Nigeria Premier League

All Set For 1XBET Cup, As Organisers, Teams Declare Readiness

All is now set for the kick-off of the maiden edition of the 1XBET Cup, as actions begin Tuesday in the DBI Conference of the championship, featuring 40 non-league sides drawn from different parts of Lagos State and that have been divided into 5 Conferences of 8 teams each.

On Tuesday, at the Nitel Training ground venue of the DBI Conference, Capital Avalanche will tackle Cheche Star FC in the opening game of group A, while Soccer Touch will lock horns with Fackson FC.

On Wednesday, soccer fans will see actions in group B, as Bariga FC and G-Innovation will do battle in the first game. And in the second game of the group, Ifako FC and Emiloju FC would battle for supremacy.

Matchday 2 matches in group A resume on Thursday, when Cheche Stars FC play against Soccer Touch and Capital Avalanche go to battle with Fackson FC. On Friday, actions will resume again in group B of the Conference, as Bariga FC play against Emiloju FC, while G. Innovation will face Fako FC in the second game of the day.

Actions will continue in the Conference next Tuesday, in the match day 3 of the 1XBET Cup to produce the two teams that would move into the last eight of the championship.

Consultant and Coordinator of the 1XBET Cup, Engr. Waidi Akanni, speaking on the readiness of the organisers, reaffirms that everything has been put in place to set an enviable benchmark for the organisation and development of grassroots football in Lagos and Nigeria, in general.

President of G-Innovation FC, one of the teams participating in the championship, Edwin Chigozie Nwagwu, expressed the readiness of his team to take on all opponents and claim the ultimate prize in the championship.

“We’re ready for this championship. We’re known as ‘Conquistadors’, and it’s not for nothing,” the youthful club owner boasted.

He went on to praise the organisers and particularly, the sponsors of the 1XBET Cup, for giving opportunities to non-league teams to compete for honours and win prizes in the much-anticipated grassroots football competition.

Nigeria Premier League

Ogunmodede reflects on Emo Stars’ win over Abia Warriors

Emo Stars technical adviser Daniel Ogunmodede admitted his side was fortunate to secure a 3-2 victory over Abia Warriors in Ikenne on Wednesday.

Abia Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the first half, with goals from Ayodele Eziekel and Anthony Ijoma. However, Emo Stars responded with three goals from Olamilekan Adebayo, Jabbar Malik, and Franck Mawuena to clinch the win.

Ogunmodede acknowledged that his team had underestimated their opponents but managed to turn things around. “The game was tense and shocking in the first half on our home ground. Not every time you will be lucky against a great team we played against,” he said in the post-match interview.

“We underestimated the qualities of our opponent, and we were punished for it. But luckily, we identified the problem and readjusted to get the victory.”

Emo Stars will now aim to build on this win as they continue their campaign

Nigeria Premier League

Kano Pillars eye maximum points in midweek showdown with Ikorodu City

Kano Pillars are determined to secure all three points in their upcoming fixture against Ikorodu City in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The Sai Masu Gida will face Ikorodu City at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos on Wednesday.

Usman Abdallah’s side is upbeat and focused ahead of the match, with the players in high spirits.

“Done and dusted with the shake-ups ahead of our NPFL25 Matchday 21 clash against Ikorodu City this Wednesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos,” Kano Pillars wrote on X.

“The boys are in high spirits and determined to secure maximum points as we aim to continue our impressive run this season.”

Kano Pillars currently sit in eighth place on the league table with 28 points.

Nigeria Premier League

Brown Ideye criticizes NPFL standards, calls for major improvements

Enyimba striker Brown Ideye has expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), stating that significant improvements are needed to elevate its standard.

Ideye, who rejoined the league in December 2024 after signing for Enyimba, has made appearances in both NPFL and CAF Confederation Cup matches, scoring two goals so far.

Sharing his thoughts following Enyimba’s 2-0 defeat to Kwara United in a rescheduled matchday 16 fixture in Ilorin, Ideye voiced concerns about the league’s challenges.

“The system is getting worse; the league is not improving. I feel like we have a long way to go,” Ideye remarked during an interview.

Despite enjoying his time at Enyimba, the former West Brom striker emphasized that much remains to be addressed in the league.

“My time at Enyimba has been wonderful, but there are a lot of things in the league that need improvement and haven’t changed yet,” he added.

On the poor performances of Nigerian clubs in CAF competitions, Ideye highlighted critical areas requiring attention.

“In terms of traveling, feeding, hotel accommodations, and player relaxation — it’s all bad. Nigerians are not ready for continental competitions. We need to put our house in order before going there, instead of embarrassing ourselves.”