Sports
Violence, Poor Officiating Mar NPL… Rangers Lead Table
The Nigeria Premier League Week 11 matches almost turned into a battlefield as the majority of the clubs playing at home used every avenue to win their games, last weekend, even as Rangers still tops the league table after a 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars.
Chikeluba Ofoedu scored for Rangers in the 22nd minute to take his goals haul to four. The Enugu side maintained their top spot on the league table with 22 points.
Abubakar Bukola Saraki started reaping from the decision to suspend coach Erasmus Onuh as his replacement Kabir Dogo led the Ilorin lads to defeat Kaduna United 2-1 at home in his first game.
ABS took the lead in the 17th minute through Ofili Chirstian, while Buhari Jaffar equalised for Kaduna United in the 30th minute. Bashir Rahman found the winning goal for ABS a minute before the end of the first half.
“I told you that we are not going to go on relegation and with this away victory, we are aiming for the top,” said the team manager, Alloy Chukwuemeka.
Wikki Tourists beat Sharks by a lone goal and media officer of the Port-Harcourt side, Confidence Idah, complained that the referee Thomas Tikvor from Benue State gifted Wikki Tourists with a penalty.
Gombe United forced Heartland to a 2-2 draw with two of the Spartans players given their marching orders.
Brendan Ogbu and Daniel Akpeyi were red-carded as Heartland finished the game with nine players.
An official of Heartland, Tonne Chukwu told newsmen that “only God saved our players and officials from the hands of irate fans of Gombe United.
“There was real trouble some minutes before the end of the game and immediately the match ended. The two players that were red carded were harassed by the fans and the match officials had to run for their dear lives after the game.
“Mobile police men escorted us to the boundary of Bauchi and Gombe States before we arrived Bauchi where we slept for the night,” Chukwu fumed.
Shooting Stars Sports Club had to come back from a goal down to snatch a point off Warri Wolves, but their supporters also caused some problems for the match officials before the game.
The game between Kwara United and Sunshine Stars was heading for a 1-1 draw when supporters of Kwara United took the laws into their hands and attacked everybody in sight, including players and officials of the opposing team, supporters and journalists. The referee Sani Mohammed was reportedly rushed to a private hospital after the inconclusive match.
Mannir Ubale scored his fifth this season when his lone strike secured all three points for Kano Pillars against Akwa United.
Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi began his 2026 season with victory at the Orlen Cup in ?ód?, producing a dominant 20.82m throw to win the men’s shot put at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting in Poland, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Africa record holder finished ahead of Romania’s Andrei Toader, who placed second with 20.55m, while Serbia’s Armin Sinan?evi? took third on 19.93m.
Poland’s Szymon Mazur, the best-placed home athlete, finished fourth with 19.69m, with Italy’s Nick Ponzio completing the top five on 19.58m.
The rest of the field was headed by Piotr Go?dziewicz (18.02m), Jakub Korejba (17.55m), Wojciech Marok (17.48m), Damian Rodziak (17.23m) and Ukraine’s Maksym Lebediuk (15.75m).
Enekwechi’s winning mark gave him a clear margin over the field and underlined his status as one of world’s leading throwers, as he laid down an early marker for the new campaign in his traditional season-opening competition.
The result also marked an improvement shift in his Orlen Cup history. This was his third consecutive appearance at the meeting and his third straight season opener with the event, having previously finished second in 2024 with 21.14m and again in 2025 with 20.88m.
On this occasion, he converted consistency into victory, finally standing on the top step of the podium in ?ód?.
Enekwechi is the reigning two-time African champion in the shot put, a silver medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a two-time African Games champion, having won titles in 2019 and 2023.
His performance in Poland continues a career trajectory that has established him as Nigeria’s leading figure in the event and one of the continent’s most reliable performers on the global circuit.
The women’s competition at the meeting was won by Poland’s Zuzanna Ma?lana.
With the 2026 season now under way, Enekwechi’s opening victory at the Orlen Cup sets an early tone for the year ahead, as he builds momentum towards major continental and international championships.
The next edition of the Orlen Cup is scheduled to take place in ?ód? in February 2027.
Tanzanian giants Simba have opened discussions over a potential move for Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as they look to reinforce their squad following an injury to first-choice shot-stopper Moussa Camara, Tidesports source reports.
The 29-year-old, who plays for South Africa Premiership side Chippa United, is in the final six months of his contract and is eligible to enter pre-contract negotiations with foreign clubs.
Foot Africa reported that Simba are exploring the possibility of bringing Nwabali to Dar es Salaam either during the current window or on a free transfer at the end of the season, although no agreement has been reached.
“Sources have indicated that Simba are in active talks with the player’s camp in a bid to lure him to Dar es Salaam in the ongoing window or on a free transfer – but no agreement reached,” Foot Africa reported.
Simba’s interest has been accelerated by Camara’s knee injury, which prompted the club to move quickly to sign Mahamadou Tanja Kassila from Niger’s AS FAN.
The club are reportedly considering deregistering Camara to accommodate the new foreign signing, a situation that has frustrated the Guinea international, who has asked for the remaining six months of his contract to be terminated.
In their search for a longer-term solution, Simba identified Nwabali as a prime target, although formal negotiations with his club have yet to begin.
“Simba identified Nwabali as the ideal successor to Camara, but the club is yet to submit a formal bid to Chippa United, who are open to offers,” Foot Africa added.
Nwabali’s profile has continued to rise following his performances for Nigeria, most notably at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where he kept four clean sheets in seven matches as the Super Eagles secured a bronze medal.
Oyo State is set to return to the continental football spotlight as it prepares to host Nigeria’s Falconets in a crucial 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Senegal’s Lioness of Teranga.
The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan. The Oyo State Government said the state was selected for the fixture following its successful hosting of a previous Falconets’ qualifier, further underlining its growing profile as a destination for international sporting events.
In a statement on Monday Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke, confirmed that preparations were in top gear to ensure a hitch-free match. She said the choice of Oyo State as host was a reflection of confidence in the state’s sporting infrastructure, organisational competence and security architecture.
She recalled the emphatic victory recorded by the Falconets against Rwanda at the same venue last year, describing the match as a testament to the state’s readiness to stage major sporting events.
“The successful hosting of the Falconets against Rwanda showcased Oyo State’s world-class facilities and our capacity to organise international fixtures that meet global standards,” Adegoke said. “The Lekan Salami Stadium has continued to serve as a fortress for our national teams, and we are confident the Falconets will once again make the nation proud.”
Adegoke also disclosed that the Falconets are expected to arrive in Ibadan today ahead of the qualifier, to allow ample time for acclimatisation and final preparations. She added that the team would enjoy full logistical support from the state throughout their stay.
The Falconets, who reached the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Japan 14 years ago, will go into the last round of the qualifying series if they win this encounter, to confront the winner of the Guinea-Bissau/Malawi fixture, for one of Africa’s four tickets at the final tournament.
The 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals will be staged in Poland, from September 5 to 27, 2026.