Author: Felix Egbomuche
1. Another Opening Day Goal Fest Last season, games between Shooting Stars and Plateau United produced the most goals over two legs in the league. Gbenga Ogunbote’s side relinquished a two-goal lead in the second half to draw 3-3 in their first game in Jos but they held on despite a late onslaught to win 3-2 in the reverse fixture. The Oluyole Warriors have had a good summer window and will be hoping it reflects on the pitch against a Plateau side that are going through a rebuild after the departure of Fidelis Ilechukwu and the appointment of former Enugu…
For the 5th consecutive season, there won’t be a Nigerian team in the group stage of the CAF Champions League. Both of the country’s representatives this season were knocked out in painful circumstances in the first preliminary round. Enyimba were eliminated after a narrow 4-3 defeat to Al Ahly Benghazi in Libya and a barren draw in Aba. Remo Stars were pipped on even more excruciating conditions, losing on penalties to Ghanaian champions, Medeama after a 1-1 draw. In the CAF Confederation Cup, the situation is a bit palatable. Nigeria have had at least a team in the group stage…
Former FIFA badge referee, Anietie Ferdinand Udoh has backed his erstwhile colleagues after they were snubbed by CAF in the selection for referees to officiate at next year’s Nations Cup. CAF released a 69-man list of match officials on Tuesday. the referees will undergo a preparatory course to get them ready for the continental championship which will be held between 13 January and 11 February 2024 in Cote d’Ivoire. There was no Nigerian among the 32 referees, 33 assistant referees, and 4 VAR referees listed. Following the publication of the list, Nigerians expressed their disappointment both online and offline on…
Sporting Lagos chairman, Godwin Enakhena has made the bold claim that his side will be gunning for the title when the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League season kicks off. The Lagos-based side will be competing in the top flight for the first time after gaining promotion from the Nigeria National League last season. But the veteran sports journalist cum administrator believes everything is in place for them to win the league or at least qualify for the continent. “We want to win the league,” Godwin says in a bullish fashion while speaking to Felix Egbomuche on Sports Vibes on Lasgidi…
The 2023-24 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season begins on Saturday in Ibadan at the Adamasingba Stadium with Gbenga Ogunbote’s Shooting Stars hosting Plateau United who have a new gaffer in Mbwas Mangut. Last season both sides faced off in the opening week and served a 6-goal thriller, hopefully, they serve us another cracker. No team in the past decade has managed to retain the title and Enyimba will surely be hoping to do it this time around but the other top teams wouldn’t want that to happen. We have asked six journalists who cover the league a couple of…