RandaFooty: Everything Nigerian football, home and abroad

Chairman of Club Owners Association, Barrister Isaac Danladi has congratulated Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Member, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh after the Niger State FA chairman was reappointed into Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Standing Committee. The vice-chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee has been appointed into CAF Technical and Development Committee for duration of two years. Fresh was reappointed into CAF Standing Committee for the third term consecutively. The cycle of the Committee would run from 2017 to 2019. "I want to congratulate my friend and hardworking football administrator, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh for his reappointment into CAF Standing Committee. I join all stakeholders to appreciate the good work Fresh has been doing which got him recognition on the Africa continent," said the Nasarawa United chairman. "For CAF Executives to considered him for the third term to serve Africa confirmed the administ...

The 2016/17 Nigeria  Professional Football Season  was a tough and grueling one  that saw Plateau United  emerge winners for the first  time in their club history. Weeks of road trips, flights,  spectacular goals and great  saves culminated in the Jos  based side lifting the title  and giving Jos fans something  to smile about after decades  of agony. For other teams and the  principal actors, it was time  to take their feet off the  pedal to relax, take stock,  recharge and get set for the  new season that will welcome  back Heartland ...

Philip Azango. Pic courtesy trencin.sk Plateau United winger Philip Elayo Azango has inked a three year deal with Slovak giants AS Trencin for an undisclosed fee. The 20 year old has been training with the Slovak team for some months now as he awaited his work permit and international clearance which has eventually come through. He featured for Trencin in their last game against Zilina to follow in the foot steps of Moses Simon, Kinglsey Madu and Maduka Udeh Christopher who all cut their teeth with the team before moving on. The flying winger was one of Plateau United's best performers before moving to Europe as the Jos based side won the Nigeria Professional Football League title this season. Another Nigerian, Ejike Okoh, 18, also signed a three year deal with Trencin and will swell the number of Nigerians in the team that includes Hilary Gong and Abdul Zubairu. Ejike Okoh Trencin General Manager  Róbert Rybníček was delighted with the acquisitions and believes t...

2015 champions of Nigeria’s oldest and biggest domestic competition, Akwa United FC of Uyo on Sunday reclaimed the title, now named AITEO Cup, on a brilliant and exciting evening at the Agege Stadium, Lagos. Scoreline at the final whistle was 0-0 but the  Promise Keepers  prevailed 3-2 after penalty shoot –out to become the first winners of the captivating AITEO trophy. The colourful final was watched by a glittering array of eminent personalities, including Governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger State), CAF President Ahmad, CAF Vice Presidents Kwesi Nyantakyi and Omari Selemani, CAF Emergency Committee members Souleman Waberi and Amaju Melvin Pinnick, Executive Committee members of NFF, chieftains of sponsors AITEO, NFF Management, Members of the Lagos State Executive Council and members of the diplomatic community.   2015 champions of Nigeria’s oldest and biggest domestic competition, Akwa United FC...

Niger Tornadoes coach Abubakar Bala has revealed that winning the Aiteo Cup will be the best thing to have happened to him in his coaching career and will crown a successful season for him and his players. Bala has stirred the ‘Ikon Allah’ boys to the final of the Aiteo Cup seeing off top sides like FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Plateau United in the process. Tornadoes are back to the cup final after a 17-year absence and Bala feels the time is right for the Minna side to win a major laurel. “We have worked so hard to get to this stage and we are going to do all we can to make sure we lift the title on Sunday against Akwa United. “I’m already a fulfilled man getting this modest Niger Tornadoes side to the final but I want to top it up with winning the title. “The motivation for me and my boys is to be the first winners of the Aiteo Cup so we can go back to Minna and present it to the state government who has been our biggest supporters,” Bala added.

For Niger Tornadoes centre back Andrew Ikefe, the 2017 Aiteo Cup final will be the biggest game of his career even after a stellar season with the Minna based side. Ikefe has played for Dynamic Sporting Solution, Kaduna United and Katsina United and despite raking nearly ninety games for the three sides, he says none of those games will be as big as the clash with Akwa United at the Agege Stadium on Sunday. Ikefe, in white nicks the ball off a Gombe United striker Tornadoes dispatched Nigeria Professional Football League heavyweights like champions Plateau United and FC Ifeanyi Ubah to make it to their first final in 17 years. Ikefe told 9jafooty.blogspot.com that he is proud to be part of history with Niger Tornadoes and can’t wait for kick-off on Sunday. “The Aiteo Cup final will be the biggest game of my young career and I believe it will end in victory for me and my team (Niger Tornadoes),” he said. “We have really worked hard to get to this stage and by G...

The season of releasing players is here again and Rivers United have sieved a few off the roster. Only 21 players were retained for the new season as the team gets set to begin pre-season training. Left back Gabriel Wassa, who shone like a million stars a year ago has been let go, Esosa Igbinoba is also out. The former Nasarawa United midfielder has battled injury and loss of form last term and might just head back to Lafia. Veterans Austin Festus and Sunday Rotimi headline those that have been retained as Eguma sets to continue as coach. Rivers United finished in 15th place on the log last season and will look to do better in the new season.