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By Muzammil Dalha Yola ‎Barau Football Club has recorded its first away victory of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, defeating Kun Khalifat FC 3-1. ‎The NPFL Matchday 6 encounter was held on Sunday, at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, Abia State, in the presence of both clubs’ officials. ‎This triumph also marked Barau FC’s first win of the current Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL 2025/2026 campaign. ‎The Maliya Boys’ forward, Yahya Ibrahim, equalised in the 16th minute with a fine finish off Sai’du Salisu’s brilliant assist, after Kun Khalifat FC had taken the lead in the 14th minute. ‎Midfielder Hilary Ekawu then put the Maliya Boys ahead in the 64th minute, converting from Bismark’s precise cross, before Yahya Ibrahim doubled the lead with his second goal of the match, following an excellent pass from Sugau Aliyu.  ‎The brace for Yahya Ibrahim, took his tally to three goals in the NPFL this season 2025/2026. ‎Speaking after the match, Barau ...

By Muzammil Dalha Yola ‎As the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) clocks three years under the leadership of President Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), the football community reflects on the significant strides made. Gusau assumed office on September 29, 2022, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a commitment to football development. ‎Under Gusau's administration, Nigerian football has witnessed a resurgence of success. The country qualified for AFCON 2023 and reached the finals, narrowly losing to the host nation, Côte d'Ivoire 2-1. The women's national team won the WAFCON trophy in Morocco, and Nigerian clubs have consistently performed well in CAF competitions. This performance has maintained our coefficient status of four slots representing Nigeria in CAF club competitions ‎The NFF has made significant investments in improving the standard of Nigerian leagues, including the Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nationwide League One, Women's League, and ...

‎‎ ‎By Muzammil Dalha Yola ‎In a significant boost to grassroots football in Delta State, Paul Ojo Omamomo, the newly appointed Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Sports to the Delta State Governor, has fully sponsored three dedicated coaches to attend the CAF License D Coaching Course. This initiative underscores Omamomo's strong commitment to developing football at the grassroots level in his home state. ‎The three beneficiaries of this sponsorship are: ‎- Jonah Famutua of Successful Pillars Academy ‎- Onokpevwe Otega Kennedy, popularly known as Big Daddy ‎- Efe Yarhere, player-coach of Warri Wolves FC ‎These coaches were selected for their dedication to training young footballers in Delta State. Omamomo's sponsorship covers registration, learning materials, and transportation for the course. ‎Speaking on the program, Omamomo emphasized the importance of world-class coaching for producing top-tier players. "You cannot produce world-class players without world-class coache...

By Muzammil Dalha Yola ‎In an extraordinary display of prowess and dedication, Nigerian national football teams have racked up an impressive list of achievements over the past three years under the tenure of Ibrahim Musa Gusau. From World Cup qualifications to continental triumphs, and significant infrastructural and administrative improvements in Nigerian football, the progress has been noteworthy. ‎The Nigerian teams have pulled off remarkable feats on the international stage. The Flamingoes successfully qualified for the World Cup in Morocco this year. The Flying Eagles secured their spot in the World Cup in Chile this year. Moreover, this Saturday, celebrations are in order for the Falconets' qualification for next year's World Cup in Poland a feat that's as good as done. ‎Nigeria's national teams have also shone brightly in continental competitions. The teams qualified for the Nations Cup (AFCON) in Morocco this year. Additionally, Nigeria proudly won the WAFCON tr...

Learning, Growing, and Giving Back ‎By Muzammil Dalha Yola ‎Yahaya Abdussalam Salisu and Mudassir Aliyu Muhammed, two proud students from Kano, are representing their state at the prestigious National Institute for Sports (NIS) in Lagos. The duo has been enrolled for the Advanced Certificate in Football Coaching for the 2025 session. This opportunity underscores Kano's growing presence in Nigerian football development. ‎At NIS, Yahaya and Mudassir are immersed in learning the intricacies of advanced football coaching. Their goal is clear: to absorb knowledge, grow professionally, and bring impactful football development back to Kano. By doing so, they aim to contribute significantly to the growth of football in their home state. This initiative aligns with the broader objective of promoting sports development in Nigeria. ‎Through their participation in the Advanced Certificate program at NIS, Yahaya Abdussalam Salisu and Mudassir Aliyu Muhammed are paving the way for Kano to make a...

By Abdullahi Shehu Karaye ‎ ‎My Take On Recent Appointment In Barau FC. What will bringing in Dominic Iorfa and Kabiru Baita mean to the team a club that already has a President and a Chairman? Now they have an additional Vice President and General Manager. Is it to salvage their season or to make that dream a reality? What will be their role in a club that already has a President and Chairman? Or is the club trying to use their influence to bypass the process? ‎ ‎It was confirmed that veterans Dominic Iorfa and Kabiru Baita were appointed as General Manager and Vice President, respectively, in a statement the club released on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. ‎ ‎Ever since the club started competing in the Nigeria league from the third tier (NLO) in 2023, they got promoted to the NNL (second division) the first time of asking. Then they got promoted in the 2024/2025 season to the top tier of the Nigerian league, also the first time of asking, which means they have achieved a lot. B...

Muzammil Dalha Yola Portuguese FIFA license agent Olawale, popularly known as SIRWHITE, has extended his heartfelt salutations to Cristiano Ronaldo for the football superstar's remarkable humanitarian roles in his country, Portugal. On behalf of his agency in Lisbon, Portugal, and other offices in Africa, SIRWHITE expresses profound gratitude to Cristiano Ronaldo for his generosity towards children from poor villages in Portugal. According to SIRWHITE, Cristiano Ronaldo donated 60 million Euros to purchase buses for children from these villages to commute to schools, enabling them to pursue their dreams. SIRWHITE notes that Ronaldo's act of giving back to his society is particularly touching and heart-caring, driven by a story he had from his mother a long time ago. SIRWHITE emphasizes that only a few people can undertake such acts of kindness towards children from their country. SIRWHITE expresses the hope that more African footballers will follow in Ronaldo's footsteps by...

By Abdullahi Shehu Karaye The new Kano-based football club, Bichi First FC, has made a significant move to enhance its media operations by appointing renowned sports journalist Muzammil Dalha Yola as its Media Director. This strategic appointment is expected to strengthen the club's communications and publicity activities as it prepares to compete in the Nigerian National League (NNL). Muzammil Dalha Yola, who also serves as the Assistant Secretary of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kano State Chapter, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. A member of the Local Organizing Committee for Zone E Preliminary NUGA Games at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH). As the head of the sports unit at Aminci Radio Kano, Yola has established himself as a respected voice in sports journalism in Kano and beyond. His expertise will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the media narrative of Bichi First FC. In his new position, Yola will head...

  By Muzammil Dalha Yola Former Kano Pillars and Katsina United player, Mustapha Salisu, has signed a two-year contract with Cəbrayıl FK in the Azerbaijan First League. The speedy and pacey winger is excited about his new chapter, describing it as a move forward in his career. A product of the Nigerian U15 team that participated in the 2014 tournament in Botswana, Salisu has impressive credentials, having scored 9 goals and provided 8 assists during his time with Katsina United, and scoring 2 goals with 7 assists while playing for Kano Pillars FC. Salisu expressed his enthusiasm about joining Cəbrayıl FK, saying he's happy with the club's project and promises to put in his best efforts to help the team earn promotion to the Azerbaijan Premier League. With his pace, skill, and goal-scoring ability, Salisu is expected to make a significant impact in the Azerbaijan First League. His new club will undoubtedly be relying on his talents to achieve their goals and climb the ranks of A...

By Muzammil Dalha Yola The Nigeria national team, affectionately known as the Super Eagles, will need to improve their finishing if they hope to make a deep run in the World Cup. According to FIFA license agent Olawale, who is based in Portugal, the team has been struggling to convert half chances into goals. This has been a major concern for the team, and it's an area they need to work on if they want to succeed on the biggest stage. Olawale praised the team's defensive performance, saying he was impressed with the way they played. However, he expressed his disappointment with the attacking line, which seemed to be struggling without the presence of Victor Osimhen. "No Osimhen, no party" seems to be the worrying song for the team, and it's clear that they need to find a way to create scoring opportunities without their star striker. The agent also had words of praise for Tolu Arokodare, who showed quality and performance in the match. He hopes that the young play...

By Muzammil Dalha Yola In a bid to unearth and nurture young football talent, FC Footwork of Abuja is gearing up to host a major Scouting Tournament from October 6th to 8th, 2025, at the prestigious FIFA Goal Project Pitch, Abuja. This highly anticipated event will bring together 10 top teams, all vying for the attention of European scouts who will be in attendance. The scouting tournament promises to be an exciting platform for young players to showcase their skills and potentially launch their careers in professional football. Scouts from Europe, including Dirk Engelbinck and Jordy Engelbinck from Belgium, will be flying in to discover the next generation of football stars. With their expertise and keen eyes for talent, these scouts will be instrumental in identifying and recruiting young players with the potential to make it big in the world of football. FC Footwork, the host academy, has a proven track record of producing international talent. Under the leadership of Alhaji Labeeb ...

By Muzammil Dalha Yola Ahmad Ghali, the talented Nigerian midfielder, has m ade a significant move in his career by signing a permanent deal with SK Sigma Olomouc, a top-flight club in the Czech Republic. Ghali, who previously played for Slovan Liberec in the same league, has committed to a three-year contract with an option for a further year.  Ahmad Ghali has played a total of 137 matches, scored 11 goals, and accumulated 11 assists. The 25-year-old winger expressed his excitement about joining Sigma Olomouc, stating, "I'm happy to be here, I'm excited to go to such a great club with great ambitions. I believe I will help the team." Ghali's move to Sigma Olomouc is seen as a step forward in his career, with the club set to participate in European competitions. Ghali revealed that the transfer process was swift, with everything being agreed upon within a week. "It was a bit surprising for me. Everything was agreed within one week. I had to make a decision qu...

By Muzammil Dalha Yola The NLO Secretariat has announced the participation conditions for the zonal play-offs of state league winners and runners-up vying for a spot in NLO Division Two. According to an official statement on the NLO X handle, the zonal play-offs will take place from September 10 to September 17, 2025. Key Conditions : - Each state will present both the winner and runner-up of their state league. - Teams must purchase players' licenses for N70,000 via bank transfer to Nationwide League One FCMB account (3267800014). - Only state club players with NLO 2025 players' licenses are eligible to participate. - Participating clubs must pay N200,000 at the venue. - States must submit their representatives by September 5, 2025. Promotion on the Line : The winner of each venue will earn promotion to NLO Division Two (U-19 Youth League). With the stakes high, teams are expected to come out in full force, showcasing their skills and determination. Important Dates : - Septemb...