French, Spanish clubs show interest in Thompson

Kano Pillars’ midfielder, Joseph Atang Thompson (pictured right), has become the subject of fresh transfer talks from clubs in France and Spain.

Thompson, who has been called up by selectors of the Nigerian men’s national team, is also a target of Major League Soccer (MLS) side, Sporting Kansas City, formerly known as Kansas City Wizards.

United States of America (USA) – based player agent, Kingsley Chukwuemeka, told SuperSport.com from New York that he has received a number of offers from teams in France and Spain for his client.

But Chukwuemeka, who runs Global Sports Link, a sports management outfit based in New York, did not divulge the clubs showing interest in the former CotonSport Garoua man.

“Yes, offers are coming from Spain and France (for Thompson) but that's all I can tell you for now.  I will definitely get back to you in a few days (as regards the teams that are interested in him),” he said.

Thompson has been a key figure in the midfield of Kano Pillars in the ongoing Nigeria Premier League (NPL) season.

Bukola Babes’ Allen leads Team of Week

Photo: Shengolpixs

For the first time this season, one of the coaches from the newcomers to the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has been picked as coach of the week.

Bukola Babes’ head coach, Festus Allen (pictured), gets the nod from the Premier League’s panel to lead the Team of the Week in a 4-4-2 formation following his side’s thrashing of Kadiri Ikhana’s Kwara United.

With Allen in the Team of the Week are two of his players – Seun Sogbesan and Effiom Otu-Bassey – who slot into centre-back and left midfield respectively.

Warri Wolves share same number of entrants into this week’s team with goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, centre-back ThankGod Ike and midfielder Emmanuel Omodiagbe making the cut.

Victor Ezema of Kaduna United is picked for right-back while dead-ball specialist Daniel Mende of Sunshine Stars is named at left-back.

The duo of Josiah Maduabuchi of Enyimba and Gabriel Reuben of Kano Pillars complete a four-man midfield.

The two men that accounted for the goals in the game between Kano Pillars and Sharks last Saturday, Victor Ezeji (Sharks) and Victor Namo (Kano Pillars), will lead the attacking line for this week’s team.

Why they made the team

Goalkeeper: Chigozie Agbim (Warri Wolves)

The Nigeria B Team goalie was the man that stood between Enyimba and three points in Aba. Valentine Nwabili, Junior Osagie and John Agbawu all tested him. Agbim made two top drawer saves including one from Nnaemeka Anyanwu on 28 minutes that will stand out as one of the saves of the season. He was definitely the reason for Wolves taking a point in Aba, as he beat Olabisi Adewunmi of Zamfara United and Okiemute Odah of Sharks to this position.

Right-back: Victor Ezema (Kaduna Utd)

It was a very composed performance from Ezema against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC). Maurice Cooreman detailed him to man-mark Gbolahan Salami and he did it so well but for goalkeeper Richard Ochanyi’s error that gift the Shooting Stars’ man a goal. But Ezema kept Salami quiet in the game.

Centre-back: Seun Sogbesan (Bukola Babes)

He was massive in the defence line of Bukola Babes and made sure that the attackers of Kwara United were kept quiet for 90 minutes. Sogbesan also covered every blade of the grass in the defence line, as Bukola Babes romped to a 3 – 0 shock win over Kadiri Ikhana’s men.

Centre-back: ThankGod Ike (Warri Wolves)

Ike was a rock in the centre of Warri Wolves defence and no wonder coach Paul Aigbogun loves handing him a starting place every time. The Nigeria B Team defender held off Enyimba on a number of occasions with his aerial presence and calculative tacklings to make sure Wolves left Aba with a result.

Left-back: Daniel Mende (Sunshine Stars)

Mende made the left side of the field of his team his own. He was visibly all through the game and capped a fine performance with a stunning free-kick that ensured that Sunshine Stars continue to chase Dolphins at the summit of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL).

Right midfielder: Josiah Maduabuchi (Enyimba)

This talented Enyimba playmaker held the ball in the middle so well and caused his opponents problems with his dribbling runs. On almost every occasion, he was the creative spark in the Peoples Elephant’s setup against Warri Wolves.

Central midfielder: Gabriel Reuben (Kano Pillars)

Though he is a defensive midfielder, Reuben has the knack of venturing forward and back within the twinkle of an eye. He is a box-to-box player and he exhibited that character against Sharks on Saturday for Kano Pillars.

Central midfielder: Emmanuel Omodiagbe (Warri Wolves)

The former Heartland midfielder played the holding role in front of his side’s centre-backs very well. He foiled several attempts from the rampaging Enyimba attackers.

Left midfielder: Effiom Otu-Bassey (Bukola Babes)

The left-footed has been impressive this season and he continued that performance by running Kwara United’s defence ragged. He also got one of the three goals scored by his team that nailed Kwara United.

Striker: Victor Ezeji (Sharks)

The veteran striker was a handful for Kano Pillars’ defence in Saturday’s 1 – 1 draw. He got the goal for the Blue Angels and troubled Pillars back line during the match.

Striker: Victor Namo (Kano Pillars)

He came on as a substitute and immediately his presence was felt, as he stretched Sharks defence by drawing them to the wings and creating acres of space for his teammates in the middle. In spite of the fact that he lost his father, Namo got a late equaliser for Pillars to save his side the embarrassment of losing at home.

Coach: Festus Allen (Bukola Babes)

It is not often that coaches regarded as upcoming are seen as flooring their experienced counterparts. But Allen did so in style against his Kwara United counterpart, Kadiri Ikhana, a former African Coach of the Year and winner of the NPL.

Team of the Week

Chigozie Agbim (Warri Wolves)

Victor Ezema (Kaduna Utd)

Seun Sogbesan (Bukola Babes)

ThankGod Ike (Warri Wolves)

Daniel Mende (Sunshine Stars)

Josiah Maduabuchi (Enyimba)

Gabriel Reuben (Kano Pillars)

Emmanuel Omodiagbe (Warri Wolves)

Effiom Otu-Bassey (Bukola Babes)

Victor Ezeji (Sharks)

Victor Namo (Kano Pillars)

Coach: Festus Allen (Bukola Babes)

Senegalese defender aggravates injury

Sharks’ centre-back, Ousmane Pape Sane (pictured), has suffered a recurrence of his groin injury after playing all 90 minutes in his side’s 1 – 1 draw against former Nigeria Premier League (NPL) champions, Kano Pillars, on Saturday.

Sane started the game against Kano Pillars in spite of nursing the injury.

He was drafted back into the team for last Saturday’s game by coach John Obuh due to injury concerns to his teammates.

The 26-year-old defender had been initially left out of the trip to the botched game against Jos University Teaching Hospital (Juth) Football Club, which had to be cancelled due to security concerns in the Nigerian central city of Jos.

The Senegalese player told SuperSport.com that he struggled to put up a good performance in the game against Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

“I don’t feel really well after that game (against Kano Pillars),” said Sane. “My groin is really affecting me so much after now.”

With this development, Sane looks a major doubt for the trip to Bauchi, where the Blue Angels will face Gombe United in a Week 13 game at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.

Nigeria wrap up for Week 12

It was a bit of a difficult round to predict in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), as our predictor came up with FIVE correct results with no EXACT scoreline from NINE games. 
The game between former champions, Ocean Boys, and Jos University Teaching Hospital (Juth) Football Club was called off at the instance of the former.

Dolphins 1 Lobi Stars 0

Stanley Eguma’s men stretched their winning streak to four with a one-nil triumph over Lobi Stars. The club’s last season top scorer, Captain Ejindu, ensured that Dolphins remain at the summit of Nigeria’s topflight for another week with a 61st minute goal. It was a scrappy game by Dolphins’ standards but it was the result that mattered to Eguma.

Prediction: 3 – 1

Kano Pillars 1 Sharks 1

It was a game of two halves and a game of two Victors at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano that left our predictor in the lurch. Victor Ezeji’s goal inside the quarter of an hour for the Blue Angels left stand-in head coach of Kano Pillars, Baba Ganaru, staring at defeat before substitute Victor Namo squeezed in the equaliser three minutes into added time to the relief of the home fans.

Prediction: 1 – 0

Shooting Stars 1 Kaduna United 1

Fatai Amoo thought that his men had wrapped up this game following Gbolahan Salami’s goal on 62 minutes. But Fidelis Saviour proved to be a saviour for Kaduna United and ensured that they remain the only side to have scored in every game this season. The game was, however, tainted with two red cards to Raphael Musa of Shooting Stars and Nelson Nimyel of Kaduna United – both for retaliation off the ball.

Prediction: 2 – 1

Bukola Babes 3 Kwara United 0

This is perhaps the most shocking result of the weekend. It still beats pundits on how Bukola Babes’ head coach, Festus Allen and his side put Kwara United with Kadiri Ikhana on the bench to the sword at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi. Abdulrahman Bashiru, Effiom Otu-Bassey and Fade Adebayo got the goals while Seun Sogbesan led the lines at the back so well to keep Ikhana’s striking force quiet for the duration of the game.

Prediction: 0 – 0

Plateau United 2 Niger Tornadoes 2

Plateau United are still struggling to find their footing in the topflight this term following a 2 – 2 draw at home to Niger Tornadoes. But head coach of the side, Ndubuisi Nduka, will take some consolation from the fact that his team had to battle from behind twice through goals from John Daddy and Emmanuel Odafe. Plateau United and Niger Tornadoes are in the drop zone.

Prediction: 1 – 1

Zamfara United 1 Crown FC 0

Striker Bode Daniel of Crown Football Club will rue missing from the spot with Zamfara United one goal up and one man down. Austin Kadiri had earlier converted from the spot on 53 minutes after Charles Otuwe was adjudged to have handled the ball in his team’s goal area. The win ensures that Zamfara climb out of the drop zone while Crown now begin the battle for survival.

Prediction: 2 – 0

Sunshine Stars 2 Heartland 1

This game started with so much promise but centre referee, Friday Awogo’s failure to take charge saw the match turn into a brawl. It is not the first time that games between Sunshine Stars and Heartland have taken physical dimension, as same happened between both sides in Owerri on May 17, 2009. This time Sunshine Stars came out victors in this brawl with goals from Ibrahim Ajani and Daniel Mende while Joshua Obaje was Heartland’s goal scorer on the day.

Prediction: 1 – 0

Enugu Rangers 1 Gombe United 0

It appears that the Flying Antelopes have lost steam, as they have failed to conjure their five-goal performances that characterised their home run at the outset of the season. But Alphonsus Dike will be happy with Musa Najire’s winner 11 minutes from full time that has seen Rangers climb to third place but six points behind leaders, Dolphins.

Prediction: 2 – 1

Enyimba 0 Warri Wolves 0

This game in Aba was end to end stuff but it was tainted by poor officiating from the centre referee, Adamu Gambo and his assistants, Alfred Saiki and Aliyu Abdullahi. In spite of 11 minutes of added time, the game ended goalless and leaves the champions, Enyimba, out of the top half of the table while Wolves find themselves in the top four.

Prediction: 1 – 0