₦airaland Forum

We take a look at Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg game between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. The second of three meetings between both London club this month sees the pressure solidly on the North Londoners.

Chelsea suffered a disappointing setback at the weekend as a fairly strong starting eleven was held to a goalless draw away to Norwich in the FA Cup, forcing a replay in an already congested fixture list for Antonio Conte’s men.

This followed on from their 2-2 draw away to Arsenal in the Premier League, but The Blues will be hoping that the home advantage can tip the scales in their favor for this first leg tie in the League Cup semi-final.

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http://cheapgoals.com/carabao-cup-semi-final-chelsea-arsenal-preview-line-ups-insightful-analysis/

■ Yobe Stars


Nick:
Established: 1991
Home Ground: Damaturu Township Stadium
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Muhammed Baba Ganaru
Captain:
Players To Watch: Mohammed Rabiu.

http://cheapgoals.com/npfl-table-know-the-20-npfl-teams-competing-in-the-201718-season/

■ Wikki Tourist


Nick: Bauchi Elephants
Established:
Home Ground: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Bala Nkiyu
Captain: Ibrahim Mustapha
Players To Watch: Zaharadeen Bello

■ Sunshine Stars

Nick: Owena Waves
Established: 1995
Home Ground: Akure Township Stadium, Ondo State
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Duke Udi
Captain: Alaba Adeniyi
Players To Watch: Ezekiel Thompson, Osas Idehen

■ Rivers United

Nick: Pride of Rivers
Established: 2016
Home Ground: Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Stanley Eguma
Captain: Festus Austin
Players To Watch: Emeka Ogbugh

■ Plateau United

Nick: The Peace Boys
Established: 1975
Home Ground: Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos
No of Pl Titles: 1 (2017)
Coach: Kennedy Boboye
Captain: Elisa Golbe
Players To Watch: Moses Eneji, Tosin Omoyele

■ Niger Tornadoes

Nick: Ikon Allah Boys
Established: 1977
Home Ground: Confluence Stadium, Lokoja (Temporary )
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Erasmus Onu
Captain: Aliko Mustapha
Players To Watch: Felix Mokum,Hussaini Ibrahim,Yakubu Alfa

■ Nasarawa United

Nick: Solid Minners
Established: 2003
Home Ground: Lafia Township Stadium
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Kabiru Dogo
Captain: Emmanuel Makama
Players To Watch: Suraj Ayeleso

■ Mountain Of Fire Ministries Fc

Nick: Olukoya Boys
Established: 2007
Home Ground: Agege Stadium, Lagos
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Fidelis Ilechukwu
Captain: Austin Opara
Players To Watch: Chukwuka Onuwa, Sikiru Olatunbosun


Source: http://cheapgoals.com/npfl-table-know-the-20-npfl-teams-competing-in-the-201718-season/

■ Lobi Stars

Nick: Ortom Boys
Established: 1981
Home Ground: Aper Aku Stadium, Markurdu
No of Pl Titles: 1 (1999)
Coach: Solomon Ogbeide
Captain: Anthony Agbaji
Players To Watch: Anthony Okpotu

■ Kwara United

Nick: Harmony Boys
Established: 1997
Home Ground: Kwara State Stadium
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: John Obuh
Captain: Dare Ojo
Players To Watch: Micheal Ohanu

Katsina United

Nick: Changi Boys
Established: 1994
Home Ground: Karkanda Stadium, Kastina
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Abdullahi Biffo
Captain: Nasiru Sani
Players To Watch:Tasiu Lawal,Musa Suleiman, Destiny Ashadi

■ Kano Pillars

Nick: Masu Gida
Established: 1990
Home Ground:Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano
No of Pl Titles: 4 (Most Recent 2014)
Coach: Ibrahim Musa
Captain: Rabiu Ali
Players To Watch: Rabiu Ali

■ Ifeanyi Ubah

Nick: Anambra Warriors
Established: 2015
Home Ground: Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium, Anambra
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Ladan Bosso
Captain: Wilson Elu
Players To Watch: Godwin Obaje

■ Heartland FC

Nick: Naze Millionaires
Established: 1976
Home Ground: Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri
No of Pl Titles: 5 (Most Recent 1993)
Coach: Ramson Madu
Captain: Julius Ubido
Players To Watch: Ebele Obi

■ FC Go Round

Nick: –
Established: unknown
Home Ground: Krisdera Stadium Omoku, Rivers State
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Ngozi Elechi
Captain: Nelson Esor
Players To Watch: Dominic Junior

■ Enyimba FC

Nick: The People’s Elephants
Established: 1976
Home Ground: U.J Eusene Stadium, Calabar (Temporary)
No of Pl Titles: 7 (Most recent 2015)
Coach: Paul Aigbogun
Captain: Mfon Udoh
Players To Watch: Mfon Udoh, Ikechukwu Ezenwa

■ Enugu Rangers

Nick: Flying Antelopes
Established: 1970
Home Ground: Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu
No of Pl Titles: 7, (Most recent 2016)
Coach: Gbenga Ogunbote
Captain: Chibuzor Madu
Players To Watch: Itodo Ako, Daniel Etor

■ El Kanemi Warriors

Nick: Borno Army
Established: 1986
Home Ground: El Kanemi Stadium, Maiduguri
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Imama Amapakabo
Captain: George Michael
Players To Watch: Nura Muhammed

■ Akwa United

Nick: Promise Keepers
Established: 1996
Home Ground: Nest Of Champions, Uyo
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Abdu Maikaba
Captain: Ottobong Effiong
Players To Watch: Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Victor Mbaoma

■ Abia Warriors

Nick: Ochendo Babes
Established: 2005
Home Ground: Umuahia Township Stadium
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Rafael Everton
Captain: Austin Obaroakpo
Players To Watch: Sunday Adetunji, Anthony Okemiri

As the 2017/18 Nigeria Professional Football League season approaches and with just 4 days to the opening matches we bring you closer to the 20 teams. Plateau United are the defending champions, while FC Go Round, Kwara United, Heartland FC and Yobe Deserts Stars have entered as the promoted teams from the 2016/17 NNL season.

Source: http://cheapgoals.com/npfl-table-know-the-20-npfl-teams-competing-in-the-201718-season/

Not scoring enough goals is playing a major role in Los Blancos poor run of form, goalscoring has hit an unequaled low record at Real Madrid. It’s the first time the team’s top striker has scored just four times after 17 matches.

With Just 16 points and similarly the same number of goals stand between Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga. While the Blaugrana have found the back of the net 46 times, Zidane’s squad lacked a key player and has struggled to put together 32 goals in Spanish top -flight.

Cristiano Ronaldo is not at his best, Zidane is setting all his eggs tied up in one place: the Champions League. Los Blancos have capitulated in their fight to defend La Liga title with over half of the League still to be played

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http://cheapgoals.com/benzema-bale-ronaldo-are-21st-century-worst-goalscorers/

The CIES Football Observatory has announced its recent rankings of the most valuable players in Europe's top five Leagues. PSG forward Neymar has edged out Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi to be named the world's most valuable footballer.

CIES release the list every January, considering factors, such as age, position, contract status, playing performances and worldwide status to go to a valuation.

The Brazilian international Neymar proves to be the top of the current year's list with an estimation of £188m, just ahead of Messi on £178.5m.

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http://cheapgoals.com/psg-star-edges-out-messi-ronaldo-to-be-ranked-most-valuble-player-in-europe/

Debating about world's richest footballers your contemplations promptly divert to the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar - not a 19-year-old Brunei youngster.

Faiq Jefri Bolkiah plays for Leicester City's youth team, but inquisitively, he is likewise the richest footballer in the world. The Fox youngster is the nephew of Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, a small locale of just 430,000 inhabitant that has immense reserves of oil and gas.

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http://cheapgoals.com/forget-messi-ronaldo-meet-19-year-old-world-richest-footballer/

■ Chukwuka Onuwa – MFM FC

The midfielder formed a solid partnership with the duo of Stephen Odey and Sikiru Olatunbosun to a devastating effect leading MFM Fc to the 2nd spot in the league last season. His passing abilities and movement on and off the balls are strong sides of the pint-sized midfielder.

Although Odey has since moved to Switzerland with FC Zurich, it is left to be seen what Onuwa can do to motivate the young MFM Fc squad as they prepare to feature on the continent especially after failing to complete the move to bring in Remo stars duo of Oche Salefu and Victor Mbaoma.

Sunday Faleye – Akwa United

Another young talent in the NPFL. He is outrageously nicknamed the Christiano Ronaldo of Ibadan by the fans of 3SC whom he featured for last season and rightly so, the forward possesses pace, tricks, dribbling and finishing abilities.

He is also known to be versatile with his ability to play anywhere in the forward line and he proved this with ease as he played as a lone forward for 3SC for a better part of last season which was incidentally his first professional season.

His exploits didn’t go unnoticed by the national team handlers as he was handed a call-up into the CHAN Eagles team for the Super 6 and also making the 23-man list for the competition. It’s only a matter before he moves abroad after his trial with Nordsjealland last September fell through.

■ Nura Muhammed – El Kanemi


From “Boko Haram to the Super Eagles” is the title of the teenager’s inspirational story on the Nigeria Football Federation’s website.

Just 15 years Old, Nura becomes the youngest player ever to feature for the Super Eagles after he featured in the team at the Super 6 held in Kano.

His brilliance on the pitch of play with El Kanemi feeders team where he got a promotion to their main team got the League Management Company chairman, Sheu Dikko arguing with National team coaches to skip him from the u17 and u20 teams straight into the national team.

Sheu Dikko had insisted that the youth teams inactivity for the meantime would hamper the young lad’s development. Nura didn’t disappoint either, displaying eye-catching performances in Kano to earn a place in the final squad for the CHAN tourney. A case of if you are good enough you are old enough.

■ Micheal Ohanu – Kwara United

A product of the 2012 National Youth Sports Festival, Micheal Ohanu enjoyed a sterling 2017 with the Harmony boys.

With 22 goals, which include 3 hattricks were the digits he posted in the Nigeria National League last season to win the NNL player of the season award and also propel Kwara United back into the NPFL.

■ Tosin Omoyele – Plateau United

Newly recruited from Osun United by the defending champions, Tosin scored 15 goals last season to help Osun United reach the Aiteo cup quarter-finals although they failed to gain promotion into the NPFL.

He would have the chance to test his mettle against the country’s best legs in the top division as well as playing in the CAF Champions League as well.

His records last season ensured he got a place in the CHAN Eagles squad for the Super 6 held in Kano but he failed to make the final 23-man list for the African Nations Championship holding in Morocco later in January.

The League season brings a lot of excitements, fun, drama, spectacular goals and epic matchups between rivals. However, these are not the only things to look forward to as there are players who would step up their games and with 2018 being the World Cup year, many would display spectacular performances with hopes of gatecrashing the World Cup team.

With the new TV deal with NTA in place, It’s always exciting to see players rise and take the NPFL by storm, It happens every season and they apparently come out of nowhere to upset their opponents.

So who can possibly be a breakout star in the upcoming campaign? Here are players to look out for the 2017/18 NPFL season…

Source: http://cheapgoals.com/players-to-look-out-for-in-201718-npfl-season/