Glo Nigeria Premier League 2014 | FIXTURES

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After a few weeks of inaction, the Nigerian Football League resumes action from Wednesday, 17th sept 2014. It would be recalled that the Nigerian Referees Association suspended their duties due to the instability that reigned in the Nigeria’s football glass house. Peace, having returned, the Nigerian referees announced their resumption of officiating in the Nigeria’s Glo Premier League. Nigeria escaped the FIFA hammer when Chief Mike Umeh stepped aside to allow for a return to the status quo with Alhaji Maigari as the president,with election for the offices coming soon.The league matches resumes next week Wednesday. 

All times CAT (SA, GMT+2)

Wednesday 17 September 2014

 

Bayelsa United

v

Nembe City

Ogbemudia Stadium

17:00

 

FC Taraba

v

Kano Pillars

Jolly Nyame Stadium

17:00

 

Heartland

v

Kaduna United

 

17:00

 

Crown FC

v

Nasarawa United

Lekan Salami Stadium

17:00

 

Sharks

v

Gombe United

Sharks Stadium

17:00

 

Lobi Stars

v

El-Kanemi Warriors

Emmanuel Atongo Stadium

17:00

 

Akwa United

v

Enyimba

Uyo Township Stadium

17:00

 

Abia Warriors

v

Giwa FC

Umuahia Township Stadium

17:00

 

Rangers

v

Dolphins

Nnamdi Azikiwe

17:00

 

Warri Wolves

v

Sunshine Stars

Warri City Stadium

17:00

 

 

Okocha rips into Esuene Stadium pitch


Former Nigeria national team captain Austin Okocha is not impressed with the quality of the playing surface at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

The Super Eagles play their home games at the stadium and many have criticised the pitch, particularly after the African champions’ 2-3 defeat to Congo in a 2015 Africa Nations Cup (Afcon) qualifier last Saturday.

Okocha, who scored 14 goals in 75 appearances for the Super Eagles between 1993 and 2006, watched Nigeria’s game against South Africa in Cape Town on Wednesday and was quick to make comparisons with what he saw in Calabar.

“(Nigeria versus South Africa). Beautiful compared to the Calabar match. How green grass can transform (and) beautify a match. Also allows players to express themselves,” Jay Jay wrote on twitter via his account @IAmOkocha.

Okocha’s comments about the pitch have not gone down well with the Cross River State government, owners of the UJ Esuene stadium.

Commissioner for Sports Patrick Ugbe said the pitch in Calabar is not in bad shape.

“The pitch is in good condition. It is a work in progress. We are in the process of resodding the pitch,” Ugbe told supersport.com.

He also revealed that the Cross Rivers State government only allowed the Super Eagles to play on the pitch against Congo “in the interest of the nation”.

“It was in the interest of the nation that we allowed the match to be played on that pitch in the first place because we are obvioulsy working on it.

“The coaches (of Nigeria and Congo) saw the pitch before the match and they expressed satisfaction with the state of the pitch so I don’t know what the issue is all of a sudden".

Nigeria's next two Afcon qualifiers are at home to Sudan and South Africa and are expected to be played in Calabar.

Super ENigeria: Ambrose - Eagles'll Qualify for Nations Cup

aglesLagos — Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose is confident Nigeria will qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations despite failing to impress against South Africa and Congo in its two matches played.

The Celtic star believes the Super Eagles has what its takes to come tops in a group that consists of South Africa , Sudan and Congo .

Efe Ambrose added: "It was a difficult game against South Africa . They gave us a good fight, but we will still make sure we qualify for the Nations Cup."

In all, Nigeria has won only one of its last 11 matches, scoring eight goals and conceding 12.

But former international, Dosu Joseph and Rangers Coach, John Obuh doubt the team's possibility of qualifying for the tournament.

Dosu said that the goalless draw against South Africa makes Eagles to sit on tight ropes as it must win its remaining four qualifying matches to stand a chance of qualifying.

"The important thing is that we got a draw which I believe wasn't a good one. But one point against six and four is very tight situation. All we need to do is to win our remaining matches. It's a very tight situation"

Obuh also reckons that it is becoming difficult for Nigeria to qualify for the Nations Cup

"I was not happy with the result," he said.

"The team is not organized, our midfield is not creative and out attackers are not finishing because the midfielders are not feeding them with the correct passes. Even our defence is not that solid and we can see that South Africa had better incursions in our area," he said.

I Can't Do Without Mikel - - Keshi 

Nigeria national team coach Stephen Keshi says he still believes that John Obi Mikel is a vital cog in the Super Eagles side, despite the midfielder's lack of game time at his club, Chelsea.

Mikel has not been overly influential during Nigeria's first two 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying games, which have seen the Super Eagles picking up just a single point from their opening two matches against Congo (2-3) and South Africa (0-0).

Against Bafana Bafana, Mikel was outplayed by Man of the Match Andile Jali, the 24-year-old Belgium-based midfielder who South Africa will build their future around.

It was Jali's speed, tenacity and skill on the ball that won him most of the one on one battles against the Super Eagles midfielders.

Mikel appears to having fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, having only had 23 minutes of action so far this season for the big-spending London club, but Keshi remains adamant that the 27-year-old is an important part of the national team.

"Just because he is not playing in his team (Chelsea), that does not mean I cannot use him in my team, that's the coaches' choice," Keshi said after Wednesday night's 0-0 draw with Bafana Bafana in Cape Town.

"But in my team, if I think that he is good shape, with the wealth of experience he has, all his years in the Champions League, I think he's very important for us in the team, and we just have to make the best of the situation."



Source: Npl

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