Tornadoes new import, Ashadi eyes Ogunjobi Gold Cup title

 

One of the poster boys of the Nigerian Professional Football League(NPFL) Destiny Ashadi has vowed to rediscover his good form and win the Ogunjobi Gold Cup with Niger Tornadoes.

Ashadi, 26, no doubt is one of the most gifted attacking midfielders in the domestic league, as he is a delight to watch on the pitch owing to his dazzling skills and leadership qualities too.

The CHAN Eagle star who was among the squad that lost 3-2 to Spanish LaLiga heavyweight Atletico Madrid in a friendly at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in 2018, has had a fair share of injury of late, which slowed his game and made him not to hit form at Rivers United last season.

Now with the Ikon Allah Boys, at the Ogunjobi Gold Cup a delightful Ashadi said: "Glad to be with Tornadoes playing and gradually am finding back my form with the matches I have played in this tourney.

"I left Rivers United by mutual consent, not for any other thing, injury slowed me down at Rivers United. When I recovered I was not convinced with the play time I was getting, so I had a private meeting with Coach Stanley Eguma and he agreed that I can get my release papers and go to a team where I would much playing time.

"Am having a splendid time with Tornadoes, the atmosphere at the club is good as we are a family and have mutual respect for one another."

"My partnership with Daniel Edeh in the  midfield has been good as we have a better understanding of ourselves as we speak same dialect, so communication has been the key to our impressive play.

"It's going to be a different ball at the semi-finals as we will approach the game against Remo Stars with the zeal to win. We won't be complacent."

The country's first pre-Season tournament is sponsored by Optima Energy, and its proudly supported by Alansmith Nigeria Limited, Taiwo Joseph Ogunjobi Foundation, Nigeria leading sportswear firms, Owu, Haggai Sportswear, Afripro, Naija League Magazine, Matchroom, Sports, 11th Media Global Concept, Phreestyle Sports, Renewed Hope, Kao Concept, Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation, Dejavu Communication, Olansile Football Academy, TSI Football Academy and ITS Football Management.

Shamsudeen inspires Tornadoes to secure Ogunjobi Gold Cup semifinal spot

 

Never say die spirit of Shamsudeen Hashim was the inspiration Niger Tornadoes needed as they advanced to the semifinals of the Ogunjobi Gold Cup after they saw off FC Ebedie 3-1 in their Group B game.

The game at the FC Ebedei Stadium was won within 17 minutes of the first half and the experience and work rate of the Ikon Allah Boys played a key role as they bounced off from the defeat to Shooting Stars to secure their second three points in the pre-season tournament.

FC Ebedei took the fight to the NPFL side, and in the 12th minute, they shocked Tornadoes scoring the first goal of the game through Isa Musa.

The lanky striker pounced on a loose ball from Tornadoes sloppy defending to tap into the net for the Oliseh Boys.

In the 16th minute, Wakilu Abudulahi thought he had drawn even for Tornadoes with a half volley from Nojeem Olayinka's cross inside the FC Ebedei box, only for the match official to rule his goal out as off-side.

Four minutes later, Shamsudeen Hashim powered past FC Ebedei's the backline to make it 1-1 with his ferocious low drive shot that found the bottom right corner of Mark Ugboh's goal.

Martins Usule then doubled the lead for Tornadoes 13 minutes later scoring via a clinical assist from Hasim.

FC Ebedei were then punished for not defending well in their box as Ahmadu Liman put the game beyond their reach scoring Tornadoes third goal in the 37th minute.

The second half was more or less as child's play for Tornadoes as they took the 45 minutes to school players of FC Ebedei.

Tornadoes could meet any of MFM FC, Remo Stars or FC Yobo in a semi-final game billed for Thursday at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

The country's first pre-Season tournament is sponsored by Optima Energy, and its proudly supported by Alansmith Nigeria Limited, Taiwo Joseph Ogunjobi Foundation, Nigeria leading sportswear firms, Owu, Haggai Sportswear, Afripro, Naija League Magazine, Matchroom, Sports, 11th Media Global Concept, Phreestyle Sports, Renewed Hope, Kao Concept, Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation, Dejavu Communication, Olansile Football Academy, TSI Football Academy and ITS Football Management.

ABS FC boost survival hopes with 2-2 draw in Katsina

Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC, came from behind twice to draw hosts, Katsina United in a two all draw on Sunday. 

Match Report: Katsina United 1-0 Kogi United

Kogi United ended the 2015/2016 Nigeria National League, NNL season with a 1-0 defeat to Katsina United in the final game played at the Karkanda Stadium, Katsina.

The lone goal which came through a counter in the 28th minutes saw Usman Bello latch onto a headed pass from Martins Usule from the edge of the Kogi United box.

Kogi United started the game with revenge on their minds as they intended to avenge their home loss to Katsina in the reverse fixture.

But it wasn't meant to be as Katsina United needed an outright victory to stand a chance of nipping the sole ticket to the NPFL in Group A1 with the hope that other result would favor them.

Katsina drew the first blood with just eight minute into the game when Usule combined well with Joshua Agboola to attack Kogi's defense and the latter's close range shot went inch wide from goal.

Kogi United responded quickly with their own attack two minutes later when playmaker Ashadi Destiny teed Ibrahim Enesi in the middle, the lanky forward raced down the middle to face the goal but was denied from taking aim at goal as Katsina United keeper, David Yinka came out to clear.

It was Katisna again with another attack in the 12 minutes when Shola Sheshere was called to duty as he made a one handed save to parry wide Agboola's 25 yard free kick.

Pressure came mounting on Kogi United defense as their hosts pumped more balls into their goal area.

 

Katsina broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when Kabir Janaidu took another long ball into Kogi United's edge of the box, Usule headed down the ball for on rushing Usman who buried the ball past the stretching hands of Sheshere.

The Lokoja based club tried to push for an equalizer immediately but were unlucky in front of goal. Jerome and Enesi had opportunities for Kogi United to restore parity before the end of first half as Destiny's piercing passes became too much to handle for Katsina United but the result remained unchanged till the end of first stanza.

The resumption of the game witnessed early upsurge from the boys of Coach Ishaya Jatau as Samson Pius tried keeper David Yinka with a thunderous shot at the edge of Katsina United's box, the shot stopper had to gather twice before making a catch.

With just five minutes into restart, Kogi United were reduced to 10 men when their creative schemer Destiny was controversially sent off by referee Sanni Mohammed from Kaduna for an adjudged foul on Abdulrahman Isa.

That numerical deficiency denied Kogi United to really make any meaningful attack as their host took advantage of Destiny's dismissal to gain more control.

And the Confluence Boys defended with all they've got to deny Katisna United from scoring another goal as the game ended with a slim victory, enough for Katsina to gain promotion to the apex league in the country.

Kogi United however ended the season with 18 points from 14 games and their final standing on the log would be determine after tomorrow's game between FC Yarmalight and Kaduna United.