9jasports Services Limited

12/06/2025

WIKKI TOURISTS UPDATE .
Training has fully resumed as they gear up for the NNL Super 8 Playoffs.

Best of Luck ahead

09/06/2025

Mobolaji Johnson Arena to host 2025 President Federation Cup grand finale



For the second successive year, the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos will host the grand finale of the President Federation Cup competition, which is scheduled for Saturday, 28th June.



The compact but dainty facility by the waterfront hosted last year’s grand finale, in which El-Kanemi Warriors defeated Abia Warriors to emerge winners of the men’s competition while Rivers Angels edged Naija Ratels 1-0 in the women’s version. The venue is also the site of the former King George V Stadium, which was later renamed Lagos City Stadium, and later known as Onikan Stadium.



Lagos State has hosted a total of 60 grand finales of Nigeria’s oldest Cup competition, which was known variously in the past as Governor’s Cup, FA Cup, Challenge Cup and Federation Cup.



Of the 60 Final matches, 18 were staged at the King George V, between 1945 and 1962. The venue was then renamed Lagos City Stadium, and continued to host the final matches until 1972, when the clash between Mighty Jets and Bendel Insurance was stalemated at 2-2 and had to be replayed. The replay was taken to the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, and that was the first time the Final was played outside Lagos.



The National Stadium, Surulere, which was built in 1972 to host the 2nd All-Africa Games that Nigeria staged in 1973, commenced hosting of the grand finale in 1974, as there was no competition in 1973 due to the 2nd All-Africa Games and the maiden edition of the National Sports Festival.



The National Stadium, Surulere hosted a total of 22 Final matches, with the last Final there in 2002, when Julius Berger defeated Yobe Desert Stars 3-0 to emerge champions.



Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos hosted eight Final matches (2007 & 2009, and 2011-2016). The grand finale has also taken place previously at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi (1989 and 1994), Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi (1992 and 2008), Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna (1993, 1997, 2003 and 2019), Rancher Bees Stadium, Kaduna (1998), Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City (2004 and 2021), Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt (2005), MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta (2006), Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano (2010), Agege City Stadium (2017) and the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba (2018 and 2023).



This year’s grand finale will see surprise packets Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi taking on Kwara United FC of Ilorin in the men’s final, while Cup holders Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt will tackle Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia in a much-anticipated women’s final.

06/06/2025

Nigeria's U15 Boys Team, the Future Eagles, Arrives in Morocco for Friendly Matches*

Nigeria’s U15 boys' national team, known as the Future Eagles, has arrived in Morocco ahead of two international friendly matches. This marks the team’s first international outing since the launch of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) in Nigeria.

The delegation includes 22 players and six officials, led by Head Coach Patrick Bassey. Among the selected players is Buruj FC U-15 talent, Raheem Moyinoluwa Salaudeen.

The Future Eagles are set to face their Moroccan counterparts in two fixtures scheduled for December 12th and 15th at the prestigious Complexe Mohammed VI de Football.

Squad List:

𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀:
Isaac Tomiwa, Johnson Amaagudi, Somtochukwu Ibe

𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀:
Nicodemus Gideon, Raphael Umah, Luka Ephraim, Muhammad Shamsudeen, Samuel Yusuf

𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀:
Praise Averwosou, Uwem Bassey, Farwas Adeleke, Raheem Salaudeen, Kunle Tokode, Osaghae Ighodaro Dominion, Obasahon Emmanuel

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀:
Samuel Essien, Abubakar Abdulrazaq, Ogar Timothy, Yusuf Saminu, Ebube Oyari, Sha’Aban Musa, Yusuf Auwal

02/06/2025

Injuries, Withdrawals Alter Chelle’s Army To Face Russia On Friday.



A number of withdrawals and injuries to some players have combined to alter the list of players who will appear for Nigeria in Friday’s international friendly match in Moscow, from the original list drawn up by Super Eagles’ Head Coach Eric Chelle.



The goalkeeping sector is unaffected as first choice Stanley Nwabali was not listed for the trip in the first place, as a result of the upcoming burial rites for his late parents. Italy-based Maduka Okoye and Tanzania-based Amas Obasogie will still fight for the goal-tender’s starting shirt.



In the rearguard, captain William Ekong is in Moscow alongside Bright Osayi-Samuel, joining the Unity Cup trio of Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi and Igoh Ogbu. However, Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina excused himself from the friendly, and Coach Chelle has had to draft in the Unity Cup duo of Sodiq Ismaila and Benjamin Fredericks. Former junior international Fredericks impressed on his debut against Jamaica on Saturday.



In the midfield, injury to Wilfred Ndidi has handed Enugu Rangers’ ace Saviour Isaac the opportunity to shine. Isaac is a key member of the Eagles B, which will participate in the African Nations Championship finals in August. He will join Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Christantus Uche and Papa Daniel Mustapha to fight for shirts in the middle of the pack.



At the fore, Unity Cup ace Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Iheanacho, have excused themselves to attend to family matters, while Spain-based Sadiq Umar has suffered an injury. Nathan Tella’s United Kingdom passport is undergoing a renewal process, so he is unable to travel.



This situation has left Chelle with only Victor Boniface, Simon Moses and Tolu Arokodare in the attack, and he has had to call up Russia-based former junior international Olakunle Olusegun, who plays for Krasnodar FC.



The team, which arrived in Moscow on Monday, will begin training sessions on Tuesday.



The match will take place at the 78,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium, which is the largest football stadium in Russia and the ninth-largest in the whole of Europe.



SUPER EAGLES FOR RUSSIA FRIENDLY:



Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania)



Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars); Benjamin Fredericks (Brentford FC, England)



Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes); Saviour Isaac (Enugu Rangers)



Forwards: Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Olakunle Olusegun (Krasnodar FC, Russia)

01/06/2025

Unity Cup Tournament: Nigeria edge gritty battle with Jamaica to retain trophy



Jamaica proved a hard nut to crack, but cracked they were in the end as the Super Eagles won an entertaining Unity Cup Tournament final match following a penalty shootout in west London on Saturday.



A terrific atmosphere of singing, dancing and feasting provided a fitting background to a game that swung from end to end at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, with Nigeria scoring first and then conceding, and then scoring and conceding before penalty shootout was called to separate the teams.



It was exactly 21 years to the day the Super Eagles had beaten the same Reggae Boyz in more commanding fashion – two goals to nothing courtesy strikes by John Utaka and Bartholomew Ogbeche at The Valley, homeground of Charlton Athletic FC.



On that day, Utaka, in the same white top and short, had finished with aplomb to put the Eagles ahead, similar to the way he had latched on to a long pass by Nwankwo Kanu to drill the sword into Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia months earlier, ending the campaign of the Cup holders.



In the semi finals played on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jamaica had beaten Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 with a last-gasp penalty. Kasey Palmer, Rumarn Burrell and Richard King were the scorers on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Cyriel Dessers and Semi Ajayi were on song for the Super Eagles.



On Saturday, Cyriel Dessers, whose composed finish to put the Eagles ahead against Ghana in the semi-final was still talk of the global football environment, floated the ball skillfully into the box for Moses Simon to jab past Shaquan Davis in the 9th minute.



Unruffled, the Reggae Boyz, coaxed on by their supporters who constituted two-thirds of the crowd, equalized three minutes later when Rumarn Burrell darted past Sodiq Ismaila on the right and squared for Kaheim Dixon to drive past Stanley Nwabali.



Dessers, ever vibrant, came close in the 23rd minute only for Davis to hold the ball tight and prevent any damage.



Nigeria began the second half the way they did the first, with the ebullient Samuel Chukwueze ghosting past a number of defenders and slotting past Davis into the left corner in the 53rd minute.



Again, the Boyz were unfazed. Instead, they regrouped, flowed past the Nigeria rearguard from the right again and Jonathan Russell was on hand to finish with a flourish.



In the end, a penalty shootout was needed, and Kelechi Iheanacho, Simon Moses, Tolu Arokodare, Bruno Onyemaechi and Christantus Uche scored their kicks while Jamaica missed their fourth kick.



PHOTO 1: NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and captain Simon Moses with the Unity Cup Tournament trophy on Saturday.

30/05/2025

2024.

Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

Match Schedule for the upcoming CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations

30/05/2025

Nasarawa United FC Embarks On Two -Week Break.

Nasarawa United FC announced that they are embarking on a well-deserved two-week break, beginning from today, Thursday, 29th May, 2025, and to resume on Thursday, 12th June, 2025.

This respite comes after a hard-fought campaign, which saw us successfully navigate the challenges of the NPFL and secure our spot in the top-flight division for next season, ending 12th on the League Table with 52 points from 38 games.

As we take this brief hiatus, we would like to extend our warmest gratitude to the following critical stakeholders who have been instrumental in our journey:

i. His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, Executive Governor, Nasarawa State, for his relentless fatherly motivation, support, both morally and financially, and his visionary leadership, which have been pivotal in shaping the future of the Club and its staff.

ii. His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, Deputy Governor, Nasarawa State, for his tireless efforts in promoting sports development and fostering a conducive environment for the Club to thrive.

iii. Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nasarawa State, and entire Staff of the Ministry, for all the invaluable guidance, moral and physical presence, and encouragement, which have enabled us to overcome the hurdles and achieve our goals.

iv. Board of Nasarawa State Football Association headed by Salisu Galadima 'Basira' for its professionalism and commitment throughout the season.

v. Nasarawa State Football Referees' Council chaired by Isah Mohammed for all your professional guidance to adhere to the laws of the game and maintain its integrity.

vi. Our Loyal Supporters and Fans for their undiluted loyalty, passion, and enthusiasm, which have been a constant source of inspiration and motivation for the team.

vii. The Media for your objective reporting, insightful analysis, and continuous efforts in promoting the Club and the beautiful round leather game

viii. And to other stakeholders too numerous to mention. Your contributions, whether big or small, have collectively helped us achieve our objective of remaining afloat in the NPFL.

We are grateful for the support and trust you have placed in us, and we look forward to building on our successes in the seasons to come.

As we recharge and refocus, we are committed to returning stronger, more united, and more determined than ever!

30/05/2025

FIFA U-20 World Cup

29/05/2025

Unity Cup Nigeria 2 - 0 Ghana

29/05/2025

29/05/2025

Unity Cup Tournament: Super Eagles edge Black Stars in London thriller



Nigeria and Ghana ignited an electric atmosphere at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford on Wednesday, with the Super Eagles coming out tops in a sweet 2-0 victory that sprung them into Saturday’s final.



A rapturous evening in West London began in frenetic pace, with Cyriel Dessers asking hard questions of the Ghanaian defence, and it was not long before he got his reward. In the 14th minute, defender Sodiq Ismaila darted to the right wing and sent the ball into the box, and Dessers took full advantage of a defender who slipped while trying to clear the ball, chested down brilliantly and fired past goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.



Five minutes later, another audacious move resulted in another goal. Samuel Chukwueze sent the ball into the box from a free-kick 25 yards out, and defender Semi Ajayi’s header saw the ball deflected off the body of a defender to wrongfoot Asare for Nigeria’s second.



Now in the ascendancy, the Super Eagles could have increased the tally two minutes later, but the exciting Dessers saw his cross into the box begging for connection.



A roar went out from the large Ghanaian population in the stadium when goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a mistake while trying to kick the ball to defender Igoh Ogbu, but the South Africa-based safe hands made a one-handed save to parry the resulting effort away from goal.



Asare denied Sikiru Alimi in the 32nd minute, and at the other end, the Remo Stars’ forward was on hand to head the ball to safety as Ghana launched with a free-kick from the left.



Skipper Jordan Ayew was a thorn in the Eagles’ flesh throughout the second half, with deft touches that left the Super Eagles’ defenders flummoxed at times, and his combination with Christopher Bonsu Baah and Brandon Thomas Asante eventually produced the Black Stars’ only goal with 20 minuets left. Ayew came pretty close to netting the equalizer in the 77th minute, but missed the target.



Nigeria will square up to Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz in Saturday’s final, while the Black Stars take on the Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago in the third-place match starting at 12.30pm.



Jamaica edged another thrilling game on Tuesday, beating the Soca Warriors 3-2 with a penalty kick in added time, and will file out against the Super Eagles at 5pm on Saturday.

29/05/2025

AKWANGA BEAT DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, LAFIA, TO LIFT 3RD EDITION OF NASARAWA STATE U-13 FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT'S TROPHY.

Akwanga Local Government Area avenged their 2024 loss to defeat defending champions, Lafia, by 5-4 on penalty shootout after regulation time ended 1-1 apiece at the 3rd edition of the Nasarawa State U-13 Inter-Primary School Football Tournament held at the Rishama College Football Field, Akwanga, on Tuesday.

Both sides headed into penalty sessions after a sizzling sixty minutes, with Umar Usman and Jordan Habila scoring for Lafia and Akwanga respectively.

In the ensuing session, both sides netted four out of their five spot kicks, before Akwanga scored the decider in the tiebreaker as the Lafia's taker ballooned his kick into the abyss, crowning the hosts as winners of this year's edition in an electrifying atmosphere.

In the 3rd place play-off, Keffi Local Government Area beat Doma 5-4 via penalty shootout following a 1-1 stalemate.

Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, presented dummy Cheques with their prizes attached therein, a giant trophy for the champions, including a financial reward of One Million Naira(N1,000,000.00) to the Champions, Akwanga Local Government Area; Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira(N750,000.00) to the runners-up team, Lafia, and Five Hundred Thousand Naira to the third-place winners, Keffi Local Government Area, with the Deputy Governor making a personal donation of Three Hundred Thousand Naira(N300,000.00) to the 4th-place finishers, Doma Local Government Area.

The Governor congratulated the thirteen participating Local Government Areas for presenting formidable teams who competed vigorously against one another in making the event a success.

He also commended the sponsor of the tournament, Hon. Aliyu Bello, and organizers of the tournament for the laudable initiative, urging them to sustain the tempo, even as he called on well-spirited individuals to lend supports to the sponsor in order to do more for humanity and society.

The Governor called on the State's Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to work in synergy with the sponsor to actualize the lofty goal of unearthing hidden sporting potentials in the State for onward development for local and international benefits.

Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nasarawa State, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, described the U-13 Championship as sharing the same vision with that of Governor Abdullahi Sule on talents discovery and onward development.

He disclosed that scouts from the newly formed Nasarawa United Feeder Team will consider picking some outstanding talents from the tournament.

He congratulated the entire teams for showing poise, and the spirit of sportsmanship, whether in defeat or victory.

Kwanta reaffirmed his Ministry's open-door policy to help the growth and development of sports and sports stakeholders in the State.

Representative of the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Abubakar Barde, appreciated the sponsor of the tournament, and commended the participating teams for their commitment to the tournament, describing them as "all winners."

Sponsor of the tournament and founder of the Aliyu Bello Charity Foundation, Hon. Aliyu Bello(PhD),was full of appreciation to Governor Abdullahi Sule for his relentless support to the Aliyu Bello Charity Foundation and organizers of the championship, saying, it has opened the vista for the massive discovery of talents and nurturing them for podium appearances in the future.

In the individual awards, Usman Usman of Lafia Local Government Area won the Golden Boot award, followed by Zubairu Aliyu of Lafia who clinched the Most Valuable Player award.

Yahaya Umar of Akwanga Local Government Area won the Best Goalkeeper award, while Maitala, emerged as Best Coach of the tournament.

The sponsor honoured dignitaries who graced the closing ceremony with medals.

The tournament's final match was attended by prominent dignitaries, including the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau; Commissioners: State's Accountant General, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed ; Chief Whip of the State's House of Assembly and Member representing Akwanga North, Hon. Larry Ven-Bawa; Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan(Permanent Secretary, Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development); Chairman of Nasarawa State Football Association, Salisu Usman Galadima; Chairmen of Local Government Areas, including that of the host Local Government Area, Hon. Safiyanu Isah Andaha; Dr. Kassim Muhammad Kassim(Chairman, NSUBEB); Royal Fathers; Chairman of Nasarawa United FC, Solomon Babanjah, among others.

The third edition of the tournament started on 21st-27th May, 2025, and seeks to commemorate this year's International Children's Day and the 6th anniversary of Engr. Abdullahi Sule as Executive Governor of Nasarawa State.

According to the sponsor, Keffi Local Government Area will host the 4th edition of the tournament between May 20th-27th, 2026.