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Bayelsa Queens Crowned NWFL Premiership Champions

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Bayelsa Queens have emerged as champions of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership following a dominant 4-1 victory over Naija Ratels on the final day of the Super Six playoffs held at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne. Their triumph capped an extraordinary finale that saw an unprecedented four teams — Bayelsa Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, Edo Queens, and Remo Stars Ladies — in contention for the title going into the final day, showcasing the increasing competitiveness of the league. The Prosperity Girls produced a commanding display to secure their sixth league title in history. Vera Samuel starred with a brilliant hat-trick in the 28th, 61st, and 67th minutes, while Mega Cynthia added a fourth in the 47th minute. Tumininu Adeshina had momentarily brought Naija Ratels level in the 42nd minute, but Bayelsa’s quality proved decisive. In another Super Six clash, Rivers Angels defeated hosts Remo Stars Ladies 2-1 as Titilayo Aweda struck twice in the 27th and 48th minutes for the Port Harcourt side, while Aisha Animashaun scored a consolation goal for Remo Stars in the 70th minute. Remo Stars ended fifth on goal difference, tied on points with Rivers. Meanwhile, Nasarawa Amazons and Edo Queens battled to a goalless draw, a result that saw Nasarawa finish as runners-up with nine points, while Edo placed third with eight points after an intense five-day contest. The final Super Six standings saw Bayelsa Queens on top with 10 points, followed by Nasarawa Amazons (9), Edo Queens (8), Rivers Angels (7), Remo Stars Ladies (7), and Naija Ratels (0), who finished without a point. For their triumph, Bayelsa Queens received a ₦10 million grand prize. Nasarawa Amazons earned ₦6 million as second-place finishers, while Edo Queens were rewarded with ₦4 million. The remaining teams—Rivers Angels, Remo Stars, and Naija Ratels—each received ₦1.5 million. The trophy presentation was conducted by Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, wife of the Ogun State Governor, alongside NWFL board members, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, and President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, as well as hosts and chairman of Remo Stars, Kunle Soname. NWFL Chairperson Nkechi Obi hailed the competition as the most fiercely contested Super Six yet and praised Bayelsa Queens for their championship-winning effort and consistency throughout the season. “This was arguably the most competitive Super Six we’ve witnessed. Bayelsa Queens showed experience, grit, and attacking flair. The NWFL continues to set new benchmarks, and this season proves we are moving in the right direction,” she said. Honourable Kunle Soname, President of Remo Stars and host of the tournament, lauded the organisation and atmosphere of the Super Six, describing it as a milestone in the growth of women’s football in Nigeria. “Hosting the Super Six has been a landmark moment for us. The energy, organisation, and quality of play have been incredible. We’re proud to have contributed to this historic phase of women’s football in Nigeria,” he said. Bayelsa Queens will now go on to represent Nigeria at the CAF Women’s Champions League Zonal Qualifiers in Côte d’Ivoire, with aspirations of returning to the continental stage and qualifying for the inaugural FIFA Women’s Club Championship. Individual honours from the tournament included Jenat Akekeromowei of Nasarawa Amazons, who was named Most Valuable Player after netting 13 goals this season, including four in the Super Six. Remo Stars Ladies’ Bolaji Olamide finished as Top Scorer with 15 goals in 19 matches, while her teammate Charlotte Adjei was named Best Goalkeeper of the Season. Adjei’s stellar performances were further rewarded with a ₦200,000 cash prize from the Judith Chime Foundation.

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NFF, Ogun State Seal Pact on Football Matches and Events!

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Ogun State, the Gateway State, has signed up to be a strategic partner of the Nigeria Football Federation in delivering events, programmes and activities of the football-governing body, in a way that will strengthen the football economy as the country strives to create a vibrant sports economy to support the New Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This pact was sealed in Abeokuta on Sunday after the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and a delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun. The Gateway State, renown and applauded for the excellent serenity it offers, alongside remarkable sporting and social infrastructure, has over the years and decades played host to matches of the various National Teams, as well as matches of major tournaments that Nigeria has hosted, including the FIFA U17 World Cup finals in 2009. The State has also hosted matches of Confederation of African Football club competitions. Recently, the magnificent facility in Ikenne-Remo (Remo Stars Stadium), built by billionaire football investor and philanthropist, Hon. Kunle Soname, has played host to matches of the senior women national team, Super Falcons, and the U17 girls, Flamingos. Few days to the commencement of the 2025 National Sports Festival which the State is hosting, Gusau led a delegation of the NFF to inform His Excellency that, as a result of Ogun State’s ever-growing sporting and cultural relevance in the Nigerian, African and global context, the NFF has decided that the State host the forthcoming friendly matches of the Super Falcons against their Cameroonian counterparts, Indomitable Lionesses. The first match will take place at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo on Saturday, 31st May while the second match will take place at the newly-renovated MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta on Tuesday, 3rd June. Ogun State has also been handed the hosting right for the WAFU B U17 Boys Championship that Nigeria will stage in September this year. Gusau’s delegation included the NFF 2nd Vice President/Chairman NPFL, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye and; Members of the NFF Executive Committee, Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi, His Excellency Silas Agara and Ms Aisha Falode.

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Egypt 2025: Kenya on Firing Line as Flying Eagles Aspire to Celebrate 100th AFCON Match

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Kenya’s Rising Stars are right in the firing line as seven-time champions and two-time runners-up Nigeria are determined to celebrate their 100th match of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations with a win in downtown Cairo on Wednesday evening. The clash, one of the closing games of group B of the ongoing CAF U20 Championship and which is scheduled to kick off 4pm Nigeria time, is on different gradients for both teams, with the Kenyans in need of a handsome win to stand a chance of progressing to the quarter finals while the Flying Eagles only require a draw. Second-placed Nigeria, on four points, will reach the last eight of the competition if they secure a draw (which will take their haul to five, and spring them to the next round irrespective of the result in the clash between first-placed Morocco and third-placed Tunisia). A win for Morocco will take them to seven points, and keep three-pointer Tunisia in third place, while a draw earns Morocco a total of five points from their three matches and keeps Tunisia at four. A win for Tunisia will take the Junior Carthage Eagles to six points and drag the Lion Cubs to third place. With 19 teams involved in the tournament, and teams drawn into three pools, the top two teams in each group, alongside the best two third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter finals. Despite their promise, the Rising Stars have failed to light up Cairo, losing a five-goal thriller to Morocco on the opening day and failing to deliver in the 1-3 loss to Tunisia on Sunday. Getting a win against Nigeria will be huge for the Kenyans, who have struggled badly over the decades against Nigeria opposition on the field of play. Their first three encounters, between 1968 and 1991, were friendly matches, with Nigeria winning twice in Nairobi and the other match (also in Nairobi) ending in a 1-1 draw. In a 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Nairobi in April 1985, goals by Fatai Amao and Rashidi Yekini, and a Hussein Khari own goal, gave Nigeria a 3-0 win. In the return leg in Lagos, Yekini and Dr Joe Masiga each scored a magnificent goal, but Dahiru Sadi and Yisa Sofoluwe added to Nigeria’s tally for a 3-1 win. Nigeria won 3-0 and 2-1 in 1988 and 1992 AFCON group phase matches respectively, and in a 1998 World Cup qualifying fixture, both teams drew 1-1 in Nairobi before Nigeria triumphed 3-0 in Lagos to qualify for France 1998. Nigeria won friendly matches in 2002, 2007 and 2011, and also beat the Kenyans home (3-0) and away (3-2) to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals. In 2013, a 1-1 draw in Calabar and 1-0 win in Nairobi in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers confirmed Nigeria’s undoubted superiority. In qualifying matches for the 1996 Olympic Games, both teams played a 1-1 draw in Nigeria, but the Dream Team victimised their hosts 3-0 in Mombasa. The Flying Eagles will be determined to underscore this superiority on Wednesday, in order to pop champagne in what will be their 100th match of the tournament and also stand a chance of finishing as group B winners.

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‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu Can Never be Forgotten – Gusau

Our Reporters03 mins

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has declared that late former Green Eagles’ captain ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu is a man that can never be forgotten. Gusau spoke Friday afternoon in Enugu when a delegation from the NFF and FA Chairmen from the South East zone paid a condolence visit to Chukwu’s family. Gusau, who spoke through the NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, described Chukwu as a diligent and patriotic on-field leader who served the country with all his heart and mind, and every ounce of his energy. “The late Chukwu gave his all for the country. He served Nigeria with all his heart and he is a hero even in death. One thing is clear: Chukwu can never be forgotten given how well he served the country and his achievements both as a player and as a coach,” Gusau stated. The NFF President noted that the visit was not just a condolence visit but one the football-ruling body made in order to be intimated, first-hand, plans being put in place by the family ahead of Chukwu’s burial, and for the family and the soccer house to be on the same page. “We want to be on the same page with the family and know what plans they are putting in place. Chukwu is a hero and the NFF will participate fully in his burial,” Gusau assured. Chukwu’s son, Emeka, while responding on behalf of the family commended the NFF leadership for the visit even as he disclosed that the family will soon make public the programme of the final burial rites for the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team captain and Most Valuable Player. Also on the delegation were Member of the NFF Executive Committee and Chairman of the Nigeria National League Mr. George Aluo; Chairman of Enugu State Football Association Barrister Tony Ugwu; Imo State FA Chairman, Barrister Ifeanyi Dike and; Anambra State FA Chairman Mr. Chikelue Iloenyosi.

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Egypt 2025: Nigeria to Go Hard on Morocco For Early Ticket into Quarter Finals

Our Reporters04 mins

Another North African delicacy is served to the Flying Eagles as they confront Morocco in Group B’s top-of-the-table clash at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo on Sunday evening. Auwal Ibrahim’s 37th minute strike snatched the maximum points against the Tunisians on Thursday, but Morocco then upstaged a very good Kenyan side 3-2 in the day’s second match to crawl to the top of the table on goals’ difference. For the second time in consecutive games, the Lion Cubs also face the daunting challenge of a sub-Saharan squad weaned on power, pace and clinical delivery, and the night encounter in downtown Cairo promises fireworks and cutting-edge entertainment. Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, who plays his club football for exciting Lagos ensemble, Sporting Lagos, came up with a big save three minutes to the end against Tunisia, and will surely be called on for more interventions against the Lion Cubs who are not shy to shoot from any distance. Captain Daniel Bameyi, Adamu Maigari, Caleb Ochedikwu and Odinaka Okoro built a tight rearguard on Thursday, and must be even more alert on Sunday to protect Harcourt, and also feed midfielders Divine Oliseh and Clinton Jephta as the Flying Eagles push forward. CAF’s brandishing of forward Kparobo Arierhi (who scored three goals at the WAFU B U20 Championship and netted one of the goals in the 2-1 defeat of hosts Egypt in a friendly last week) as one of the players to watch out for in Egypt, has cast the Norway-based as a goldfish, and the tight marking by Tunisian defenders was surely as a result of the searchlight. Nonetheless, Arierhi must endeavour to prove himself going forward, and Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s desire for an early ticket to the quarter finals means the forward must diligently seek to extricate himself from any contrived mesh. Auwal Ibrahim, hero against Tunisia, showed he is capable of a quick-slip-and-delivery, and will also be relied on to carve the Moroccan defence open and hurt them on the break. Victory will take the Flying Eagles to the top of the pool, and a confirmed spot in the quarter finals, ahead of their last group phase feud with Kenya on Wednesday.

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NFF Celebrates Football Investor and Philanthropist Kunle Soname on 59th Birthday

Our Reporters04 mins

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has warmly felicitated with notable football investor and proprietor of a number of football clubs in the country, Hon. Kunle Soname, as the billionaire business mogul celebrated his 59th birthday anniversary on Sunday. Soname, a former Chairman of a local government in Lagos State, has gradually but steadily built a charming profile as one of the biggest investors in the beautiful game on the African continent, and indeed the universe, with a portfolio that includes proprietorship of elite League club Remo Stars (poised to win this year’s title in Nigeria), second-tier side Beyond Limits and a women’s team, Remo Stars Ladies. He also owns a Portuguese LigaPro side, Clube Desportivo Feirense. All his teams have remained very competitive in their different cadres and jurisdictions. “As a Football Federation, we are enamoured by the worthwhile investments that Hon. Kunle Soname is making in the game of football in Nigeria, Africa and the world. To be proprietor of four different clubs across continents and gender is no mean fit. We celebrate his love for the game and wish him a very happy birthday and many happy returns. “Apart from the clubs, what he has on ground at the Remo Stars Sports Institute in Ikenne-Remo marks him out as a serious and committed investor. A number of our National Teams continue to benefit from the facilities and equipment therein, and the project is still ongoing. We pray that God will grant him good health and long life to fulfil his dreams,” Gusau said. Nigeria’s age-grade National Teams, including the U20 boys (Flying Eagles) and girls (Falconets) and the U17 boys (Golden Eaglets) and girls (Flamingos), as well as the senior women team (Super Falcons) have camped and played matches at the magnificent family in the serene town in Ogun State. Only last week, Soname gifted the Flamingos the sum of four million naira after their 4-0 defeat of Algeria’s U17 girls in a FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying match at the Remo Stars Stadium, at the sum of one million for each goal.

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Morocco 2025: Flamingos Set to Grab World Cup Ticket in Blida

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Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, are firm and ready to pick the ticket for the country’s eighth appearance at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, despite the predictably-cold atmosphere of the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida (outside Algiers), on Friday night. Friday’s encounter against their Algerian counterparts is the final leg of a final qualifying round fixture, with the Flamingos, bronze-medallists from the 2022 finals in India and quarter-finalists from the last edition in the Dominican Republic, holding on to a 4-0 first-leg advantage. The Federation Algerienne de Football (FAF) has scheduled the match to kick off at 8pm, at a time that the winds will begin to blow in stronger from the Mediterranean Sea. However, the Flamingos, who arrived in Algiers in the early hours of Wednesday aboard a Turkish Airline flight from Istanbul, are highly inspired by the imminence of another FIFA World Cup ticket as well as further financial windfall from the Nigeria Football Federation and billionaire business mogul Kunle Soname. Soname gifted the young players and their officials the sum of N4million (one million naira for every goal) following their commanding win over the North Africans at the Remo Stars Stadium on Saturday, while the NFF gave out the sum of N2million (five hundred thousand naira for every goal). President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Hon. Soname have both confirmed that the same financial incentives are in place for the second leg in Blida on Friday. “Our objective is clear – to win the FIFA World Cup ticket. That is the big motivation. Yet, we have been further incentivized by the monetary rewards. My girls will go all out on Friday night,” Head Coach Bankole Olowookere said. Olowookere, who led the Flamingos to their last two World Cup ventures, will most likely rely on first-leg two-goal heroine Queen Joseph, lone-goal scorer Zainab Raji and Kaosarat Olanrewaju to start at the fore, with Shakirat Moshood, Muinat Rotimi and Philomena Isaiah supplying the passes from the midfield. Goalkeeper and captain Christiana Uzoma and defenders Azeezat Oduntan, Hannah Ibrahim, Christiana Sunday and Jumai Adebayo are also likely to start. The Confederation of African Football has selected Cameroonian official Marie Noelle Etong to be the referee, with her compatriots Marcelle Teikeu and Innocentia Ntangti as assistant referee 1 and fourth official respectively, while Chadian Ngarassoum Victorine will be assistant referee 2. Oumou Souleymane Kane from Mauritania will be commissioner and Sabelo Maphosa-Sibindi from Zimbabwe will be in the role of referee assessor.

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Int’l Friendly: Flying Eagles Edge Young Pharaohs in Cairo

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Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles, on Tuesday defeated their Egyptian counterparts, Young Pharaohs 2-1 in a pre-Africa U20 Cup of Nations friendly at the Cairo International Stadium. Kparobo Arierhi, who scored three goals as Nigeria successfully defended her WAFU B U20 Championship title in Lome in October (including a brace in the final that dashed Ghana’s hopes), scored Nigeria’s first in the 10th minute of the encounter after a good pass from Bidemi Amole. The Young Pharaohs pulled one back in the 65th minute through Ahmed Kaabaka, but a dominant Nigeria side shot into the lead again with seven minutes left on the clock after Precious Benjamin made no mistake from the spot, following a foul on Divine Oliseh in the hosts’ eighteen-yard box. Seven-time African champions Nigeria achieved the morale-boosting victory less than 48 hours after arriving in the Egyptian capital for the 17th Africa U20 Cup of Nations, which gets underway on Sunday. The Flying Eagles’ first match is against Tunisia on Thursday next week, before further games against Morocco and Kenya in Group B. On their part, hosts Egypt, who head Group A, will take on South Africa on Sunday, before further games against Sierra Leone on 30th April, Zambia on 3rd May and Tanzania on 9th May.

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