Sports
Pillars Now Favourites For League Title
Nigeria league defend
ing champions Kano Pillars are set to clinch a record third straight title with six rounds of games to be played.
But six-time champions Enyimba are expected to push this race for the championship to the wire again.
Pillars sit on top of the league table with 53 points from 32 games, with Warri Wolves second on 52 points from same number of matches.
With three home games and three away games to go, will Kano Pillars make it a three title in a row?
Or would Warri Wolves get their first league shield? Or could it be Nasarawa United or Enyimba, who have won a record six championships?
Pillars can end the season with 63 or 62 points.
The home games left for Pillars are vs Gombe United, Kaduna United and Nembe City and wins in these games will give Pillars nine more points.
Out of their away games against Nasarawa United, El Kanemi Warriors and Enyimba, Pillars could nick a point against El Kanemi as the match will be played at the Sabongari Stadium in Kano, where the champions also play their home games.
Warri Wolves are presently second with 52 points and could well end the season with 61 points if they win their remaining home games against Lobi, Crown and Gombe United.
Their away fixtures are tough and they are not likely to get a point from the three games against Heartland, Sharks and title-chasing Nasarawa United.
Nasarawa United is currently third with 50 points, and they may end the season with 59 or 60 points considering their remaining games.
They have three home games against Pillars, Sunshine Stars and Wolves and if they could win all three, they would have nine more points.
Out of the away games they could get a point at Giwa, but the same could not be said when they face Enyimba and Rangers away from home.
Enyimba have 48 points and now need to win at least an away game apart from claiming all the points at home to be champions again.
‘The People’s Elephant’ are expected to garner nine points at home against Nasarawa United, El Kanemi Warriors and Pillars.
Their remaining away games are against Nembe, Kaduna, who are both battling against relegation, and Dolphins.
If they could beat Nembe and Kaduna, they would end up with 63 points and with the biggest goals difference of +16 so far, they would push Pillars all the way to the top prize this season.
Maybe the final game of the season between Pillars and Enyimba in Aba could well determine where the trophy will rest at the end of the season.
The Ardova Handball Premier League 2025, which began with the first phase in Benin City months ago, before the second phase in Lagos which ends with a finale that the Executive Chairman of Ardova PLC, Dr. Abdulwasiu Sowami, ably represented by the Deputy Managing Director, Ardova PLC, Mrs Abiola Babatunde-Ojo, described as delightful to watch in her speech.
For Safety Shooters, it was a historic moment as they clinched the men’s title for the first time since 2020, completing a dominant campaign that saw them finish top of the table with 57 points from 20 matches while Safety Babes also etched their name deeper into Nigerian handball history, winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive women’s championship, reaffirming their status as the league’s most dominant team, not just in the women’s category but in the history of handball premier league in Nigeria.
In the Men’s Safety Shooters finished the season in style, beating COAS Shooters 43–32 (20–10) to cap off a dominant outing in Phase 2.
Their final-day victory ensured they remained clear at the summit with an impressive 18 wins, one draw, and one loss, totaling a superb goal difference of +214 after scoring 638 goals and conceding 424.
The organisers of the Ikoyi Club Tennis Masters Tournament have earmarked N4 million as the prize money for this year’s edition.
?The Chairman of the tennis section of Ikoyi Club, Diran Famakinwa, stated this at a briefing, highlighting the activities for the second edition of the tournament.
?The tournament, which is in collaboration with MegaMound Investment Limited, is endorsed by the Nigerian Tennis Federation.
?According to Famakinwa, the male and female champions will receive N500,000 each, while the runners-up in both categories will go home with the sum of N350,000 each, with the remaining money to be shared among the semi-finalists and other participants.
?Sixteen players, which includes the eight top ?male and eight top female players, will feature in the one-week event, which started on December 5, and run till Saturday, December 13.
?The female final will be held on Friday, December 12, while the male final will take up on Saturday, December 13.
In a statement released on Saturday, the NSC described the defender as “Captain Fantastic” and praised his decade of distinguished service to Nigeria, highlighting a legacy defined by professionalism, consistency, patriotism and an unwavering commitment to national duty.
“After a decade of distinguished service to Nigeria, Troost-Ekong leaves behind a legacy defined by professionalism, consistency, patriotism and an unwavering commitment to national duty,” the NSC stated.
The commission noted that, as one of the most capped defenders in Super Eagles history with 83 international appearances since his debut in 2015, Troost-Ekong served as a pillar of leadership across multiple tournaments and qualification campaigns.
“His exceptional outing at the last Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored three goals and was named Player of the Tournament, remains one of the most remarkable achievements by a defender in AFCON history,” the NSC added.
The statement further emphasised that Troost-Ekong’s “Nigeria first” mindset, discipline and exemplary conduct set a standard for the next generation of athletes, with his influence within the national team extending beyond the pitch to inspire unity, resilience and professionalism among his teammates.
Meanwhile, Troost-Ekong has dismissed rumours that he was forced to retire by the country’s football administrators as punishment for leading a revolt against the NFF.
The 32-year-old’s announcement came less than a month before the AFCON, and he was named in the 54-man preliminary list. His decision sparked speculation, particularly as he had led a strike in protest against unpaid bonuses during the World Cup qualifying play-offs.
One fan speculated on social media, suggesting that Troost-Ekong was pressured to quit after exposing the NFF. The Al Khoolood defender offered a sharp retort, establishing that he unilaterally made the decision to retire.
“Not true! My own choice/decision and on my own terms. No one ever asked/tried to force me out. If anything, the opposite when I shared my decision. I wish the team all the best and support them together with all Nigerians for the upcoming AFCON to go all the way,” he wrote on X.
The NSC concluded by wishing Troost-Ekong the very best in the next chapter of his career and commending him for representing Nigeria with honour.
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