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Eddie Howe urges Newcastle fans to power team to victory against Arsenal

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to secure victory over Arsenal in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals, thanks to the support of their passionate home crowd at St. James’ Park.

Following their impressive 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg, Howe emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and harnessing the energy of their fans.

“We’ve had very little time to dwell on the defeat to Fulham, but it was good to quickly shift our focus to the Carabao Cup. It’s a massive game with a huge incentive for us,” Howe told the club’s website.

Despite the advantage, Howe warned against complacency:
“We are at the halfway point in the tie. The game is still very much alive. We have to approach it positively and aggressively while staying true to our game plan.”

Howe highlighted the crucial role of their supporters:
“Us and the crowd have become a really potent team together. We’re going to need to absolutely engage all our supporters with our energy and body language, using every power we possess to involve them.”

Newcastle will aim to make the most of their home advantage as they bid for a spot in the final at Wembley.

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PFC 2025: GTI congratulates states and FCT champions

After a very busy weekend of hostilities which culminated in the emergence of champions from 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) at the ongoing President Federation Cup (PFC), strategic partners to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, has congratulated the teams for emerging victorious and being worthy ambassadors of their states.

According to GTI Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba in Lagos on Monday, he congratulated both the men and women teams that featured at the state finals for proving their mettle and hopes the energy, grit, technical and tactical discipline they exhibited during the state finals will be replicated when action commences at the national finals.

“GTI’s journey of taking the President Federation Cup to the next level has commenced this year after our maiden outing last year. GTI Group congratulates the champions from the various states and FCT for living up to billing.

“As expected, there were upsets. In Abia for example, 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League champions Enyimba of Aba were beaten 3-1 on penalties after a pulsating 0-0 draw with an NLO club, Ahudiya Nnem FC. The Abiriba-based amateur side had earlier defeated Abia Warriors at the semi-finals, thus setting the stage for another scintillating PFC national finals,” Ekejiuba said.

“In other results, perennial Enugu State President Federation Cup champions, Rangers International FC were lucky as they emerged champions courtesy of a 3-0 spanking of NNL side, Ijele FC in the final match played on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

“Rangers’ young midfield sensation, Daniel Onyia broke the deadlock in 33^rd minute when he rifled home a shot from a distance of thirty meters and Ijele FC goalkeeper was beaten hands-down.

“Again, in the 54^th minute, Michael Uchebo stabbed home the second goal for the ‘Flying Antelopes’ after receiving a pass from Effimi Nsi and later in the 67^th minute, Daniel Onyia grabbed his brace as his long-range shot took a wicked deflection to send the opponent’s shot stopper, Ojobo Ifebuche, the wrong way for the third goal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.”

Elsewhere, in Benue, Lobi Stars once again, emerged as champions of the 2025 President Federation Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a determined Flight FC of Gboko at the Benue State University Sports Complex, Makurdi. The Pride of Benue took an early lead in the 20th minute when Johnmark Aule curled a stunning free kick into the net, setting the tone for an electrifying contest. However, Flight FC responded just before halftime, with John Lim restoring parity in the 45th minute.

A second-half goal (54^th minute) from Samuel Tiza was enough to prove decisive in the thrilling encounter that saw Alia Boys emerge champions.

Below is the breakdown of all the results from the 36-state finals and FCT in both men and women categories of PFC:

2025 States PFC Final Results (Men)

Abia: Enyimba 0-0 (1-3 pen) Ahudiyannem FC
Adamawa: Adamawa United 2-0 Velvot Academy
Akwa Ibom: Akwa United 1-0 Eagles Eye FA
Anambra: Solution FC 0-0 (0-2 pen) Edel FC
Bauchi: Wikki Tourists FC 1-0 Warinje FC
Bayelsa: Bayelsa United 2-2 (2-4 pen) Krusaders FC
Benue: Lobi Stars 2-1 Flight FC
Borno: El Kanemi Warriors FC 3-0 Police Machine (CP Strikers) FC
Cross Rivers: Rovers FC 1-0 E World
Delta: Warri Wolves FC 2-1 Sapele Lions
Ebonyi: Cynosure FC 0-1 Abakaliki FC
Edo: Bendel Insurance FC 3-0 Assemblies of God
Ekiti: COPDEM 0-1 NOSMAS
Enugu: Rangers FC 3-0 Ijele FC
FCT: EFCC 0-0 (3-4 pen) FWC FC
Gombe: Gombe United 3-1 El Sharma FC
Imo: Heartland FC 2-0 OISA FC Okpala
Jigawa: Dandidi Babes 2-0 Lautau United
Kaduna: Simon Beb FA 1-1 (2-4) Green Berets
Kano: Pillars 3-2 Barau FC
Katsina: Katsina United 1-0 Jnr. Danburam FC
Kebbi: Discovery Talent Academy 1-5 Kebbi United
Kogi: Kogi Central FC 1-2 FC Bako
Kwara: Kwara United 1-1 (5-4 pen) ABS
Lagos: Inter Lagos 0-0 (5-4 pen) Ikorodu City
Nasarawa: Nasarawa United 2-0 FC Basira
Niger: Atlantic FA, Suleja 0-0 (6-5 pen) Harmony FA, Bosso
Ogun: Imperial FC 2-2 (8-7 pen) Beyond Limits
Ondo: Sunshine Stars 0-0 (4-3 pen) Sunshine Stars U19
Osun: Osun United 0-1 Igbajo United
Oyo: Crown FC 0-0 (2-4) Shooting Stars FC
Plateau: Plateau United 2-0 Mighty Jets International FC
Rivers: Rivers United 0-0 (4-3 pen) Wilbros FC
Sokoto: Sokoto United FC 1-2 Sokoto North FC
Taraba: Technobat FC 0-1 Eagle Stars FC
Yobe: Yobe Desert Stars 10-1 Gujba Academy
Zamfara: Zamfara United 1-0 Zamfara Feeders FC

2025 States PFC Final Results (Women)

Akwa Ibom: Ibom Angels 3-0 Jacklyn Angels
Bayelsa: Bayelsa Queens 8-0 Crystal Stars FC
Delta: Delta Queens FC 2-0 Delta Babes
Edo: Edo Queens 3-0 Fortress Ladies
FCT: Naija Ratels 6-0 N-Youth Ladies FA
Kaduna: Gallant Queens 6-0 Kada Queens FC
Kwara: Moje Queens 2-2 (4-3 pen) Kwara Ladies
Lagos: Unification FC Ladies 0-1 Dannaz Ladies FC
Ogun: Remo Stars Ladies 4-0 Castmong Ladies FC
Ondo: Sunshine Queens 3-3 (4-2 pen) Onimarg FC
Plateau: Plateau United Queens 2-1 Mighty Jets Mata
Rivers: Rivers Angels 10-0 Sporting Angels

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Niger Delta Sports Festival: Online Registration Portal Closes On Friday 28 Feb.

Technical Committee Co-Chairman of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), Enefiok Udo-Obong has announced that the registration portal would be closed on February 28 as he urged State Liaison Committees to double their efforts at facilitating registration of athletes in their respective states. He hinted that there will be a reward for the state with highest entries.

Udo-Obong spoke in a virtual review meeting of the Technical/Facilities Committee and the States Liaison members.

He also seized the opportunity to remind them of the eligibility rules, emphasising that, “the only eligibility criteria are being an indigene of a Niger Delta Development Commission state and being under 25 years of age”.

He disclosed that an exception to the age cap rule is for football and boxing where professionals and League players are not qualified to register.

“We excluded the Para Sports from the age cap, there is no age limit in those

sports. But Olympians who are under 25 years are eligible to participate”.

A cursory check on the registration data shows that more entries have been received for athletics, followed by football and Para athletics.

On a state by state registration scale, Delta State is ahead of the rest and are trailed by Ondo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Edo states.

The Australia 2000 Olympics gold medalist in the 4x400m relay disclosed that he has secured the confidence of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) Co-Chairman, Itiako Ikpokpo for a reward to the top three states in the registration ladder.

The NDSF is the very first regional sports festival in the country and will hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from April 1-9. The festival is sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for athletes indigenous to the nine mandate states of the Commission.

Over 3,000 athletes are expected to participate in 17 select sports.

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Federation Cup: GTI Thumbs Up NFF organisational Prowess, Lauds Clubs

Strategic partners to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup (PFC), GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, has commended the high level of organisational prowess exhibited by the nation’s football-ruling body and the quality of competitiveness among clubs featuring in the ongoing 2024/2025 PFC competition.

According to GTI Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba in Lagos on Friday, he commended all the clubs that registered for this year’s competition for exhibiting high level of discipline as the state finals are expected to be concluded this weekend. The contending teams are encouraged to uphold the spirit of Fair play.

“As it has been the tradition in the past, some of the big teams in this year’s edition have succumbed to the fire-power of the so-called minnows. In Abia State, a non-league club, Ahudiya Nnem FC, dumped out Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club, Abia Warriors from this year’s edition. The Abiriba-based amateur side defeated Abia Warriors, last year’s national finalists 3-1 on penalties after the match ended one goal apiece in the regulation time in the semi-final decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium last week.

“Therefore, with the state finals slated for this weekend, fans are expected to look out for more surprises,” Ekejiuba said. “The PFC (formerly Federation Cup) is the oldest domestic football competition in Nigeria and GTI Group is committed to improving Nigerian football at all levels. We will continue to energise the competition as strategic partners to NFF and also make the competition more attractive.”

Meanwhile some finalists have emerged in the men and women categories for the PFC state finals to be decided this weekend. In Cross River State, Rovers United will be battling E World FC in the men’s final slated for E. J Esuene Stadium Calabar by 3pm on Saturday, while in Sokoto State, Sokoto United will square up against Sokoto North FC also in the men’s final on Sunday at Giginya Memorial Stadium Sokoto by 4pm.

From Rivers State, Rivers United will lock horns with Willbros FC in the men’s final game, while defending champions Rivers Angels will tackle Sporting Angels FC in the women’s final. Both matches will be played at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Saturday, February 22, 2025.