Kano Pillars technical adviser Daniel Ogunmodede has expressed delight after his team ended a five-match winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Katsina United in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on Sunday, October 18.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The victory at the Sani Abacha Stadium provided a much-needed boost for Pillars, who had struggled to secure maximum points in their previous five matches.

Speaking after the local derby, Ogunmodede praised his players for their determination and fighting spirit.

“I must congratulate the boys for putting up a brilliant fight. We had not tasted a win in the last five games, and they delivered in the derby,” he said.

The coach also commended his team for its performance at both ends of the pitch, highlighting the attacking display and defensive discipline that secured all three points without conceding.

“That was a very good goal. We attacked well and defended well to get the maximum points with a clean sheet,” he added.

Ogunmodede further stressed that winning had always been central to his coaching philosophy, noting that his ambition to secure victories had remained unchanged throughout his career.

“It is part of my job to win. I like winning because that is what I am paid for. For three decades now, winning has always been my motive,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nasarawa United assistant coach Stephen Moga has praised his players following their impressive 2-0 away victory over Inter Lagos.

Kelechi Ogbobo opened the scoring for Nasarawa United in the 11th minute, while Ugochukwu Leonard extended the visitors’ lead five minutes later.

The victory lifted Nasarawa United, managed by Mbwas Mangut, to sixth position on the NPFL table.

Speaking to the club’s media, Moga explained that the team had been working towards achieving its objectives in both domestic and continental competitions.

“We have been strategising to get the results we desire so that we can achieve our targets, both in the league and on the continent,” he said.

He identified clinical finishing as a crucial factor in the team’s quest to meet its targets.

“To achieve your targets, you need to convert your chances and stay ahead of your opponents,” Moga added.

The assistant coach also expressed confidence that Inter Lagos would recover from the setback, insisting that the hosts possessed enough quality to improve their league position.

Nasarawa United are scheduled to host Enyimba in a Matchday 10 fixture on Sunday.

Ogunbote Disappointed After Plateau United Lose At Home

In another Matchday Nine encounter, Plateau United head coach Gbenga Ogunbote described his side’s 3-2 home defeat to Sporting Lagos as a disappointing setback after his team surrendered its advantage.

The loss ended Plateau United’s run of four consecutive home victories this season and handed Sporting Lagos a significant result on the road.

Aliyu Baba put Sporting Lagos ahead in the 10th minute before Victor Dawa scored twice to give Plateau United a 2-1 lead at half-time.

However, Victor Samuel restored parity for the visitors in the 53rd minute before Plateau United were reduced to 10 men with 10 minutes remaining.

Aondona Adeede then scored in the 82nd minute to complete Sporting Lagos’ comeback and secure all three points.

The victory moved Sporting Lagos to third place on the table with 15 points, one point ahead of Plateau United, who have accumulated 14 points.

Reacting to the defeat, Ogunbote admitted that his team failed to protect its lead but insisted that his players had given their best despite the disappointing outcome.

“I think it was a difficult one for us; I won’t say complacency because the boys put in their very best. Unfortunately, we gave up the lead, and things fell apart,” he said.

The Plateau United manager acknowledged Sporting Lagos’ performance and described the defeat as an early warning for his team as the season progresses.

“This is week nine; unfortunately, nobody wanted to lose the game, but we lost. Even a draw would have still been termed as a loss to us,” he said.

He added, “But as I did say, it’s good it happened early so that it would make every one of us wake up to know that we have not gotten there yet.”

British heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury has vowed to knock out Anthony Joshua when the two rivals meet at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Fury issued the threat following Daniel Dubois’ second-round stoppage of Fabio Wardley in London on Saturday, October 17.

Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title after delivering a series of unanswered punches that forced Wardley’s corner to throw in the towel, bringing the contest to an end.

Reacting to the fight in a video posted on Instagram, Fury praised both boxers before turning his attention to his highly anticipated showdown with Joshua.

He said, “That was a very exciting heavyweight fight there between Dubois and Wardley. Fair play to both guys. Well done to Daniel for retaining his belt with a good knockout. That’s how you get them out of there, big Dan.”

Fury then issued a direct warning to Joshua, saying, “That is exactly what is going to happen to AJ on December 11, sparked out. Get up.”

Dubois made an explosive start to the contest, knocking Wardley down with a powerful right hand less than 20 seconds into the opening round.

He continued to dominate in the second round, maintaining the pressure until Wardley’s corner intervened and stopped the fight.

The victory marked Dubois’ first successful defence of the title he had reclaimed from Wardley in May. Their previous encounter lasted 11 rounds, with Dubois recovering from two knockdowns before eventually losing the belt.

Speaking after his latest victory, Dubois said he had anticipated a difficult contest and was determined to emerge victorious regardless of the challenges Wardley presented.

“I was just prepared for a war. Whatever he did wasn’t going to affect me: his punches or anything. I wouldn’t feel them, and I was just going to go right through him,” he said.

“I was in the zone. I was so on it, and I wasn’t going to be denied. I refuse to lose.”

Following the fight, Dubois asked his promoter, Frank Warren, about his next opponent.

Warren disclosed that plans were underway to organise a heavyweight unification bout next year, with IBF champion Filip Hrgovic and newly crowned WBC champion Agit Kabayel among the potential opponents.

“All those names are there to do a unification fight next year, and that’s what we’re working on,” Warren said.

When asked whether Dubois could face the winner of the Fury-Joshua showdown, Warren replied, “Well, that remains to be seen, but what can you do with these fights? You can only keep making the best fights.”

Fury and Joshua are scheduled to clash on December 11, with the bout set to stream live on Netflix and the WBA world title reportedly at stake.

Fury, 38, would become a three-time world champion if he defeats Joshua. He is also seeking to avenge his two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk as he continues his pursuit of another heavyweight championship.

Golden Eaglets head coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere has apologised to Nigerians following the team’s disappointing early exit from the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship in Burkina Faso.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Golden Eaglets head coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere has apologised to Nigerians following the team’s disappointing early exit from the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship in Burkina Faso.

Nigeria’s hopes of securing a place at the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco were dashed on Saturday after the Golden Eaglets played out a 1-1 draw against Côte d’Ivoire.

The result came after Nigeria suffered a 2-1 defeat to Niger Republic in their opening match of the tournament.

The Golden Eaglets needed a victory against the Ivorians to stand a chance of reaching the semi-finals. However, the draw confirmed their elimination at the group stage.

Their failure to qualify for the continental tournament also means Nigeria will miss the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The country last participated in the competition in 2019.

Reacting to the disappointing outcome, Uwejamomere admitted that both the players and the coaching crew were unhappy with the result and its consequences for Nigerian football.

He expressed disappointment over the team’s inability to progress, noting that missing next year’s U-17 AFCON was a major setback.

“Obviously, the first impressions are unhappiness and disappointment. Now we are out of the tournament, and the bigger picture is that we won’t go to the U-17 AFCON next year; we are unhappy and very disappointed overall,” he said.

Despite the setback, the coach urged the young players to learn from the experience and use it as an opportunity to improve their performances as they advance in their football careers.

According to him, most members of the squad are between 15 and 16 years old and still have sufficient time to develop their talents and fulfil their potential.

“For my players, obviously young boys, 15- and 16-year-olds, they still have years ahead of them. This is like the first chapter of their career going into elite football. So it’s just to learn from this and just use this as an experience going forward in their career,” he added.

Uwejamomere also acknowledged the disappointment among Nigerian football fans, who had hoped the team would progress further in the competition.

While recognising the supporters’ right to express their frustrations over the early elimination, the coach appealed for their forgiveness, stressing that the players and technical crew were equally hurt by the outcome.

“The only thing I can say to them is to forgive us because of the disappointment they feel I’m also feeling; my players are also feeling the same disappointment,” he said.

Tighten the match-result explanationReduce repeated disappointment references