Nigeria Sports Arena

It was celebration of sorts inside Karkanda stadium located within Katsina state capital, venue of one of the Match day 3 of Nigeria National League; NNL after Supreme Court FC of Abuja spanked Spotlight FC 3-2 in a densely hot weather on Sunday. The shema boys were the same team that held Super Eagles turtored by Stephen Keshi to a goaless draw five days ago on the same ground. Though the game against their League foes began with the home team dominating affairs in the first 20 minutes of play, the Apex Boys as Abuja based side are fondly called took over missing flurry of chances before Spotlight got an opener in the 38 minutes. Five minutes on, Supreme striker Peter Michael leveled the goal tally before half time. Back in the second half, Spotlight fought harder and took the lead once more before their Defence foul right in front of goal post allowed substitute Friday Jacob who scored from spot kick to level score again for Supreme Court in the 87th minutes. Another substitute...

Prime Football Club bounced back from last week’s defeat against Ikorodu United to secure their second win in three matches. The Omoluabi Giants strengthened their grip in the Nigeria National League with a 2-0 win at home to Abia Comets Football Club of Umuahia. Prime influential attacking pair, Chukwuemeka Robert Ogundu and Damola Fakayode, were both on target on Saturday at the Sports Complex of Federal Polytechnic, Ede. Prime went ahead in the 15th minute when Ogundu's acrobatic kick beat Comets goalkeeper Ogoke Kingsley, to goal.  But there was no denying the quality of Prime's second goal, in the 30th minute. Stand-in captain, Abdullah Fatai, won the ball from Comets attacker, to launch a rapid counter-attack, Mamud Akorede took the ball forward and then exchanged passes with Ogundu, and Damola Fakayode collecting a superbly-weighted return ball, before sliding a precise shot under Comets goaltender.  Prime were superior in the first half and went in at the ...

Kogi United have secured their first win of the season on Saturday with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Yobe Desert Stars in Lokoja. The Confluence state club had almost wrapped up the game in first half after gaining a two goal lead from Destiny Ashadi's 14 minutes strike from the spot and a well taken free kick scored by Ernest Governor in the last minute of the first stanza. The second half was not as eventful as the first but Kogi United would still fashioned out the third goal in the 66th minute. Destiny Ashadi collected a through pass from Ismail Mayaki in his half and raced down to goal area before shooting directly to Yobe Stars goalkeeper Victor Philemon who punched it back to the Wada Boys' Number 10 to finished the job and recorded Kogi United's third goal and his brace of the match. While describing the victory as fantastic for his boys, chairman of the Lokoja based side, Abdul Sule noted that the display of soccer artistry would assist Kogi United to get th...

Players of Kogi United FC have resolved to give their all as they prepare to host Yobe desert Stars in this weekend's Week Three of NNL. The match billed for Confluence Stadium, Lokoja on Saturday will be used to get to winning ways for the Wada Boys after two back-to-back draws in their fixtures. The club's defensive midfielder, Peter Owoicho noted that the Confluence State club have been lifted with an important point secured from Supreme Court last week adding that the encounter against the boys from Damaturu will be used get to their winning mentality back. "We are seriously ready for the weekend match, it's very important, in fact, I can tell you we are on fire now and with God on our side, we will beat Yobe Desert Stars well on Saturday, begins Owoicho. "It's not too good we drew our last match at home, but one point we picked in Abuja (against Supreme court) really helped us and gave us confidence to go into the next game, we are working to get the...

Sunshine Stars have been named the winners of the League Bloggers Awards (LBA) Q1 after finishing the top of the Glo Premier League in the first quarter of this season. The Owena Waves, after match day 10 in the Nigerian top flight amassed 20 points, two more than the chasing pack of Kano Pillars and Enyimba in second and third positions respectively. Sunshine Stars won six matches, drew two and lost two while they scored 14 goals, including five of the goals being netted by Tunde Adeniji. They shipped in seven goals from the 10 games played. The Akure club are yet to lose in their last five matches including a win at Heartland and a draw at Nasarawa United. Their last defeat was on match day five when they lost one-nil at El-Kanemi Warriors on April 22. Sunshine Stars have also scored in every of their last five matches in the league. "Sunshine Stars have been playing great football since the second half of the first quarter and it's no surprise that they have emerged w...

Niger Tornadoes head coach, Abdullahi Biffo said he was a relieved man after he master-minded a slim one-nil win over FC Zamfara in the week two of the Nigeria National League on Saturday. Tornadoes won the tension-soaked match via a lone strike from Lukman Mohammed at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna. “It's a relief, we can't hide it," said Biffo after his men earned their first win of the season after the week one match against Ranchers Bees was moved. "For me it's not about a relief of winning but for me it's about the team and the fans who came to support their darling team." "We have broken the ice and can continue the good work in our next match against FRSC in Abuja. I am happy we got three points and can't ask for more." Biffo, though, conceded it was not a consummate display but was pleased all the same. "In the first half, we passed the ball around and looked sharp. In the second stanza, we didn't play well but w...

  Dolphins’ full back, Jonathan Zikiye has explained his 35 yard strike in Jalingo against FC Taraba last Wednesday.   Zikiye got the ball in his own half, took a step forward and shot the ball from distance to beat Chinedu Kawawa in goal for FC Taraba.   “I wasn’t really expecting to score but when the ball came, I gave it a try and then saw it in the net.   “Actually, I called for the ball and when it came, I touched it once and looked up to see the keeper off his line and I gave it a try,” Zikiye said.   Zikiye expressed his joy at the goal in a league that he calls “a difficult one.”   “I’m happy and excited because it is not easy for a defender to score in a difficult league and that was my second goal of the season."   Zikiye adds that he cannot join those who say his goal can be the best this season.   “I have not yet watched the clips of the goal so I cannot judge ...