Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and Spanish LaLiga club, Sevilla FC has reached a deal to collaborate on training of Coaches and development of youth football players of NPFL clubs. The arrangement is part of the globalisation process by the Spanish club to grow its fanbase across the world and particularly to tap into the huge followership which football enjoys in Nigeria. The NPFL thus became a member of Sevilla’s World Club Alliance Program. By the agreement, the club will provide advice in sporting and other areas of development, with a special focus on coach training and developing the talent of young Nigerian players. Chairman of the NPFL, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye was in Spain last week to consulate the partnership withJosé María del Nido Carrasco, the President of Sevilla FC. “We are very happy to be able to work with the Nigerian Premier Football League. Sevilla FC is convinced that this alliance can help NPFL clubs to continue improving and encourage the development of youth players. “It is a new decisive step in our internationalisation process and will help our brand to continue to grow in Africa and particularly in a country like Nigeria from which we are receiving a lot of support after the signing of Chidera Ejuke,” explained José María del Nido Carrasco. In his response at the signing ceremony, Elegbeleye said, “We have 20 clubs in the NPFL and they all have their youth academies. “I know the history and track record of Sevilla FC. This is a very good club which has won trophies in Spain and Europe for many years. I feel that, with their development strategy and their youth development programme, Nigeria can benefit. We believe that the best players in the Nigeria Youth League will be able to come here every season to train. With your help and training, when they return, they can become better players”. Elegbeleye also spoke on the aspect of the pact that is beneficial to the NPFL clubs, noting that “we also have a training agreement for our coaches that will be positive for us. It is a win-win arrangement for everyone in the NPFL “. The NPFL Chairman also noted that the LaLiga club is already gaining traction amongst Nigeria football fans after Super Eagles player, Chidera Ejuke joined the club from Belgian side, Royal Antwerp. “When they signed Chidera Ejuke from Royal Antwerp, Nigerians showed a lot of interest in Sevilla FC. They now want to know more about Sevilla and the fan base in Nigeria is growing.”
NPFL mourns former club owners Iwuanyanwu, Ubah
Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye has expressed grief on the passing of two former frontline investors in club ownership in the country. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah ranks amongst private investors in the NPFL through club ownership at different dispensations in League football in the country. The two football and political heavy weights passed on within two days of each other during the week. The late Chief Iwuanyanwu was handed the former Spartans FC and now, Heartland FC of Owerri in 1986 and oversaw the meteoric rise of the club to continental reckoning after winning all available laurels in the nation’s club competition between 1986 and 2002. He died on Thursday, July 25 at the age of 82. The late Senator Ubah delved into club football when he bought controlling hold of Gabros International FC, renaming it FCIfeanyiUbah and steering the club through to the NPFL. He is said to have breathed his last in London at the early hours of Saturday, July 27, at the age of 52. Elegbeleye described the two sad developments as a sad week for the NPFL at a time Nigerian League followers are gravitating towards more private investment in club ownership. “Death is inevitable in our earthly journey, but I am really saddened that the two gentlemen who are part of the torch bearers in private investment in club football completed their earthly journey at a time their experience would have counted most”, remarked the NPFL Chairman. “We take condolence in the knowledge that they made their mark in our sphere and would be remembered for good in the history of the evolution of professional football in Nigeria”, Elegbeleye stated. Iwuanyanwu Nationale was one of the few Nigerian clubs that reached the finals of the old format African Champions Club cup in 1988 but lost 4-1 on aggregate to Entente Setiff Club of Algeria. Following their FA Cup triumph in 2016, FC IfeanyiUbah lost via penalty shootout to Egyptian side Al Masry in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2017. The two clubs funded by the late businessmen had respectively contributed important players to the national teams at various levels in different times. Elegbeleye prayed for the repose of their souls while commiserating with their families and the government and people of their respective states of Imo and Anambra.
Ogunbote signs new contract at 3SC
Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, has extended his time at the Ibadan until 2026. The former Rangers and Sunshine Stars manager put pen to paper this following weeks of discussion with the club management. Ogunbote expressed excitement at continuing with the project at 3SC after he rejoined the side in 2023 after his time at Southwest neighbours Remo Stars. Oracle, as he is nicknamed, is already looking forward to the coming campaign and hopes to build on their fourth place finish last season when they missed out on continental football on the final day. “I am thrilled to announce that I have signed a two-year contract extension as the head coach of Shooting Stars. “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue leading this talented group of athletes and I am excited about the future we will build together “I say a big thank you to the organization and fans for their support, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve in the coming years,” Ogunbote said.
Bashir Usman joins Rangers on a two-year deal
Niger Tornadoes attacking winger, Bashir Usman, has penned a two-year deal with reigning Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Rangers International ahead of the 2024/25 season billed to start on August 31. The Flying Antelopes have been busy in the off-season transfer window strengthening their playing personnel as the prepare to defend their NPFL title as well as compete in the CAF Champions League and President Federation Cup. The fast-paced winger who was on the searchlight of several clubs both within and outside the country, put pen to paper on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the club’s corporate office after all contract terms were agreed upon. Usman said after the contract signing: “It’s a great deal for me to find myself in Enugu to contribute my quota towards helping Rangers do well in the league and on the continent. I strongly believe that with the quality players on ground, we shall make our fans and supporters happy at the end of the season.” The NPFL champions under coach of the year, Fidelis Ilechukwu has since commenced preparations for a successful defence of the NPFL title and make impressive imprints in the Total Energies CAF Champions League. Usman joins a strong list of signings by Rangers in the off-season that includes Tekena Gerando, Evans Ogbonda, Hillary Ekawu, Ernest Governor, Anayor Ogbonna, Lucky Abdullahi, Macben Otika, Ekeson Okorie, Somtochukwu Nwobodo, Chimaobi Igwilo and Onyekachi Okafor.
NPFL U-17 Youth League All-Stars camp opens in Abuja
A two-week development camp opened in Abuja for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Youth League All-stars. The 30 players who arrived camp on Sunday, July 21 and are staying at the Goodluck Jonathan Athletes Performance Hostel inside the FIFA Goal Project of the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. They are made up of seven players from the NPFL champions, Rangers International Youth Team, six from the NPFL runners-up Remo Stars Youth Team and five from winners of the maiden NPFL U17 Youth League, Rivers United. The rest are four from Plateau United and Katsina United, two from Lobi Stars and one each from Abia Warriors and Sunshine Stars. The players were picked from the five zonal qualifiers which held in February at Lafia, Kaduna, Ado-Ekiti, Enugu and Port Harcourt as well as from the finals that held from February 25 to March 3 in Benin. Some of the very outstanding players went on to be promoted to the senior teams of their respective clubs just as some made it to the National U-17 team that narrowly missed qualification for the AFCON U-17 Championship. Notable amongst the players in camp are the duo of Oscar Ozornwanfor and Seiyefa Jackson of Rivers United, Chimaobi Igwilo of Rangers and Aigbe Bolaji of Remo Stars. The camp will close on August 3 while there are plans to have the players travel to Spain for further training.
NPFL referees to have communication aides in new season
Rangers International and El-Kanemi Warriors are to play in the star game to kick start the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, which kicks off on August 31. At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau announced that communication aides would be provided for the Referees to improve officiating in the coming season. “We have concluded the procurement of communication gadgets that can minimise errors, and these will be available for the new season,” announced before declaring open the AGM. Gusau also revealed that the NFF would work with international partners to train Referees on the operations of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Chairman of the NPFL, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, said the league is poised to improve on the gains of the last two seasons. “We know that the NPFL still has rooms for improvement, and our objective this season is to build on recent successes,” remarked Elegbeleye in his opening address. Some former Nigerian football stars were on hand to pick the draws, which will run on a full season format. They include two former Super Eagles captains, Austin Eguavoen and Peter Rufai, as well Garba Lawal.
NPFL mourns Hon Ekene Adams
A minute silence was observed at the Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in honour of the late House of Representatives member, Hon. Ekene Abubakar Adams who died in the early hours of Tuesday. Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, the Chairman of the NPFL described the National Assembly member as a committed stakeholder in the country’s football. Adams, who died at the age of 39 was until his death, the Chairman of the House Committee on Sports. He also previously served as General Manager of the defunct Kada City FC and was General Manager of NPFL side, Remo Stars. “Adams was very passionate about football, especially at the grassroots and was for a good period of time, an active stakeholder in the NPFL”, Elegbeleye said in an emotion laden voice.
Sunshine Stars wonderkid Nedu makes splash in debut NPFL season
By Akintunde Akinsemola The name of Rivers United youngster Seiyefa Jackson has been on the lips of most Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) followers, but in the Southwest town of Akure, another teenager and graduate from the NPFL Youth League has wormed his way into the hearts of Sunshine Stars selectors and supporters this season. Chinedu Nwosu, popularly called ‘Nedu,’ was born 17 years ago in Akure, the Ondo state capital to Imo state parents. His rise in the country’s league cadre began in 2022 with Akure City Football Club having played competitive secondary school football with Akure Secondary Commercial School two years ago. Nwosu played for Akure City FC in the Nationwide League One while he was still a secondary school student in 2022. He thereafter moved to Sunshine Stars and played and scored one goal in their Under-17 team which finished second to Remo Stars at the Southwest zonal championship in Ikere-Ekiti. Nedu patiently waited for his time in the 2023/24 NPFL season. He was named on the bench on Matchday 34 in Sunshine Stars’ 2-0 win at Gombe United and did not get to play. Sunshine Stars head coach Kennedy Boboye then introduced him in the 73rd minute against Akwa United in a Matchday 35 tie at Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure, and he made an instant impact with the score at 0-0 at the time. The teenager wasted no time providing an assist for Yusuf Ibrahim, as Sunshine Stars scored their first goal in the 74th minute. Nwosu again provided another assist for the second goal by Ibrahim two minutes later in Sunshine Stars’ 2-0 win over the Promise Keepers. Super-sub Nwosu made headlines in the Southwest derby between Sunshine Stars and Remo Stars as he was introduced in the second half. He struck in the 58th minute, 40 seconds after his introduction and sealed a 2-1 win for Sunshine Stars on 80 minutes from an acute angle. In his last game against Doma United at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe, he featured for just seven minutes, had two shots on target but his efforts were saved by Doma United goalkeeper, Kingdom Osayi. Last season, Nwosu featured four times for Sunshine Stars in the NPFL. Nedu is pacy, nimble-footed, energetic and a team player. The Sunshine Stars number 37 will surely be one to watch in the coming season.
NPFL Youth League players who enjoyed breakout season
A major standout achievement in less than one year of the inauguration of the Board of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has been in organising of the NPFL Youth League. Beyond successfully setting up the league in conjunction with the 20 member clubs, some products of the league have gone ahead to join the senior teams of their clubs while four were picked to represent Nigeria in the WAFU U-17 tournament held in Ghana The trio of Remo Stars U-17 team, Oreoluwa Agbenia, Muiz Oladimeji and Daniel Arierhi were invited alongside Rangers goalkeeper, Chinedu Chike by Coach Manu Garba to the team that failed to pick one of the zonal tickets for the 2024 AFCON U-17. At the end of the NPFL U-17 Youth League which held from February 24 to March 3 this year in Benin City after the zonal qualifiers in Port Harcourt, Ado Ekiti, Enugu, Lafia and Kaduna, Rivers United Youth team emerged the champions. Some of the players who participated in the tournament went ahead to star for their senior teams in the 2023/24 NPFL season which ended on June 23. This report by the NPFL Media takes a look at some of those players. In Akure, teenage sensation, Chinedu Nwosu, popularly called Nedu made waves with Sunshine Stars after Coach Kennedy Boboye gave him his first runout for the senior team on Matchday 35. The 17 year old pacey forward provided two assists in the defeat of Kano Pillars and Remo Stars would be holding him responsible for blunting their title push when on Matchday 37, he came in again as a substitute to net twice in Sunshine Stars triumph in the Southwest Derby. Nedu is a star on the rise. The league’s runners-up, Remo Stars had three of their Youth League players moved up to the senior team. Centre back, Ahmed Akinyele made 28 appearances and netted five goals. Stanley Joseph, a right wing back played in 31 of Remo Stars games and had two goals to his name while Olisa Emmanuel sat out all the season as a senior team player. There was little or no surprises when Rivers United Coach, Evans Ogenyi named the competitions lead scorer, Seiyefa Jackson in the senior team’s matchday squad against Sporting Lagos on May 26 and scoring seven minutes after his introduction as a substitute. Seiyefa would go on to play four more games for the former Nigerian champions. Ogenyi demonstrated more faith in the youth players as four others who played alongside Seiyefa in the NPFL U-17 Youth League were also drafted into the senior squad. In Rivers United match against Gombe United, U-17 Youth League Champions who made the cut included Kingdom Confidence, Ochobi Elias, Paul Junior, Oscar Ozornwanfor James and Seiyefa. Nnamdi Igwillo, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the Enugu zonal qualifiers on Monday, July 1 put pen to paper for a professional contract with Rangers International, the NPFL champions. Before him, another graduate of the club’s youth team, Kenneth Igboke not only made it to the squad that clinched Rangers 8th NPFL title, he got called up for the Super Eagles World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic. At Akwa United, two members of the Youth team, Nsikak Alloysius, a left back and offensive midfielder, Itoro Bassey were promoted to the senior team and made a number of appearances for the club in their successful fight to avoid relegation. Taking stock of the accomplishment of the maiden edition of the Youth League, the NPFL Chairman, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye could not conceal his elation at how fast dividends accrued from what initially could have been considered an experiment. “We have obviously met one of the cardinal objectives for initiating the Youth League for our Clubs in the NPFL, which is to assist the Football Federation and their Coaches scout for talents”, the NPFL Chairman told www.npfl.com.ng This is verifiable as the national U-17 team selected four players from the league and there are a number of upgrades to senior club squads across the NPFL. Still speaking on the idea behind the Youth League, Elegbeleye submitted, “the Youth League is a requirement of the NFF Club Licensing Regulations and the benefits are many, including providing the clubs a steady and ready replacement of ageing players and those who move away to ther clubs”. Plans are afoot to organise camping for select members of the Youth League who would take part in some international youth tournaments in Africa and Europe. Elegbeleye explained that the camping and tournament participation is to further improve the players for their club career development.
GTI, StarTimes, sports journalists praised for roles in NPFL success
Investment partners and broadcast partners of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and the Sports Media have been commented for the very important roles they played in public acclaim of the league organisation for the 2023/24 season. Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL Chairman cited the partners, GTI Assets Management and StarTimes as partners that have added value to making Nigerians enjoy the NPFL last season. “This is the second season of working with GTI in providing financial support for the running of the league and creating a marketing strategy to attract investment in the league. “Our Match Officials have been condemned to perform well because GTI has ensured timely payment of their indemnities and travel allowance as well as their accommodation and feeding such that they no longer have to depend on host clubs”, explained Elegbeleye. The League Chairman pointed to the broadcast partnership with StarTimes as a fulfilment of a pledge he made at the end of the 2022/23 season, adding “It is commendable that despite the signing of the contract almost midway into the season, StarTimes were able to produce 76 live matches. It would have been more, but for some logistics challenges beyond their control, and the next season will definitely see them producing more games for the growing NPFL fan base, “he assured. He described the Sports Media as symbiotic partners whose roles are indispensable. “Our relationship with the Sports Media is mutually beneficial because we offer very important roles to each other. The media needs our content to generate news and followers while we enjoy the publicity they bring to our games and exposure for our players”, declared Elegbeleye and promised that “the NPFL will under my leadership continue to collaborate with the media in projecting the league”. There has been a general consensus that the just ended season witnessed an uptick in fans attendance, near hitch-free organisation and enhanced live production for television broadcast. Rangers International of Enugu emerged champions with a game in hand after beating Bendel Insurance 2-0 in Enugu on Matchday 37 and proceeding to win 2-1 against Gombe United in Jos on the last day where they were handed the trophy in a colourful ceremony watched by Governors of Plateau and Enugu states.
