The Sports Ministry has advised the NFF to immediately withdraw the licence given to the LMC and set up an Interim Management Committee.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared as illegal, the body which has been administering the Nigeria Professional League for almost a decade.

This development was contained in a press statement issued on Friday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ismaila Abubakar.

The ministry said the drastic action became necessary, especially after a competent court of jurisdiction has since declared the League Management Company (LMC) an illegal body.

It is being argued that the League Management Board (LMC) fraudulently floated the LMC to avoid and evade pre-existing debts and other obligations owed by the organisation it succeeded; the Nigeria Premier League Limited, which is originally mandated by law to run a professional football league in Nigeria.

Thus the federal government advised the NFF to promptly withdraw the licence given to the LMC and, in the meantime, set up an Interim Management Committee (IMC).

Read the full statement here…

In view of the several unpleasant incidents regarding the management of the Football League, specifically, the declaration of the National Football League (NFL) as an illegal body by the Court; the status of the League Management Company (LMC), the NFL’s successor-in-title being outside the purview of the Statutes of the NFF; the Federal Government is constrained to withdraw its recognition of the LMC as the operator of the Nigeria Professional Football League, with immediate effect.

This decision has become necessary because of the obvious aberration (which is at variance with our football statutes or the laws of the land) whereby a private company is gifted the mandate to manage or run the league indefinitely, without the full involvement of and leadership by the clubs, and devoid of any process to monitor the progress and development of the game.

Sequel to the above, and in order to rescue our domestic football from total collapse, the BOARD OF THE LMC AND THE LMC AS A BODY WOULD NO LONGER BE RECOGNISED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS OPERATOR OF THE NIGERIAN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

To avert further chaos in our domestic football, the NFF is advised to immediately withdraw the Licence given to the LMC and, in the meantime, set up an Interim Management Committee (IMC), to include the current Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the LMC to oversee the affairs of the League until a proper Professional League Board is constituted in accordance with the Statutes of the NFF.

The statement was signed by Permanent Secretary Ismaila Abubakar.

Most of these clubs have had limited time to recruit and adapt their new players before their continental assignments.

About 50 days after the last NPFL concluded, the four Nigerian clubs that qualified for the CAF inter-club competitions will begin their journey from the preliminary rounds this weekend.

Rivers United and Kwara United will begin the two-legged challenge, starting with home games while the other Remo Stars and Plateau United, will travel to far North and Central Africa, respectively.

Plateau United will play away from home at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Lagos as they welcome the Nigerien side AS Douanes on Saturday. A day after, NPFL Champions, Rivers United will play against Watanga of Liberia at the Liberation Stadium.

Meanwhile Plateau United will visit ASO Stade Mandji of Gabon on Saturday while Remo Stars will confront the Moroccan side ASFAR Club on Sunday.

Considering time and preparations, these four Nigerian sides may be knocked out in the first round of qualifiers.

Last 10 seasons

In the last 10 years, only five Nigerian clubs have made it through the preliminary stages of both CAF inter-club competitions. In 2011 and 2012, Sunshine Stars, in their debut Confederations Cup and Champions League participation, reached the semi-final.

Lobi Stars made it to the group stage in the 2017/18 Champions League season.

Other clubs are Enugu Rangers, Enyimba, and Rivers United, who have reached the group stages of the Confederations Cup in the last 10 years.

Rivers United and Plateau United are the more experienced outfits amongst the four clubs representing Nigeria, as both will make their third appearances on the continent this season.

The last time Plateau United played on the continent, they didn’t go past the first round after an aggregate 4-3 defeat to Tunisian side Etoile de Sahel in 2018.

Meanwhile, Kwara United will make its first continental appearance in 15 years.

Remo Stars are the newbies among the Nigerian teams as they take debutant steps. They will hope to follow in the footsteps of Sunshine Stars who made an impact in their debut Confederations Cup appearance in 2011.

Reinforcements and departures

The four clubs have experienced both arrivals and departures of players during the NPFL transfer window, which began on 1 August 2022 and lasts till 30 September, ahead of their continental engagements.

There have been quite some changes in the squad of all four Nigerian clubs playing on the continent.

We can describe this effect as one factor that can promote or mar their chances of qualification. While some have gone for the best legs in the league, some have lost their best legs to foreign Leagues.

Most Nigerian clubs have a significant challenge of being able to adequately compete on the continent because of a mass exodus of players that leave those clubs after a great season.

Also, the short time for recruitment by clubs does not help the chemistry in the teams ahead of these big games.

This malaise has struck the four teams once again. Some have had to make bulk signings, and some saw the exodus of some of their best legs. The club with the highest number of recruitments amongst the four is Kwara United, who made 14 signings.

According to a report by PREMIUM TIMES in July, most Nigerian clubs face a significant challenge in adequately competing on the continent due to a mass exodus of players who leave those clubs after a successful season.

Furthermore, the short time frame for club recruitment does not help team chemistry ahead of these big games.

This ailment has struck the four teams, once more. Some have had to make bulk signings, while others have seen some of their best legs leave. Kwara United has made the most signings of the four clubs, with 14 signings

However, the Harmony boys have lost their top attackers to foreign clubs. Junior Lokosa, Samad Kadiri, and Alao Danbani produced 25 goals for the Harmony boys last season. Their departures mean they will face a tough time being offensive against AS Douanes.

Out: Emmanuel Iwu, Bashir Monsuru, Junior Lokosa, Samad Kadiri, Alao Danbani

In: Samson Paul, Wasiu Alalade, Wasiu Jimoh, Ahmed Jimoh, Abiodun Adebayo, Muri Dagbo, Mustapha Salisu, Adeyinka Adewale, Hamed Yaqub, Barnabas Daniel, Taofeeq Hammed, Ibrahim Mohammed, and Owolabi Aremu

Rivers United signed 13 players during the transfer window.

A popular signing is former Super Eagles midfielder Paul Onobi, while experienced goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai, Rafiu Ishaq, and Sikiru Olatunbosun have been confirmed to have left the club.

Fortunately, the NPFL’s highest goalscorer, Chijioke Akuneto, is still available for the Stanley Eguma-led team.

In: Azeez Godswill, Emmanuel Ampiah, Farouk Mohammed, Adebayo Olaolu, Ikeh Promise, Ukeme Williams, Paul Onobi, Denis Ndasi, Abdulrahman Olarenwaju, Abiodun Akande, Ekeocha Chukwudi, Mutawakilu Seidu, Bolaji Sakin

Out: Theophilus Afelokhai, Rafiu Ishaq, Sikiru Olatunbosun

Remo Stars and Plateau United also made a couple of signings.

Plateau United reinforced with Ibrahim Mustapha, Mustapha Abdullahi, and Christopher Nwaeze, however, Andrew Ikefe who was an active member last season, moved to Lebanon during the summer.

Remo Stars reinforced their squad with seven players. Adams Olamilekan, from Lobi Stars, Dakkada’s highest goal scorer Edidiong Ezekiel, goalkeeper Vincent Edafe and defender Nwaeze Boniface. The Blue Sky Stars also recruited the services of Akwa United’s Seth Mayi and FC One Rocket’s Aniekeme Okon.

However, Sikiru Alimi left the club after the expiration of his contract.

With the influx of new signings, it might be difficult to adapt these players into the philosophy of the teams ahead of this weekend’s action on the continent but they will hope otherwise.

Ons Jabeur (TUN) (L) and Iga Swiatek (POL) (R) hold the finalist and championship trophies (respectively) after their match in the women’s singles final on day thirteen of the 2022 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-

 World number one Iga Swiatek swept to a 6-2 7-6(5) victory over Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the U.S. Open final on Saturday to clinch her maiden trophy at Flushing Meadows and third Grand Slam crown.

Poland’s Swiatek fell on her back and covered her face with her hands after prevailing in the tight second-set tiebreak, having sealed the win when fifth seed Jabeur’s shot sailed long.

It was twice French Open champion Swiatek’s first Grand Slam title on a hard court and the 21-year-old is the first Polish woman to win the U.S. Open.

“I really needed to stay composed and focused on the goals, and at this tournament it was really challenging,” Swiatek said during the on-court trophy ceremony.

It’s New York, it’s so loud, it’s so crazy. There were so many temptations in the city … I’m so proud I could handle it mentally.”

In addition to the trophy, Swiatek also leaves New York with a $2.6 million winner’s check.

“I’m really glad that it’s not in cash,” she said to laughs from the sold-out crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Swiatek did well during the match to tune out the crowd, who at times whistled and made other noises while she was serving, earning stern rebukes from the chair umpire.

The demonstrative Jabeur was able to harness the energy of her fans at times but it was not enough to overcome the focused and determined Swiatek.

“Ons, such an amazing tournament, such an amazing season,” Swiatek said after improving to 3-2 lifetime against Jabeur.

“I know that this is already a pretty nice rivalry and we’re going to have many more. I’m pretty sure you’re going to win some of them so don’t worry.”

Despite the defeat, Wimbledon finalist Jabeur will regain her world number two ranking when the tournament concludes on Sunday.

“I really tried but Iga didn’t make it easy for me,” Jabeur said.

“She deserved to win today. I don’t like her very much right now but it’s okay,” she added with a smile.

“I’m going to keep fighting hard and we’ll get that title sometime soon.”

Jabeur made history at Wimbledon when she became the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final. She added another line in the history books in New York, becoming the first African woman to reach the U.S. Open championship match.

“Hopefully I can inspire more and more generations, that’s the goal,” she said. “This is just the beginning of so many things.”

TIEBREAKER ERRORS

Swiatek came out firing on Saturday, pushing Jabeur to the back of the court with her precise serve and deep groundstrokes to race to a 3-0 lead.

Jabeur found the range with her forehand to win back-to-back games for 3-2 but the momentum was short-lived as Swiatek broke back and took the 30-minute first set when the Tunisian’s backhand landed in the net.

A confident front-runner, Swiatek kept the pressure on early in the second as frustration began to mount for Jabeur, who dropped her racket in dismay when her normally trusty drop shot landed short of the net in the second game of the set.

Swiatek blasted a backhand winner down the line for a 3-0 second set lead and it seemed the match would be a brief affair.

But Jabeur rallied, saving a match point at 6-5 and forcing a tiebreak.

She made some costly unforced errors in the tiebreaker, however, which opened the door for Swiatek, who exchanged a warm embrace with the Tunisian after the match.

ONE IN 40 MILLION

Swiatek’s title in New York is the latest triumph in a season overflowing with them.

She ascended to world number one following the surprising retirement of Australian Ash Barty in March and quickly showed she was worthy of the position, winning 37 consecutive matches, including the French Open.

The claycourt specialist showed she could be successful on hard courts, too, with wins at Indian Wells and Miami, but finally looked vulnerable after early exits at U.S. Open tune-up events in Toronto and Cincinnati.

She made headlines coming into New York by criticizing the balls being used at the U.S. Open and said her expectations for herself were low.

Swiatek’s path to the title was not plain sailing.

She needed to battle back from a set down in her fourth-round match with 108th-ranked Jule Niemeier and from 4-2 down in the third set against Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-final.

But she peaked at the right time, playing her best tennis of the tournament to see off Jabeur and etch her name once again into Poland’s sporting history.

“Being raised in Poland, it’s not so sure for us that we will to be tennis superstars,” she told ESPN while white-and-red clad Polish tennis fans chanted “Iga! Iga!”.

“When I was younger I just logically thought that I’m just one of 40 million people in the country. What’s the possibility that I will be the one to be out there?

“I just worked hard day by day.”

US. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 10, 2022 Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur looks dejected after the match 

Ons Jabeur struggled to hold back the tears after losing a second consecutive Grand Slam final on Saturday, but while the Tunisian said her U.S. Open defeat to Iga Swiatek was tough to take she vowed to come back swinging.

The 28-year-old Tunisian, who lost her first Grand Slam title match at Wimbledon in July, was beaten 6-2 7-6(5) by world number one Swiatek at Flushing Meadows

She told reporters that not even the sting of defeat on the sport’s biggest stage could keep her down for long.

“I struggled to win my first WTA title. It took me time. So I believe this will take me time,” said Jabeur, who will regain the world number two ranking after the tournament concludes.

“The most important thing is accepting it, you know, learning from the finals that I lost.”

A crowd favourite in New York for her creative play and ebullient personality, she claimed her first Tour-level title last year in Birmingham, England, nine years after first appearing in a WTA main draw.

She went on a tear this year, winning in Madrid and Berlin, before Elena Rybakina came back from a set down to end her title hopes at Wimbledon.

Jabeur’s march through the Flushing Meadows draw saw her swat aside a red-hot Caroline Garcia in the semi-finals but a rocky start against Swiatek proved too much for Tunisia’s “Minister of Happiness.”

“Wimbledon was tough. This one is going to be tough,” she told reporters.

“I’m not someone that going to give up. I am sure I’m going to be in the final again.”

The first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final, and first African woman to reach the U.S. Open championship match, Jabeur said her message to the next generation of girls hoping to follow her path was : “Never give up.”

“That’s what I was trying to do all my career. I had some ups and downs. Before, it was injuries and getting to know myself on the court. After, it was losing quarter-finals,” she said.

“Then it evolved to losing finals. Then getting titles.”

U.S. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 9, 2022 Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning his semi final match against Frances Tiafoe of the U.S.

The stakes could not be higher in Sunday’s Flushing Meadows final between Spanish teenaged phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz and Norwegian Casper Ruud, with the U.S. Open trophy and the world number one ranking awaiting the winner.

The showdown between the two breakout players of 2022 is a fitting conclusion to the year’s final major, which showcased the sport’s bright future as it transitions out of the era of the Big Three of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

French Open runner-up Ruud called the winner-takes-all conclusion an “ideal situation” after he beat Russian Karen Khachanov in four sets in Friday’s semi-final.

The superhuman Alcaraz, who survived three successive five-set marathons to arrive at the precipice of Grand Slam glory, said his vision was coming into focus.

“It’s close, but at the same time is so far away, you know?” Alcaraz told reporters after beating American Frances Tiafoe on Friday night.

“It’s a final of a Grand Slam, fighting for the number one in the world, something that I dreamed (of) since I was a kid.”

The 19-year-old Spaniard has beaten Ruud in both of their previous meetings, including a straight sets win in the Miami Open final in April.

“I know him very well,” Alcaraz said.

“We shared a lot of moments in the tournaments. Of course, he’s a very nice guy off the court. I talk with him a lot, when we can.

“I played him twice. I beat him twice. He’s playing really, really well. I know that. I will have to show my best.”

Ruud knows that he faces an uphill task in toppling the on-fire Alcaraz, who has won four titles this year, including Masters trophies in Miami and Madrid.

“If I want to beat Carlos, I’ll need to play very precise with all the shots that I hit, especially try to keep him a little bit further back in the court,” he said.

“If he steps in, he can do anything with the ball. He can rip a winner. He also has great touch with the drop shot… he can do both shots back and forth. He will get you off guard sometimes with the drop shot.”

With the eyes of the tennis world on them, the mental battle could be just as important as any tactical decisions, Ruud said.

“We’re playing for the tournament and also world number one. Of course, there will be nerves and we will both feel it,” he said.

“I hope it will be a good match. He has beaten me a couple times and I will seek my revenge.”

Former Super Eagles star, Nwankwo Kanu, has led other African players across the world to pay their last respect to Queen Elizabeth II reports.

The United Kingdom’s longest-serving monarch – who sat on the throne for over 70 years – died peacefully at Balmoral, according to the Royal Family.

The news comes after an announcement earlier today that the 96-year-old was under medical supervision in her Scotland home, with members of the family making their way to see her.

And following the official announcement of her passing, former Nigeria and Arsenal striker Kanu part of the African football legends who paid glowing tributes to the to late monarch.

He tweeted, “RIP Queen Elizabeth.”

Didier Drogba who had an amazing career with Chelsea in the Premier League winning all four major titles — the Premier League, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Champions League also wrote, “Saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. My condolences to the Royal Family.”

Spartak Moscow winger, Victor Moses, who is currently recuperating from a cruciate ligament injury also posted on Twitter, “RIP Her Majesty, The Queen. The end of an era.”

Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi also paid their respects, as did striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

AS Roma coach, Jose Mourinho also paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth.

Mourinho has spent large period of his managerial career in England, having had two spells with Chelsea, while also managing Manchester United and Tottenham.

“I am so sorry to hear this news,’ he told Sky Sport Italia.

“I am not a foreigner in Britain, it is my home, my family’s home, we’ve lived there for many years.

“She was a wonderful figure. I don’t know anyone who didn’t have respect for her. She was a great lady as well as a Queen.”

England captain Harry Kane and former striker Gary Lineker were among the other sportspeople leading the tributes to the Queen following her death.

Kane hailed the Queen as an ‘amazing inspiration.’

The Tottenham striker tweeted: ‘My thoughts are with the Royal Family at this very difficult time.

“The Queen was an amazing inspiration and will be remembered for her incredible years of service to this country. Rest in peace, Your Majesty.’

Lineker tweeted, “Such a terribly sad day. Her Majesty The Queen has died.

“A remarkable woman who served her country with dignity, loyalty and grace. An ever comforting present in the lives of most of us. Rest In Peace, Your Majesty.”

Chelsea and England forward Raheem Sterling also offered his condolences to the Royal Family.

He said on Instagram, “My deepest condolences to the Royal Family at this incredibly sad time.”

Fellow England stars Jack Grealish and Mason Mount posted similar messages in tribute to the queen on social media.

Grealish tweeted, “RIP Your Majesty’, while Mount added ‘Thank you for your service. Rest in peace Your Majesty’.

Nigeria international, Victor Osimhen, will miss at least three weeks of action after he was diagnosed with a grade two biceps femoris strain on Friday

Osimhen made an early exit in Napoli’s 4-1 win against Liverpool on Wednesday in a UEFA Champions League game.

“It’s an important region of the muscle,” Doctor Marcello Manzuoli told Tuttomercatoweb.

“In this case, the recovery time hinges on the severity. There are 10/15 days between each degree, which is significant.

“On average, the second tier requires more than a month to resume practicing with the team, not necessarily play in matches.

The former Lille striker will miss Napoli’s next five games against Spezia, Glasgow Rangers, AC Milan, Torino and Ajax.

The 23-year-old striker will also miss Nigeria’s international friendly against Algeria billed for Oran on September 27.

Since joining Napoli for €80m in September 2020, the 23-year-old has had a dreadful injury record, missing what will be 40 matches by the time this latest lay-off is complete.

Many of these have been unavoidable traumatic injuries, as he dislocated his shoulder in November 2020 while playing for Nigeria against Sierra Leone, then hit the back of his head during a Serie A match against Atalanta and was briefly knocked unconscious, ruled out for three games.

The worst was the clash of heads with Inter defender Milan Skriniar in November 2021, leaving him with multiple facial fractures, requiring metal plaques and 18 screws to hold it all together.

That kept Osimhen on the sidelines for almost a full three months.

This is not taking into account the two different times he contracted COVID-19 while on vacation in Nigeria, and a few muscular strains.

The Nigerian has scored two goals and provided an assist in five Serie A matches so far this season.

Since signing for the Serie A club from Lille, Osimhen has always been a key figure in Spalletti’s squad.

Last season, he ended the campaign with 14 goals in 27 league games despite having been sidelined on a number of occasions by injuries.

Former Super Eagles , Victor Ikpeba, and the Country Director of American-based University Nexford, Olamidun Ogundoyin, have called for the development of grassroots sports in the country to help discover young talent in Nigeria

The duo made this assertion at the sideline of the novelty match organised by Nexford University in Lagos on Friday.

Known for having some of the biggest talents in the past, Nigeria in recent times has struggled to dominate on the continent and on the global stage.

However, Ikpeba, a member of the Super Eagles team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 1994, said with the development of grassroots sports, a lot of hidden talents would be discovered.

“I think it is important that we develop our grassroots sports and I will continue to clamour for it because I am a product of grassroots development.

“During my youth, I played U-13 in Benin and Sapele, and look at where it got me today, I believe if we can do the same with our young ones, develop them as soon as possible and give them the right platform to excel I believe the sky would be their starting points.

“When I look at my life some 35 years ago nobody would have imagined I would be where I am today and that is why I believe it is very important we develop the young ones as soon as possible.”

Speaking in the same vein, Ogundoyin added, “Sports is a natural part of your academic journey and a lot of schools have their teams and it is a huge part of being patriotic when you are able to balance both sports and academics.

“For us, it’s being well rounded for our student community, giving them not just academy but also a community where they can meet new people through sports and commune together.

“On grassroots sports, we are very keen and knowledgeable of the local talents where our school is present and we know how important sport is to the people of Nigeria and historically we’ve got one of the biggest sports teams in the world and we have a lot of Olympics gold winners. We are passionate about the development of grassroots sports because we know it holds the key to the discovery of great talents and what we are doing today is another way to reinforce the local talent and embrace it.”