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Tag: Nigeria

NPFL Matchday 2 Preview: Big Tests Await Old Guards & Newcomers

Fola Badmus015 mins

By George Akpayen After mixed outings in the opening matchweek of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), not much separates all of the 20 clubs so far in the standings and they will go again this Saturday, Sunday and Monday in mouthwatering fixtures that pits the old guards against the newbies. Last weekend, there was a lean spell of goals in the 10 matches that opened the campaign. Only nine goals were scored which represented less than a goal per game and turned to be a good day for the defenders and goalkeepers who shut out the strikers. The fixtures for Matchday 2 looks finely balanced and a number of the matches have the trappings to produce goals aplenty considering previous head-to-head meetings. OLD FOES START MATCHWEEK AS BOTTOM-TWO When Alfa Sadiq signals for the start of this matchweek’s first fixture in Benin City, two traditional rivals, Bendel Insurance and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), will be battling as 20th and 19th placed teams. Both sides began the season on losing note – 3SC fell 0-1 at home to Bayelsa United while Bendel Insurance lost 0-2 at El-Kanemi Warriors. Last season in this corresponding fixture, Insurance edged past 3SC 1-0 through Michael Enaruna’s late goal. Enaruna, like a number of Insurance players from last season, has moved on to newcomers, Barau FC, but this does not take away the advantage that Insurance have posted over their rivals especially when they play hosts in this fixture. Head coach of 3SC, Nurudeen Aweroro, will have to work on the psyche of his players to banish the club’s poor recent trips to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. In their last five trips to Benin City, 3SC have avoided defeat just once (D1 L4) since the turn of the millennium. The other times, 3SC avoided defeat in Benin City was in February 1998 and July 1999 when they played out 2-2 and 1-1 draws respectively. Bendel Insurance head coach, Greg Ikhenoba and Aweroro, will hope their teams can put points on the board and score goals as well after watching their sides fire blanks on the opening day. CHAMPIONS IN TRICKY TRIP TO ABA WITHOUT MBAOMA The champions, Remo Stars, will also be looking to claim their first win of the season after the 1-1 draw at home to Rivers United in the first game of the season. The titleholders will have to face newcomers, Kun Khalifat FC at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, which they have adopted as home ground owing to renovation at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri without Victor Mbaoma. The striker returned to Remo Stars in the off-season transfer window and immediately got off the mark in the opening game before leaving the pitch early with a rib injury which his head coach, Daniel Ogunmodede told npfl.ng has ruled him out of the trip for Monday’s match. Ogunmodede’s explanation borders on taking precautionary measures on the striker since they have subsequent league games and CAF Champions League coming up in September. “Victor will not be available for the match (against Kun Khalifat FC),” Ogunmodede also known as Ijaball revealed to npfl.ng. “The extent of the (rib) injury has not be fully ascertained and we are still monitoring his situation which rules him out of the game entirely.” Mbaoma’s absence could pave way for Remo Stars’ Malian striker, Adama Goita, to earn his first start of the season. It is the first time both teams will meet in the topflight and the odds are in favour of the champions though Obinna Uzoho and his men will hope they can hold off another big team like they did in the opening matchday at Rangers where they got a point off a 0-0 draw. SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IN LAGOS Talk of holding off for a point, Ikorodu City started their season with a 0-0 draw at Kwara United despite featuring nine NPFL debutants and a new head coach in Ali Kandil after the departure of Aweroro to Shooting Stars. Ikorodu City will now shape up for their first home game against El-Kanemi Warriors in this season’s first Sunday night fixture at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan in Lagos. El-Kanemi, on the other hand, started with a 2-0 win over Insurance at home. Last season, which was City’s debut campaign in the NPFL, they scored 48 goals at home, 15 more than champions Remo Stars who netted the second highest number of goals at home. So, NPFL followers will expect this game to flow with goals considering Kandil was part of City’s coaching setup under Aweroro’s management and will want to continue with the same team ethos. Both teams have met just twice in the NPFL and City are unbeaten on both occasions (W1 D1). The Oga Boys saw off El-Kanemi 2-0 in this same fixture with Ayomide Cole and Shola Adelani scoring second half goals. Both players were missing in City’s game at Kwara United but it is likely Adelani should be back in the team for El-Kanemi’s visit. Kabiru Dogo should have a full El-Kanemi squad including his opening matchweek goalscorers, Al’amin Umar and Daddy Abdulrahman, for the trip to Lagos except for suspended midfielder Zayyad Musa who got a straight red card against Bendel Insurance. This first night game could be turn out to be a test for Kandil’s side, now full of newcomers in the top division. BIG GUNS AIM TO FIND COMFORT AT HOME On the opening round of the season, the big boys found it difficult to eke out results and this time will have to do so in front of their supporters or else the pressure begins to pile up from here on. Enyimba, Kano Pillars, Plateau United and Rivers United all play on Sunday against Niger Tornadoes, Wikki Tourists, Katsina United and Cup holders, Kwara United, respectively. All four clubs will hope to make playing at home count in order to get their first wins of the season. Enyimba under Stanley Eguma will be keen to…

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Villarreal Confirms Swoop for Nigerian-Born Minnesota striker

Fola Badmus01 mins

Villarreal coach Marcelino has confirmed they’re signing Minnesota United striker Tani Oluwaseyi. The Nigerian-born Canada international is moving to Villarreal for €8m. He has settled on personal terms over a five-year contract to 2030. The Minnesota forward arrives after scoring 10 goals in his last 24 matches. Key to the deal has been Taj Buchanan, who has talked up Villarreal to his Canada teammate Oluwaseyi. “We lost a key player like (Everton striker Thierno) Barry, and we were looking for a player with similar abilities,” said Marcelino. “They’re different players, but he can give us depth, speed, and finishing. He comes from a smaller but competitive league. Knowing Tajon will help him adapt.”

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Nigeria’s GDP Rebased to ₦205 Trillion, Grows 3.13% in Q1 2025

Fola Badmus02 mins

Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.13% year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter of 2025, according to new data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday. This marks a significant improvement over the 2.27% growth recorded in Q1 2024, driven mainly by robust activity in the services and industry sectors. In a related development, the NBS announced that Nigeria’s GDP has been rebased to ₦205 trillion using 2019 as the new base year, replacing the previous 2010 benchmark. Statistician General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, disclosed that the revised GDP at current prices stood at ₦372.8 trillion (approximately $243 billion) in 2024, reflecting a 41.7% increase from the last rebasing in 2014. Key Highlights of the New GDP Data: Top Sectors by Contribution: The rebased data shows real estate surpassing crude oil and gas due to improved coverage of informal sector activities. Services remain the largest classification, contributing 53.09% of GDP in 2019, followed by agriculture (25.83%) and industries (21.08%). Adeniran also highlighted the growing impact of the informal economy, which accounted for ₦86.85 trillion or 42.5% of GDP in 2019, up from ₦39 trillion in 2015. Read Full Report: News360 Nigeria

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Breaking: Nigeria’s Popular TikToker Peller Kidnapped

Fola Badmus01 mins

Fast-rising TikTok sensation, Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, has been reportedly abducted by unknown gunmen on Wednesday night. According to viral videos making the rounds on social media, the 20-year-old content creator was live on TikTok when his car was stopped by armed men. In the footage, Peller could be heard questioning why a gun was pointed at him, before the gunmen ordered him to step out of his vehicle. He complied and has not been seen since. An aide to the TikToker, who arrived at the scene moments later, confirmed that Peller’s car was found abandoned. “We don’t know who took him,” the aide said, further heightening fears about his whereabouts. Meanwhile, some social media users alleged that Peller might have mistaken the gunmen for policemen conducting late-night stop-and-search operations before realizing the danger too late.

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Basketball: Port Harcourt to Host Phase I & II of 2025 NBPL

Fola Badmus04 mins

Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been selected to host the 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League’s Phase I and II, with games starting 28 August. The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has named Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as one of four venues to stage the forthcoming 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL). In a letter dated 19th August, 2025, and addressed to all participating clubs, the NBBF announced Port Harcourt as the only city to host both Phase I and Phase II of the league’s new format, which will see action between all sixteen (16) participating teams broken down into four phases (Group, Inter-Group, Playoff, and Final Four) across the Savannah and Atlantic Conferences. The Indoor Basketball Court, on 54 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township, which is home to defending champions Rivers Hoopers BC, will also welcome Delta Force, Oluyole Warriors, and Kwara Falcons in Group B of the Atlantic Conference. Ibadan, Oyo State, will host Group A games in the Atlantic Conference, which will see Ebun Comets, Police Batons, Lagos Legends, as well as Hoops & Read, go head-to-head at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba. In the Savannah Conference, the Moshood Abiola National stadium, Abuja, will be the centre of action for Group A teams – Nile University, Nigeria Customs, Gboko Chiefs, and Correctional Service – while Group B games between Kano Pillars, Plateau Peaks, Gombe Bulls, and Bauchi Nets will hold at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium, Kano, Kano State. All teams are expected to arrive at their various centres between 26 and 27 August, with match action to hold from 28 August to 3 September, after which follows a period of rest before the commencement of the Inter-Group Phase (II). The Inter-Group Phase, scheduled for 24 September – 5 October, will once again see Port Harcourt play host, this time to all eight (8) teams in the Atlantic Conference, while all teams from the Savannah Conference will converge at the National Indoor Sports Hall, Rayfield, Jos, Plateau State. Venues for the Playoffs and Final 4 are yet to be named. The latest development means Port Harcourt, Rivers State, will host Premier League Basketball games for the third straight year, having also hosted the finals of the 2023 and 2024 NBPL seasons.

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8th African Nations Championship: Nigeria Go Out On a High after Win over Congo

Fola Badmus03 mins

The Super Eagles B caged Congo’s Red Devils with two goals in the second half in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, but their firepower came too late as both teams were eliminated from the 8th African Nations Championship at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Congo had hopes of inching their way into the knockout rounds before kick-off, with two points from their first two matches, including a fit-fighting draw with champions Senegal. On their part, the Eagles already had their bags packed for the journey home after an underwhelming first two games of the group phase in which they lost by a lone goal to Senegal and were battered for four by Sudan. Both teams did not present a spectacle in the first period, with no clear-cut opportunities created, though the Red Devils could have gone ahead in the 25th minute when Nigeria captain Nduka Junior bungled a simple pass and was lucky the opposing striker could not keep his header down in front of junior international goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt. Nigeria returned from recess with obvious renewed vigour, and it was no surprise when Anas Yusuf connected home beautifully, a headed pass by Sikiru Alimi in the 56th minute, following a cross by defender Abdulrafiu Taiwo. The 2018 silver medallists, who had not scored a goal in the competition since winning their semi-final clash with Sudan in Marrakech seven years ago, pushed forward more and more, and got a second goal three minutes into added time through Sikiru Alimi. Cup-holders Senegal and Sudan make it to the quarter-finals from Group D, while the Eagles are expected back home on Thursday.

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Nigerian-Born Benin Striker, Omotoyossi Dies 39

Fola Badmus02 mins

Nigerian-born Benin Republic striker Razak Omotoyossi has tragically died aged 39. The passing of the Beninese football icon and former Blackpool trialist was announced on Tuesday. Omotoyossi, who was born in Nigeria but represented neighbouring Benin, played for 15 clubs during his career before calling it a day as a professional footballer in 2021. Helsingborg, Al-Nassr, Metz and Zamalek were the most high-profile teams the late striker played for. And a number of his old sides paid tribute to him upon learning of his untimely death. Swedish side Helsingborgs wrote in a statement on X: “Helsingborgs IF is in mourning. “We have been informed that our former player, Razak Omotoyossi, has passed away at the age of 39. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Razak.” Syrianski FC wrote: “Syrianska FC has received with deep sadness the extremely tragic news of the passing of Razak Omotoyossi. “He passed away at the age of 39. Syrianska expresses its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. “Rest in peace, Razak Omotoyossi.” Omotoyossi was prolific for Benin Republic, scoring 21 goals in 55 appearances for The Cheetahs across the span of 12 years. The cause of Omotoyossi’s tragic death has yet to be revealed.

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EFCC Arraigns Man for Alleged N131.8m, $200,000 Fraud in Abuja

Fola Badmus04 mins

The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, August 18, 2025, arraigned one Umar Abdullahi before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja for fraud. Abdullahi, an Information and Communication Technology, ICT, consultant is being prosecuted on four-court charges, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, advance fee fraud and money laundering to the tune of N131.8 million and $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). One of the charges reads: “That you, Umar Abdullahi, sometime between July 2024 and August 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did accept and transact cash payment of $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Dollars) for allotment of shares in Multi Access Controls Limited, in excess of the Ten Million Naira threshold, without transacting through a financial institution, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 2 (1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19 (2) (b) of the same Act.” Another reads: “That you, Umar Abdullahi, sometime in June 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N104,980,000.00 (One Hundred and Four Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) into Account Number: 2266267081, domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, from Aura Integrated Energy Resources Limited under the false pretence that the money was for procurement of telecommunication equipment and logistics for Nigerian Communications Commission staff, a pretence you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.” He pleaded “not guilty” to all charges, following which prosecution counsel, Cosmas Ugwu, urged the court to remand him in a correctional facility pending trial, noting that he had earlier jumped an administrative bail granted him by the EFCC, while the defence counsel, A.O. Agbonlahor, pleaded with the court for the defendant to be remanded in EFCC’s custody. Justice Nwite after listening to both counsel, ordered that Abdullahi be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja and adjourned the case till September 8, 2025 for commencement of trial. Abdullahi’s prosecution followed a petition by Alhaji Shehu Badamosi to the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, in which he alleged that the defendant approached him, claiming to have secured a contract with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and needed financing to the tune of N131.8m and $200,000 for its execution. The petitioner further claimed that the defendant after receiving the money from him became incommunicado, while all his efforts to recover his money from him, proved abortive.

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