 3-1 win in Aba over fellow top flight league debutante, Khun Khalifat in a Matchday 6 fixture at the Enyimba International Stadium, the adopted home ground of the Owerri-based club. But their seasoned coach, Ladan Bosso is not in much of a celebration mood as he is already focusing on consolidating the club’s new found winning wand. During a post-match presser, Bosso began by commending the players for a resilient display away from home. “Actually, I am so happy with the result. Our players all did well to secure this victory,” Bosso told the newsmen. He then shifted attention to the team’s task of sustaining the winning mentality in the next fixtures. “It is very important that the team builds on this performance, remain focused, and prepare strongly for our next home fixture against Warri Wolves”. The hosts went ahead just after 14 minutes but Barau would respond two minutes on through forward, Yahya Ibrahim who equalised with a fine finish off Sai’du Salisu’s brilliant assist. Midfielder Hilary Ekawu then put the Maliya Boys, (as Barau FC is fondly called by their fans) ahead in the 64th minute, converting from Bismark’s precise cross, before Yahya Ibrahim doubled the lead with his second goal of the match, following an excellent pass from Sugau Aliyu. The brace for Yahya Ibrahim, took his tally to three goals in the NPFL this season 2025/2026. Even with the win and three points, Barau FC is still mired in the relegation drop zone as the 18th team on the log with five points from five games. They will next host Warri Wolves on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at the Sani Abacha Stadium on NPFL Matchday 7.

Following a commanding 2-0 defeat of Katsina United on Matchday 6 of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nasarawa United are firmly perched atop the log, displacing unbeaten Enyimba to second place. Mangut Mbwas, the club coach however is playing down this leap for the club that have only struggled to beat relegation by slim margins in the last two seasons. Mbwas, who arrived Lafia from neighbouring Tin City of Jos where he worked as Coach of Plateau United, has within the few Matchdays given Nasarawa United fans reason to entertain longings for another glorious era. “We have remain focused. It’s not time for celebration yet because the league is a marathon, and still at its infancy”, Mbwas responded at a post match conference when asked to react to the win and their position on the log. “It’s a thing of joy to win today. Our response was great because we have been working so hard. “We actually planned for this, and we are achieving our goals gradually”, he continued. Specifically assessing the opposition, Katsina United and their performance, Mbwas insisted that the scoreline didn’t come easy as it may seem, and attributing their eventual success to the first half goal by last season’s top scorer, Anas Yusuf. “Katsina United are a team that could deny you win because they won’t allow you to play. The first-half goal gave us an edge to score the second one, even though we squandered some flurry of chances. “We should have scored more than two goals today, but it seems my players were over anxious in front of goal, but we are working towards correcting all of those”. Looking ahead, the former Heartland of Owerri captain, believes that they would implement learnings from the errors of previous games, especially as they travel to Benin to play Insurance on Matchday 7. “In our next game, it won’t be easy, but my team is growing in confidence, game in, game out, and I believe we could win anywhere.”, declared Mbwas The team’s mastery on the field was evident, with the two well-crafted goals coming off the boots of last season’s highest goalscorer award recipient, Anas Yusuf, at the stroke of half-time following a powerful shot from thirty-five metres, and right back, Abubakar Abdullahi, through a sublime finish, sealing the win 17 minutes to regulation time.

Enyimba’s new boy on the block, Chidera Michael Abraham, has sounded it loud that the former champions are in Lagos for all three points in Sunday’s high-profile NPFL Matchday 6 clash against Ikorodu City. The match will be played at the compact Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos. The striker, who has already notched two goals in three league appearances – all coming from the bench – is brimming with confidence as the People’s Elephant aim to stamp their authority on the road. “The atmosphere in the camp is joyous and everyone is happy with where we are currently. On Sunday against Ikorodu City, our aim is to win all three points. We want to take the maximum points back to Aba,” the Onitsha-born forward told Enyimba Media. Asked if he expects to start or continue his impact role off the bench, the exciting youngster was quick to put the team above personal glory.  “It’s up to the Coaches to decide what tactics to use. But whoever starts, the fans should expect an exciting game and a good result.” Reflecting on his instant impact since joining the club, Chidera expressed gratitude to God, the coaching crew, and his teammates, promising that the best is yet to come. “Enyimba FC is the best in Nigeria and among the best in Africa. My ambition is to excel with this great club, and I believe the glory days will soon return with trophies.” Both teams since 2024 have met just twice with Enyimba winning one in Aba and drawing the corresponding fixture in Lagos. With the People’s Elephant fired up and Lagos fans set for a spectacle, all eyes will be on Chidera Michael Abraham – the new kid on the block – as Enyimba chase maximum points in the nation’s commercial capital. Match Info Ikorodu City FC vs Enyimba FC Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos  Sunday September 28, 2025 | NPFL Matchday 6 5:30pm