The Nigeria Football Federation have announced AITECO Group, a frontline integrated energy solutions company as its latest corporate sponsor. According to NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, the partnership which is worth N2.5bn starts on May 1, 2017 and will last five years with an initial option of a one-year extension.
The firm becomes the official optimum partner of the federation and will pay salaries of all National team coaches for the next five years. The statement issued after the signing of the agreement, “it will improve the technical preparation and enhance the performance of Nigerian national teams involved in tournaments.”
Shehu Dikko, chairman of the League Management Company Limited (
5 Things We Learned From NPFL Teams|By: Deji Odeyinbo
PLATEAU UNITED STARTED POORLY BUT ENDED WELL
After their unbeaten streak was ended at Akwa United last week, Plateau United needed a statement result to stake their claim as one team to watch out for this season. It couldn’t have come harder than against a team that were unbeaten in their last five matches.
They started the game very flat footed with the team failing to impose themselves on Tonadoes for the majority of the first half. The introduction of Benjamin Turba into the starting lineup after being left out of the last match 3 match day squad brought a bit of creativity and guile in the middle of the park. It was definitely the key in unlocking the unwavering defense of Niger Tomadoes that saw Kabiru Umar score his 3rd goal of the season. Overall, Plateau United were able to exact their dominance during the 2nd half, playing with so much poise and elegance to show their intent in winning the League.
EL-KANEMI WARRIORS FINALLY CLAIMED ‘AWAY ‘ VICTORY
For a team that had an enviable record at their home ground where they won 17 games consecutively, their away results this season have been the complete opposite until yesterday. Playing at the Umuahia township stadium, a place where Abia warriors had not lost, the Maiduguri outfit did the unthinkable by silencing the home crowd in Umuahia with a goal with so much brilliance from the boots of Hussaini Bala. The Ladan Bosso-led boys stayed true to their ground play and Abia warriors found it difficult to cope for most part of the game. End of the day, El- kanemi warriors were finally rewarded for their ability to be adventurous away from home.
SUNSHINE STARS CAN BE AS GOOD AS WHEN THEY WANT TO BE
With the sort of talent at the disposal of Sunshine stars, you get the feeling that the Owena waves as they are fondly called have the ability to challenge for a continental spot. The duo of Ayo saka and Sunday Olorundare were a thorn in the flesh of Kabiru Dogo’s Nasarawa United team. The team kept their balance through out the game and the organization at the back was absolutely immense to keep United at bay. They just need to start replicating that sort of form at home to help convert the draws to wins.
RIVERS UNITED HAVE GOT ALL IT TAKES TO GO FAR IN THE CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
After playing a goalless draw away in Mali against Real Bamako, Rivers United put up a five star performance in their return leg at home putting four goals past their opponents. For a team making their debut on the continent, they played with so much authority and confidence. Bernard Ovoke was a beauty to behold alongside Esosa Igbinoba constituting a menace to any defense line. Guy Kuiman, Sunday Rotimi, Femi Thomas also comes with need quality and experience to take them far on the continent.
FC IFEANYI UBAH LEARNT LESSONS
For a privately owned team which was formed less than 3 years ago, FC Ifeanyi Ubah were undone by lack of experience on the continental level. The preparation towards the confederation cup wasn’t top notch, needless to say that they weren’t proactive in registering their top players for the tournament.Travelling to a difficult ground in Egypt to play the second leg of the tie, they should have kept a resolute defense and to be ready for the antics of the North Africans. Even though they pushed their opponents through 180 mins, you get the feeling that their loss of concentration in the key moment of the game was their greatest undoing. Either way, I hope they’ve learn their lessons and come back to stake a claim in the league where they have 3 outstanding games.
Iwobi, Iheanacho pick GLO/CAF Awards. See Full List Of Winners!
Nigeria internationals, Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi were named Most promising talent and African youth player of the year respectively at the 2016 edition of the GLO-CAF Awards which took place at Abuja, Nigeria yesterday January 5, 2017. Riyad Mahrez was named the winner of the 2016 Glo-CAF African Player of the Year award. The Algerian beat Gabon striker and last year’s winner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to second place, while Senegal’s Saido Mane finished third.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
African Player of the Year
Riyad MAHREZ (Algeria & Leicester City)
African Player of the Year – Based in Africa
Denis ONYANGO (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Women’s Player of the Year
Asisat OSHOALA (Nigeria & Arsenal Ladies)
Most Promising Talent
Kelechi IHEANACHO (Nigeria & Manchester City)
Youth Player of the Year
Alex IWOBI (Nigeria and Arsenal)
Coach of the Year
Pitso MOSIMANE (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Club of the Year
Mamelodi Sundowns
National Team of the Year
Uganda
Women’s National Team of the Year
Nigeria
Referee of the Year
Bakary Papa GASSAMA
Football Leader of the Year
Manuel LOPES NASCIMENTO, President of Guinea Bissau Football Federation
Legend Award
Laurent POKOU, Former player of Cote d’Ivoire
Emilienne MBANGO, Former player of Cameroon
Meanwhile in a very disappointing twist, no Nigerian made made CAF’s Africa Best 11.
Super Eagles Now In World Top 50 & Africa's Best 10 In Latest FIFA Rankings.
From 60th position in the previous ranking to 50th, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up ten spots in the latest FIFA rankings for the month of October released today, Thursday, November 24, 2016 world soccer governing body. The reason for this impressive rise in the rankings isn’t far-fetched, the Gernot Rohr-led team have recorded two crucial wins in the past couple of months.
three victories from his first three games as coach. In early October, they defeated Zambia 2-1 to pick up their first ever away win against the Chipolopolo in the 2018 World Cup Qualifier and just few weeks ago, they consolidated their leadership of their 2018 World Cup qualifying group after thrashing Algeria 3-1 in Uyo.
Five-man shortlist for 2016 African Player of the Year unveiled.
The Confedration of African football, CAF have released their top 5 candidates for the African Player Of The Year Award.
Meet the five-man shortlist.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Gabon/Dortmund
Riyad Mahrez – Algeria/Leicester City
Sadio Mane – Senegal/Liverpool
Mohamed Salah – Egypt/AS Roma
Islam Slimani – Algeria/Leicester City