News Post

By Tayo Ogunseye

Smart City FC of Lagos were on Monday held to a 1-1 draw at home by Edel FC of Anambra at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Matchday One of the Nigeria National League (NNL) tie.

The home team handled by former Flying Eagles forward Festus Odini took the game straight to the doorsteps of their rivals with some smart play before their cheering fans.But Edel FC held their line, repelling their probing hosts while also seeking for their own opportunity to cause some havoc in their opponents’ area.

It was however, in the 20th minute that the deadlock was broken.Striker Chinonso Uzoma bearing the No. 27 jersey, found a space between their line with a swift turn as he peeled away from his marker, to put the Lagosians in the lead.

Uzoma ran straight to the popular side to acknowledge the cheering fans who were elated with his execution of the goal.

In the 36th minute,  a corner-kick taken by Smart City saw Edel FC goalkeeper losing the ball mid-air as he tried to catch it.But the referee stopped play moment before a Smart City attacking player kicked the ball into the open net. The first half would end 1-0 in favour of the home team.

On resumption, both teams tried to improve their lots but the first half would end 1-0 in favour of the home team.

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Some notable personalities at venue for the NNL Conference A encounter were; NNL Chairman George Aluo, former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi Olofinjana, Smart City CEO Adeyinka Adeboye and CEO MVP Sports Management Agency Limited Academy Alhaji Datti Umar Yusuf.

At the restart, Smart City tried to build on their slim lead by making some foray into their visitors’ vital area but it was Edel FC who pulled a rabbit out of their hat in the 55th minute.

Ayan Arinze silenced the partisan home fans as he pulled the Nnewi based club on level during a scramble.

This sparked some frenzy among their travelling fans and the goal gave coach Anthony Idowu some reassurance.

Faced with the reality on ground, his opposite number Ogini pushed his team for the winning goal but the resilience and delay tactics of their visitors ensured the match would end 1-1 as the referee signal the end to to entertaining affair.

Former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi Olofinjana has noted that he is impressed with the standard of the NNL match day One involving Smart City and Edel FC at the Onikan Stadium on Monday.

Olofinjana who spoke with www.nnl.com.ng after watching the two sides play out a 1-1 draw, said there has been a massive improvement in the NNL even as he commended the George Aluo led NNL board for taking steps to make the league more attractive.

“I am impressed with what I saw today. Good officiating, fine football artistry by very young players paraded by the two teams.

“The organisers of the league are doing a good job and more of this will definitely bring desired results” Olofinjana stated.

The Smart City, Edel FC tie was one in which the two teams gave the fans a lot to cheer. Smart City dominated the first half and drew the first blood in the 20th minute courtesy of Chinonso Uzoma’s strike.

Edel returned in the second half determined not to leave for Nnewi empty handed. They got rewarded in the 55th minute when Arinze Anya got the equaliser.

In another Week one rescheduled fixture of the NNL, Aminu Mohammed lone strike in the 70th minute, was good enough to give NAF FC a win over visiting ABS FC of Ilorin.

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The first round of matches in the 2023/2024 Nigeria National League (NNL) produced 34 goals from 16 games played so far.

In the Conference C, Wikki Tourist of Bauchi at the Abubakar Tafa Balewa Stadium, recorded the highest number of goals in their 5-0 bashing of visiting EF’CC FC of Abuja.

Yobe Desert Warriors played out a 2-2 draw with visiting Mighty Jets FC at the Gashua Township Stadium, Damaturu.

Meanwhile, NAF FC of Abuja, will battle ABS FC on Monday, at the Area 10 Sports Complex.

Nasarawa United Defeated Zamfara United 1-0 at the newly refurbished Lafia City Stadium in the curtain raiser game for the new season.

CONFERENCE C | MATCHDAY TWO FIXTURES.

Zamfara United Vs NAF FC

EF’CC FC VS Nasarawa United

Mighty Jets Vs Wikki Tourist

Elkanemi Warriors Vs Yobe Desert Warriors.

In Conference D, Sokoto United Defeated City FC of Abuja by 1-0 at the Ginginya Memorial Stadium, While Sporting Supreme FC of Abuja beat their host Kebbi United by two goals to one. The only away win of the week so far.

At the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, Jigawa Golden Stars scored one past Mailantarki FC to record their first win of the season.

CONFERENCE D| MATCHDAY TWO FIXTURES.

City FC Vs Mailantarki FC

Sporting Supreme FC Vs Jigawa Golden Stars

Sokoto United Vs Adamawa United.

Six games was played in Conference A, over the weekend, with 1472 FC of Lagos picking a point in Uyo, when they went visiting Dakkada FC (2-2). Elsewhere at the U.J Usuene Stadium, Calabar, Rovers scored a lone goal to defeat visiting Stormers F.C from Ogun State.

Vandrezzer FC also won Coal City by a lone goal, Beyond Limits drew 1-1 at home, against Madiba FC, while Ekiti United rushed Abia Comets with three goals at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti.

CONFERENCE A| MATCHDAY TWO FIXTURES.

Edel FCVs Madiba FC

Abia Comets Vs Beyond Limits

Coal City Vs Ekiti United

Stormers FC Vs Vandrezzer FC

1472 FC Vs Calabar Rovers

Smart City FC Vs Dakkada FC.

Conference B had Ijebu United defeating Inter Lagos, by two goals to one, Solution FC and Giant Brillars FC at the Awka Township Stadium & UNEC Stadium defeated Lagos teams, TradeSafe FC and Ikorodu City by 1-0 respectively. While Crown FC were 2-1 better off FC One Rocket at the Soun Stadium, Ogbomosho. Games will continue next weekend across all centres.

CONFERENCE B| MATCHDAY TWO FIXTURES.

FC One Rocket Vs Giant Brillars

Inter F.C Vs Crown FC

TradeSafe FC Vs Osun United FC

Warri Wolves FC Vs Solution FC.

MATCHDAY ONE RESULTS

Smart City -Edel FC (Now to be played Monday 20/11/2023).

Dakkada FC 2-2 1472 FC

Rovers FC 1-0 Abeokuta Stomers

Vandrezzer FC Uyo 1-0 Coal City FC

Ekiti United 3-0 Abia Comets FC

Beyond Limits 1-1 Mandiba FC

Solution FC 1-0 TradeSafe FC

Ijebu United 2-1 Inter Lagos

Crown FC 2-1 FC ONE Rocket

Giant Brillars 1-0 Ikorodu City FC

Nasarawa United 1-0 Zamfara United

Yobe Desert Stars 2-2 Mighty Jets

Wikki Tourists 5-0 EFCC FC

NAF FC Vs ABS FC

Kebbi United 1-2 Sporting Supreme FC

Sokoto United 1-0 City FC Abuja

Jigawa Golden Stars 1-0 Mailantarki Care FC

Wikki Tourists of Bauchi’s 5-0 win over EFCC Of Abuja was the main highlight of Matchday 1 of the NNL season.

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Below are some of the results across different venues while some fixtures will be determined on Sunday and Monday.

Results 2023/2024 NNL Match Day One(1)

Conference A

.20/11/2023

Smart City -Edel FC

18-11-2023

*Dakkada 2-2 1472 FC

Sunday 19 November,2023.

Rovers FC v stormers SC , Abeokuta *Vandrezzer FC Uyo v Coal City Utd

*Ekiti United v Abia Comets

*Beyond Limits v Mandiba FC

Conference B

18-11-2023.

*Solution FC 1-0 TradeSafe FC

Ijebu United 2-1 Int’l Lagos

Crown 2- 1 FC ONE Rocket

Giant Brillars 1-0 Ikorodu City

Conference C.

11-11-2023.

Nasarawa United 1-0 Zamfara United

18-11-2023

Yobe Desert Stars 2-2 Mighty Jets

Wikki Tourists 5-0 EFCC FC ,Abuja

19-11-2023

NAF FC,Abuja v ABS FC Ilorin

Conference D

.17-11-2023

Kebbi United 1-2 Sporting Supreme FC,Abuja.

18-11-2023.

Sokoto United 1-0 City FC Abuja

Jigawa Golden Stars 1-0 Mailantarki Care FC,Abuja..

On Thursday 16 November, 2023 Abuja based Nigeria National League Football Club, Sporting Supreme at 4:15 in the afternoon flew out from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the Sultan Saddik Abubakar International Airport, Sokoto to honour their match day one encounter with Kebbi United.

Another NNL New comers 1472 Football Club of Lagos also on Friday 17 of November 2023 flew from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos to Uyo via Airpeace to keep a date with Dakkada Football Club at the newly build Uyo Township,Akwa Ibom State.
1472 FC Club Media Manager Peter Owoloko further disclosed that the Club will fly back to Lagos after their duel in Uyo.

It is a match day one fixture in Conference A.

Incidentally both Sporting Supreme are among the privately owned clubs in the NNL.

In the NNL Star match and opening day one tie at the new-look Lafia City Stadium, home side Nasarawa United edged Zamfara United 1-0 in a fierce encounter.

The victory of the Solid Minners in Lafia was the first in the new season of NNL.

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Gateway Football club of, Abeokuta Ogun State and Malumfashi Football Club of Katsina State have both been ejected from the Nigeria National League (NNL) ,this is following their failure to comply with the terms and conditions of entry and participation for the 2023/2024 season as stipulated in the codified rules and regulations of NNL.

NNL Chief Operating Officer, Dr Ayo Abdulrahman told NNL media that the two clubs have been statutory withdrawn from the league for their financial inability and other club Licensing conditions for the season.

Dr. Abdulrahaman said the NNL board arrived at the decision after exhausting several waivers granted the clubs to enable them participate in the league.

“We did several circulars, phone calls and reminders to the clubs ,yet they fell short of the NNL rule book requirements even after the league started”

“statutorily we had to invoke relevant portions of the rule book articles (2.1,3.11 and 3.5) to withdraw the teams from participating in the league”

The development Dr Abdulrahaman strongly noted also means that Gateway United and Malumfashi forfeit their status as a professional clubs in the NNL.

Dr.Abdulrahaman who said the decision is without prejudice to the clubs,their financiers,owners Associates or supporters ,noted that the clubs have a right if appeal to the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) within forty eight (48) hours of receipt of the letter of withdrawal .

Gateway United was housed in conference B alongside Solution FC of Awka,Trade safe of Lagos,Osun United,Ijebu United;Int’l Lagos,Crown Football club ,FC ONE Rocket, Giant Brillars of Enugu and Ikorodu City of Lagos while Malumfashi was in Conference B with Sokoto United, City Football club of Abuja, Adamawa United, Kebbi United: Jigawa Golden Stars, Sporting Supreme of Abuja and Mailantarki Football club also of Abuja.

Gateway FC Midfielder Richard Appoh says the Abeokuta Warlords will go all out for Osun United as the 2023/2024 NNL season kick starts.

It would be recalled that Nasarawa United defeated Zamfara United last weekend, in the curtain raiser match played at the newly refurbished Lafia City Stadium.

Appoh, who has been an important player for Gateway FC, since joining them some months ago is confident his team can pick maximum points in Osogbo.

“We feel we can beat anyone on our day” Appoh told www.nnl.ng.com.

“Of course, we know it’s going to be tough, but it’s something that we really want, starting the league on a high will boost our confidence ahead of other important games.

“We are going there to win, not just to get a result, but a very positive one. We have a very strong team, and I have no doubt in the abilities of my teammates.” He concluded.

Ikorodu City FC centre back, Habeeb Musa has told www.nnl.com.ng that the Lagos based team is full ready for the new Nigeria National League, NNL season.

Musa who has been a great addition to the team said he and his teammates have great plans for the new season, starting from the Matchday one encounter with Giant Brillars FC in Enugu.

“We have great plans for the new season and out aim is to help the team in every possible way we can,” He said.

“Our collective effort and commitment towards achieving greatness for the club is very strong and we would continue pushing for promotion to the elite league.

“We have a great squad and a very determined team. We have trained so hard during the preseason and now is the time to show what we can do on the pitch.” He concluded.

Ikorodu City FC will commence their 2023/2024 NNL Campaign on Saturday against Giant Brillars FC in Enugu.

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FC One Rocket Head Coach, Ndubuisi Ndah is looking ahead with confidence as the Nigerian National League (NNL) season kick off this weekend with Matchday one games.

The Akwa-Ibom based club will embark on a challenging opening fixture, facing Ogbomosho side, Crown FC.

Having overseen the team’s preparation during pre-season and introducing new additions to the squad, Coach Ndah expressed his belief in the team’s readiness for the forthcoming campaign.

“We have prepared very well for the upcoming season and we are very hopeful for a great start in Ogbomosho,” The former U-23 Eagles Captain told www.nnl.com.ng.

“The first game of the season is always a difficult one, especially when playing with a team like Crown FC, but we are confident and would put in our best for a great game.

FC One Rocket narrowly missed out of promotion last season, but Coach Ndubuisi Ndah is sure they can get it right this season.

“Our target this season is to get it right and gain promotion to the elite league. We missed out narrowly last year, but it would be different this time around.” He concluded.

The large crowd that thronged out to watch the opening match of the 2023/2024 Nigeria National League (NNL) season at the Lafia City Stadium, capital of Nasarawa State has drawn the tonic for the leadership of the league to forge on.

The 10,000 capacity Lafia City Stadium was filled to the brim during the NNL opening fixture involving home side Nasarawa United and visitors Zamfara United.

NNL Board members could not hide their joy and excitement seeing how passionate football faithful and supporters of both clubs stormed the stadium to catch a glimpse of the clubs in the NNL season Saturday November 11, 2023.Chairman of NNL, George Aluo said;

“This is marvelous and a good sight to behold. You can see how much the fans have come to watch this game and support their teams, it makes it more fascinating for us, we are encouraged because football is all about the fans.Players love it most when they see the fans and not empty stands.”For the Chief Executive Officer of the league Emmanuel Attah.“The fans am watching here are big business for us, this is what our partners in this game and would be sponsors want to see.”

Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman, the Chief Operating Officer said the turnout would encourage the secretariat to work more for the NNL brand.President of the NNL club owners (NALCOMA) Chidi Okonkwo adds that it is the impetus for the game to grow knowing that the fans love the game and appreciate the players.“We must keep working hard to attract the fans to come to the stadium to watch their darling team. That way, there is fun for every one. We will have families and others coming to be part of the fun. The league will grow and we can all be proud of it.”Other Day one matches in the NNL will hold on the 18,19 and 20 of November ,2023 in the four conferences.