Nigerian Football
LMC REAPPOINTS SHEHU DIKKO AS CHAIRMAN
Chairman and the Independent Directors of the League Management Company (LMC) Limited were on Monday in Lagos endorsed for reappointment by a unanimous decision of members at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) held at the Best Western Hotel in Victoria Island.
The EGM which had in attendance the LMC Board and the participating clubs of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) was convened to deliberate on among other matters, the LMC Governing Structure as provided in the LMC Supplementary Regulations of 2014.
LMC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko in his opening remark before leaving the hall for the clubs to reach decisions on the tabled agenda, spoke on the LMC Governing Structure, the progress recorded by the league, the challenges faced lately, the projects lined up to improve the fortunes of the league and steps that have been taken to resolve some of these challenges and return the league to expectations of the Clubs, especially in matters of revenue generation.
Dikko further thanked the NPFL family for the opportunity given him and the Board to serve, promising that the years ahead will usher in greater successes on the field and in the books and then announced the intention of the current board to seek re-appointment consistent with the provisions of the LMC Supplementary Regulations of 2014.
The EGM after full deliberations passed a number of resolutions beginning with a commendation of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee led by the Amaju Melvin Pinnick for the laudable work they have executed to successfully steer the course of Nigerian Football on the path of sustainable development, despite some avoidable distractions.
It also declared unflinching support for the NFF and its leadership for all the positive football development programmes the Federation has put in place and are implementing.
The EGM also unanimously endorsed the re-appointment of the current Chairman and independent directors of the LMC for another term, subject to the conclusion of the work and processes of the company’s Selection Committee pursuant to the provisions of Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the LMC Supplementary Regulations of 2014 and Article 18 (2) of the NFF Statutes, 2010.
The General Meeting endorsed, approved and adopted a proposal for the amendment of Article 7 of the LMC Supplementary Regulations, 2014 with intent to align LMC Governance Structure with the new FIFA Governance benchmarks on tenure limits.
The meeting further commended the NFF for setting up the NFF Reforms Committee mandated to fashion out ways and strategies to improve Nigeria football. Consequently, the NPFL clubs resolved to set up a committee of five members to develop a position paper with suggestions on how to improve the NPFL and indeed Nigerian Football which will be submitted to the Reform Committee on behalf of the clubs.
The members are Davidson Owumi of Rangers as Chairman, Mr. Soni Uboh of Go Round FC, Dr. Abubakar Ago of Yobe Desert Stars, Davidson Adejuwon of MFM and Alloy Chukwuemeka who will serve as Secretary.
The General Meeting also reviewed the on-going NPFL, 2019 Season and expressed delight with its steady progress and discussed areas of identified challenges with a view to finding solutions.
The General Meeting in particular commended the diligence to duty and untiring efforts of the current Chairman, Dikko and Independent Directors, Dr. Isaac Ayodele, Mallam Salihu Abubakar and Nduka Irabor in ensuring the continuous development and long-term development of the NPFL and the larger Nigeria Football hence the endorsement of their re-appointment to office.
The EGM had in attendance representatives of 22 Clubs while two sent apologies for not attending. Independent Directors at the meeting were LMC Chief Executive Officer, Nduka Irabor, the LMC Chief Operating Officer Salihu Abubakar and Dr. Isaac Ayodele. Also present were two members of the NFF Executive Committee, Alhaji Yusuf Fresh and Felix Anyansi Agwu.
Some of the Clubs at the meeting include Rivers United FC, Abia Warriors FC, Heartland FC, FC IfeanyiUbah, MFM FC, and Rangers International FC. Others are Gombe United FC, Wikki Tourists FC, Go Round FC, Nasarawa United FC, Akwa United FC, Insurance of Benin FC and Enyimba International FC. Also in attendance were Sunshine Stars FC, Kwara United FC, Kano Pillars, Plateau United FC, Delta Force FC, Lobi Starts, Yobe Desert Stars FC, Katsina United FC, Kano Pillars and El-Kanemi Warriors FC.
The LMC Board consists of seven members made up of an Independent Chairman, two independent members, three members representing the Clubs and the CEO. The reappointed board was first constituted in 2015 after the adoption of the LMC Governing Structure Supplementary Regulations of 2014. The approved LMC Governing Structure has been the guiding principles for the corporate operations and management of the LMC-NPFL since 2015, with the club representatives on the LMC Board appointed on annual basis, while the Independent Directors have a tenure of four years.
Rivers United head coach and technical manager, Finidi George, has praised young defender Ochiobi Elias following his outstanding performance in the club’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The left-back, who played the full 90 minutes, was instrumental in helping Rivers United maintain a clean sheet, marking one of his most confident outings since his promotion to the senior squad.
Finidi, visibly impressed after the match, revealed that his decision to give Elias a full game was driven by trust in the player’s potential, despite his limited minutes earlier in the season.
“I think he did well. Normally, we should have been bringing him in gradually — maybe 15 minutes before giving him a 90-minute match,” Finidi said. “But I trust him, and I’ve spoken to him. He should be relaxed, calm down, and play his football.”
The coach also highlighted a near-miss moment when Elias came close to scoring late in the game, a chance Finidi felt could have crowned his stellar performance.
“I think today he would have scored a goal at the last moment, but he still wanted to square the ball, look for somebody,” Finidi added. “I’m quite happy with his performance, and we will keep encouraging him to do better. I am very, very pleased.”
Elias, a product of the Rivers United youth team that won the NPFL Youth League in 2024, has been gradually integrated into the first team under Finidi’s guidance. His performance on Wednesday is seen as a major step forward in his development and a sign of his growing confidence.
The youngster is now expected to retain his place in the squad as Rivers United travel to Aba this Sunday for a crucial NPFL clash against Enyimba.
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Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup, GTI Group, have congratulated the football governing body on the successful hosting of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a press statement issued on Friday in Lagos, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, lauded the NFF Board under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the smooth conduct of the AGM and the significant progress made in Nigerian football development.
According to Ekejiuba, the Ibadan meeting reflected Gusau’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and strengthening unity across the football ecosystem.
“GTI Group congratulates the Nigeria Football Federation on the successful outcome of its Annual General Meeting held in Ibadan, which the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, used the occasion to demonstrate his commitment to engaging positively with football stakeholders, including state football associations, clubs and fans,” he said.
“His interactions with the various groups at the AGM showcased his impactful leadership and dedication to promoting Nigerian football and fostering a collaborative environment.”
Ekejiuba also highlighted the Super Falcons’ recent achievements and the growth of domestic competitions, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), as key milestones recorded under Gusau’s leadership. GTI serves as a strategic partner of the NPFL, supporting its structural and commercial transformation.
The statement further expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for their hospitality and support during the AGM. Ekejiuba noted the governor’s commendation of the improved standard of refereeing in the NPFL under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye.
However, GTI also used the opportunity to express disappointment over the early exit of Kwara United and Abia Warriors from the CAF Confederation Cup, urging Nigerian clubs to raise their competitive standards on the continental stage.
“It is unfortunate that both Kwara United and Abia Warriors crashed out at the preliminary phase of the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend. This clearly shows that Nigerian clubs must raise their game in order to compete favourably,” the statement read.
“The future remains bright, but that is why GTI has been calling on Corporate Nigeria to invest more in our football, just as is done in thriving leagues across the world.”
Ekejiuba also extended words of encouragement to Remo Stars and Rivers United, who are still flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Champions League.
“We encourage them to dig deep and remain focused to ensure successful campaigns. They should give Nigerian football fans something to cheer this season because we understand how demanding continental competitions can be,” he concluded.
GTI Group reaffirmed its continued commitment to working closely with the NFF to advance football development, promote professionalism, and attract sustainable investment into the Nigerian game.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has queried Warri Wolves following reports of the suspension of their head coach, Aluma Napoleon, faulting the club’s failure to comply with established procedures for contracting and registering technical officials.
In a letter titled “Notarization and Registration of Contracts” and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body directed the Delta-based club to regularize all contractual documentation with its technical and management staff in line with NPFL regulations.
The NPFL’s letter stated:
“Information reaching us from the media space suggests that the Delta State Sports Commission has suspended your head coach, Mr. Aluma Napoleon, with immediate effect.”
Citing Sections B, Articles 6 and 11 of the NPFL 2025/26 Framework and Rules, the league reminded Warri Wolves that all clubs are required to submit notarized contracts of their officials for registration and record purposes.
“You are, however, in breach of these sections as Warri Wolves FC have not submitted the contracts of its officials to the League Board. You are hereby requested, within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, to submit all relevant contracts of your technical team, including that of the assumed suspended head coach, Mr. Napoleon Aluma, to the NPFL Secretariat,” the letter warned.
The NPFL further cautioned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including restricting Warri Wolves’ technical crew from accessing the bench in subsequent league matches.
“Note that failure to comply with this instruction will lead to the restriction of your technical team from accessing the technical area in future NPFL matches,” the league stated.
In a related statement to NPFL Media, COO Davidson Owumi stressed that the Warri Wolves case was not isolated, adding that all clubs yet to register the contracts of their technical officials must do so without delay.
“I must admonish all coaches to get hold of their contracts and lodge a report with the NPFL when there is a violation of the terms. It is the responsibility of the aggrieved to petition the league at all times,” Owumi emphasized.
The NPFL has been tightening administrative controls in recent seasons to ensure transparency, professionalism, and adherence to contractual obligations across all participating clubs.
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