Four-time Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) winners, Kano Pillars, have unveiled their 12 new signings including Nelson Abiam, Akpesiri Naibe and Muhammed Zulkifilu. The unveiling, which took place at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, comes four days before the club’s first league game of the season against newly-promoted Ikorodu City. Abiam joined Sai Masu Gida after his time last season with relegated Doma United while Naibe and Zulkifilu were snapped up from Sporting Lagos and Rangers International. Other new signings are goalkeepers Charles Tambe (from Remo Stars) and Chukwuemeka Oniya (from Rangers) as well as right-back Mustapha Jibrin who makes a return to the Kano club. Abuchi Okeke (from Sokoto United), Ugochukwu Gabriel (from Wikki Tourists) and Bright Emmanuel (Solution FC) were among the new boys. Kano Pillars also landed two players, Alhassan Rashid and Emmanuel Anaful, from Ghanaian club, Karela United while Sudais Ali Baba who last played for Swedish side FC Trollhättan completes the list of new signings. The new signings will join up with the 20 players the club have retained from the previous for their match against Ikorodu City this Sunday at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, which will serve as their temporary home ground owing to renovation work at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

Sunshine Stars have decided to honour their former captain Sunday Abe by retiring his number 10 jersey for just this season. Abe officially announced his retirement from football after close to two decades of involvement in the sport. The 33-year-old first broke into the Sunshine Stars senior side in 2006/07 from the youth team and have gone on to become their captain in 2013. He played in the NPFL for 17 years, which the ODSFA chairman, Honourable Bamidele Ologunloluwa feels will be invaluable in Sunshine Stars’ backroom. Abe missed out playing 18 seasons in the NPFL on the spin when he played on loan at Albanian side KF Teuta Durres. The club chief also said the retirement of the number 10 jersey for a season is “a mark of honour for his (Abe’s) service to the team.” In addition, the club announced that Abe and another former player Kayode Idowu have been appointed as match readers by the side’s parent body, Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA). Abe represented Nigeria at Under-17s at the FIFA World Cup and at African championship in 2019.

Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side, Bendel Insurance, have officially completed the signing and unveiling of 13 players as they are braced to face Rivers United in their first match of the season at home this Sunday. Former Enyimba striker, Uche Collins, heads the list of new arrivals at the Benin City club alongside his former teammate James Oronsaye. Other new signings include Kayode Oke from 3SC, goalkeeper Suleiman Solihu from Kwara United, Emmanuel Ugwu from Dakkada FC, Moses Ajiboye from Nasarawa United, Isaac Ajibola from Sporting Lagos, Chinedu Onyinjekwe from Lagos-based Fame FC, Uche Martins from Rangers, Jesse Kelechi from Crown FC, Nazir Mohammed from the team’s academy, Stephen Bekewe from Bayelsa United and Martin Owolija from Tornadoes. The club have also announced the departure of 13 players. Top on the list of departures are goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, Kelly Kester, Sunday Anyanwu, Ebuka Akobundu, Sarki Ismael, Chisom Okereke, Junior Osaghae and Divine Nwachukwu. Others are Paul Obama, Evans Ogbonda, Jude Ebhohon, Chukwudi Meze and Wisdom Stephen. At the players’ unveiling, the Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Yussuf Alli urged the new players to be disciplined and focused as they continue to blend with the old ones so they can play as a formidable team that can make the state proud again. Alli said he has confidence in the club’s head coach Monday Odigie and his team to make headlines in the new football season. He tasked them to begin the season on a positive note by beating Rivers United on Sunday.

Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Rangers International, have hired Felix Nwosu as the head coach for their Under-19 (youth team). Nwosu was unveiled on Tuesday at the club’s corporate head office with the mandate to scout for youngsters to build a strong youth team that can graduate into the main team that will play in line with the culture and philosophy of the club. Nwosu, who has a CAF C licence, had earlier in his career, has worked as coach with F.C Talanta of Kenya, Heegan SC of Somali, Ambassador Youth Club of Enugu, DreamStars Ladies FC of Lagos, Right2Win SC of Umuahia, BYT Academicals FC of Lagos, GreenFoot Ladies of Enugu and Delta Force FC of Asaba. The new Rangers youth team coach is “delighted” to be part of the ongoing project at the club. “I am happy to be here. Everyone knows that Rangers is a very big club in Africa and beyond and I am so delighted to be part of what is happening and there is already progress in Rangers. I am just here to solidify the great things that has been happening and make sure that I get more things into the team and make sure that the name of the team is sustained,” Nwosu told the club’s media.

By Femi Atolagbe President of Sunshine Stars Football Club, Bamidele Ologunloluwa has disclosed the reason the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club adopted Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode, as their temporary home. Ologunloluwa said the Owena Whales chose Ijebu-Ode due to ongoing renovation and upgrading of Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure. He appealed to Sunshine Stars fans both home and abroad to bear with the team, saying he understands the pains for ardent football lovers to miss out watching their darling team in their traditional home. Ologunloluwa added that the adoption of Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium will be temporary as renovation works will be speedily done on the stadium in Akure. He said: “I can assure our fans that Sunshine Stars will make them happy with good results in this 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League season. “We are working to present not any just team but a solid squad that will have capacity to compete for League.” Ologunloluwa lauded Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa for showing the people of the state that he is truly a lover of football by approving the renovation and upgrading of Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure. “We thank and appreciate Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the much he is doing to develop football in Ondo State and his appreciable support for other sports. That goes a long way in showing that he is indeed a true lover of football and by extension sports.” Sunshine Stars are expected to get their 2024/25 season underway with a home tie against Bayelsa United, in Ijebu-Ode.

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has determined that Beyond Limits Football Academy will not be participating in the 2024/2025 season due to concerns regarding dual interest. Specifically, there is one ownership of Beyond Limits Football Academy and Remo Stars, a club already competing in the NPFL, which constitutes a breach of Rule B11.4 of the NPFL Framework and Rules. As a result of this decision, the slot previously occupied by Beyond Limits Football Academy has been relinquished and subsequently handed over to Heartland FC. This decision aligns with Rule A5.2, which stipulates the criteria for club participation. Heartland FC met the requirements set by the NPFL board and was the only relegated club to express interest in filling the vacancy. We also need to clarify that there was no slot buying transaction, as such practices are explicitly prohibited under NPFL rules. The NPFL remains committed to upholding a fair and competitive league. While the NPFL rules do not explicitly foresee every scenario, the board has exercised its discretion, as permitted under the league’s governing documents, to ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of the league and its stakeholders. The NPFL will continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, ensuring that all actions taken are in line with our commitment to fairness and the integrity of the competition.

By George Akpayen Rangers International captain, Chinemerem Ugwueze, has admitted that they had “a bad day ay the office” after failing to start their title defence of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with a win following a 0-0 draw with El-Kanemi Warriors on Saturday. The Flying Antelopes were favoured to breeze past their opponents, considering they were playing at their Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium home ground where El-Kanemi Warriors have failed to avoid defeat or score a goal in their last nine visits. Ugwueze is of the opinion that the titleholders are a better side than the outcome of the match on the first day of the season. “It’s a bad day at the office. The result wasn’t what we were expecting. I believe we are better than this but our plans didn’t go as mapped out. Really, it is just a bad day at the office,” the Rangers midfielder said. The Rangers captain however acknowledged that their inadequacies in front of goal remains “a thing of concern,” especially after dour performances over two legs in the CAF Champions League first round playoff against Comoros Island’s US Zilimadjou and now followed by another off-colour display with El-Kanemi Warriors. Ugwueze believes the team need time to work together in order to improve on their performances in subsequent matches this season. “Of course, it (our lack of goalscoring) is a thing of concern. Without goals there is no way you can win a game. We don’t want to use the word ‘a major problem’ considering the games we have played in the face of the goal drought. The league is just starting and I believe with time we will improve. It’s more difficult because of the CAF Champions League we have on ground. I believe with time we will get there. “There is always room for improvement (for the new signings) of course. The old players, many of them played one season for Rangers and were fortunate enough to be crowned champions last season. I think the new players won’t be exception as I believe with time if we work together definitely we will achieve (something),” said Ugwueze. With more matches fast approaching in the NPFL and CAF Champions League, the Rangers captain is optimistic that they will turn the corner after their languid start to the season. “We will do what we have to do (for the next games). The result was not okay for us but we will do what is necessary for us to do,” Ugwueze promised.

By George Akpayen Rangers International head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, has expresssed his disappointment with the outcome of his team’s first game in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title defence, branding it their “one of the worst games.” The Nigerian champions began their title defence at their Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium with a 0-0 draw against Cup holders El-Kanemi Warriors on Saturday and the former Heartland and Plateau United coach did not fail to bare his mind on the outcome. “Today is one of the worst games we have played in this stadium and I am very sad about it because we had our game plan and at times football is funny and things won’t go the way you expect it to go. I must say El-Kanemi Warriors are a good side because I know the team so well. Now we have to plan a way forward because the game has been played and it’s gone,” Ilechukwu said after the match. However, he recognises that they need to sit back and review their performances ahead of subsequent matches, starting with an important two-legged affair against Angola’s Sagrada Esperança in the CAF Champions League second round playoff. Ilechukwu is now concerned with their recent form in competitive games this season which has seen them win just once just once in three games and drawing two, considering the standard of their opponents. “It’s a general (team problem) thing. We have to sit down and analyse everything that happened today. (In this game) we did less than what people expected of us and even what we expected from ourselves. We won’t kill ourselves though it is a disappointing outcome but we must forge ahead. “It is very concerning (ahead of our CAF Champions League match against Angola’s Sagrada). This same (performance) thing happened in our last game on the continent and when things like this happen you have to realize that we have to sit down and start analyse our stats and putting heads together to find a solution especially as we have some days ahead to prepare for the next game,” Ilechukwu said. Rangers will face Sagrada Esperança in the CAF Champions League second round, first leg at home on the weekend of September 13 and 15 before heading to Angola the following weekend for the return leg with their league fixtures against Ikorodu City and Bayelsa United on Matchdays 2 and 3 in view.

By Ikenna Nwokedi Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Rangers International, kicked off the defence of their title with a goalless draw at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Saturday. The new season’s curtain raiser coincidentally was a meeting between two club sides that finished as champions of the league and FA Cup (now known as President Federation Cup) with the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau in attendance. The first half was a case of few chances from both ends as the sides failed to create a glorious opportunity with the half ending in a stalemate. Twelve minutes into the restart, Nasiru Salihu came close to breaking the deadlock but missed from a promising position after being set up by Aminu Mohammed in a swift counter-attacking move by El-Kanemi. In the 66th minute, Rangers goalkeeper Japhet Opubo made himself big to deny Jacob Jonathan whose effort was goal-bound. The Flying Antelopes almost won at the dead of the game but for a big save by El-Kanemi Warriors goalkeeper Abine George to deny Ifeanyi Onyebuchi’s goal-bound headed effort from a corner kick. Reacting after the match, El-Kanemi Warriors head coach, Aliyu Zubairu described the match as three points lost as his team created lots of scoring chances and should have won the game with the plethora of opportunities which came the way of his team. Match Details: Rangers Int’l: Japhet Opubo, Ikenna Steven, Evans Ogbonda, Austin Opara, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, Ejike Ugochukwu, Chinemerem Ugwueze (Hillary Ekawu 71′), Kenechukwu Agu (Kareem Ogunleye 71′), Saviour Isaac, Ekeson Okorie (Bashir Usman 62′), Chiedozie Okorie (Onyekachi Okafor 62′). Unused substitutes: Lucky Abdullahi, Charles Okafor, Kenneth Igboke, Tekena Gerando, Frank Uwumiro, Williams Wonah. El-Kanemi Warriors: Abine George, Adamu Bajibir (Henry Ndedi 88′), Usman Abbas, Zayyad Musa, Muktar Mohammed, Monday Daniel, Al-Amin Umar, Nasiru Salihu, Gimba Ajiji, Aminu Mohammed (Suleiman Alabi Jojo 90+3′), Jacob Jonathan. Unused substitutes: Kolawale Oladipo, Bilal Yakubu, Ibrahim Mustapha, Suleiman Moreola.