NPFL: Rangers and El-Kanemi are ready for season’s opener

The 2024/25 NPFL season begins on Saturday with the defending champion Rangers of Enugu and the Federation Cup winner El-Kanemi Warriors stating their readiness for the opening match.

El-Kanemi technical adviser Aliyu Zubairu has expressed his team’s readiness for the opening match of the season against Rangers.

The Borno Army will lock horns with Rangers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Saturday.

Zubairu said his team will give the league champions a good fight in the game.

“We’re going to give Rangers a good fight and get something from the match,” Zubairu told the Nigeria Premier Football League website.

“I respect Rangers because they’ve been busy signing top players but that won’t dim our ambition as a club.”

El-Kanemi Warriors were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round last weekend by Dadje FC of Benin Republic.

Also, Bendel Insurance head coach, Monday Odigie says he has assembled a team good enough to start the new football season.

The Benin Arsenals are rebuilding their team after losing some key players in the off-season.

Star players like Amas Obasogie, Evan Ogbonda, Ismael Sarki, and Sunday Anyanwu have all left the club.

Bendel Insurance arrived at Ikenne on Thursday for a close camping exercise.

”We are going to still play one or two friendlies to keep the boys in better shape. If the league starts today, we are ready.

“We have a team already that can start for us. But we must continue to work hard until we get it right,“ Odigie told the club’s media.

Insurance will face Rivers United in their opening fixture of the 2024/25 season at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, on Saturday, September 7.

In Jos, Abdulahi Mustapha has extended his contract with Plateau United.

Mustapha signed a two-year contract extension with the Peace Boys.

The left-back expressed his satisfaction after signing the new contract.

“I’m pleased to extend my stay and hopefully, I can just crack on and keep contributing to the team,” he told Mike Sports.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here. The club is my home, and I was keen to extend that and keep progressing despite several offers elsewhere.”

Mustapha has also represented Nigeria at the U-20 level in the past.

Elsewhere, Remo Stars have announced the signing of 15 new players ahead of the 2024-25 season.

 The new players are the duo of ThankGod Ikeagwu and Ismael Souley, who joined from Kwara United; Chiemeka Nwokeji from Sporting Lagos; Alex Oyowah from Rivers United; Faisal Sani from Kano Pillars; Ifeanyi Anaemena from Abia Warriors; and Shuaib Ibrahim from AS Police.

Others are Adebiyi Obassa (Coton Sport), Michael Ani Emmauel (Green Sports FC, Abuja) and Malik Jabbar, Shuaibu Abdulrasaq, Joseph Abah, and Oluwasegun Aremu, who were signed from non-league clubs.

They have all been unveiled as new Remo Stars players for the new NPFL season.

Remo Stars will commence the new season with a clash against Abia Warriors.