NLO showcases Nimi; youngest goalscorer in 2024 season

 

The Nationwide League One has over the years provided an important platform for the best young footballers, offering more competitive games against top-quality opposition, giving players essential experience of international competition and reducing the gap between youth and first-team football.

The 2024 New Year Mega Lottery/NLO didn't end without new feats and records broken by a few special talents, from the over 10,000 players that took part in the season. 

Academy football in the world has a complex relationship with winning, it is rarely seen as a condition for player development but for 14-year-old Patrick Adeoluwanimi Akhidenor-Solanke, his celebration after becoming the youngest player to score a goal this season, demonstrates how much the feat meant to him.

Immensely gifted Nimi is a product of Provazios Sports Academy, owned by his father Segun Solanke. Regardless of his age, the boy wonder captained his team- Olumo United Football Club at the NLO Sagamu Centre and scored against Lasegski FC at the FC Ebedei Stadium. 

Segun Solanke talked about how he enrolled Nimi into the academy at the age of four years, and since then, Nimi’s young career has been enjoying tremendous growth and progress.

In 2023, Nimi told The Nation in an interview: "I want to win the Balon d’Or. My dad told me George Weah of Liberia is the only African footballer to have won the Ballon d’Or."

“Like my idols Messi and Ronaldo, I believe that with more hard work, discipline, perseverance, dedication and focus, I can bring home the honour in the near future,” 

The youngster has matched his words with action with the wonder strike against Lasegski FC. 

For Nimi's father, Segun, he's full of optimism about his prodigy. "In the next five years, we believe he would have become the youngest Nigerian to play for the Super Eagles and also, be playing in one of the top-flight leagues around the world. And particularly, playing for Real Madrid, as the wonder boy from Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the management of the third-tier domestic football league has expressed their happiness at Nimi's remarkable achievement. They believe it is a testament to their plans to develop Nigerian football by encouraging younger footballers to grow their careers and in the end, earn a good living from it.

NLO1: Five Star Ogonna Okoro inspires Dino Sporting Club to crumble Olumo

Dino Sporting Club delivered a resounding 12-0 victory over Olumo United in their recent clash in the Nationwide LeagueOne, NLO1 playoffs on Wednesday.

Led by the stellar performance of Ogonna Hyacinth, who netted an impressive five goals, Dino Sporting Club showcased their prowess on the field, securing their third win of the campaign.

Solomon Etim set the tone with a well-executed goal, followed swiftly by Ogonna Hyacinth's close-range strike to double the lead. 

Henry Madubuku extended the advantage with a successful penalty kick, while Zakari Haruna sealed the first half with a fourth goal just before halftime.

Returning from the break, Ogonna Hyacinth wasted no time in adding to the tally, securing his second goal of the game. 

The onslaught continued as Stephen Ende notched the sixth goal, before Ogonna Hyacinth completed his hat-trick in dazzling fashion just minutes later.

Undeterred, Ogonna Hyacinth continued his scoring spree, notching his fourth and fifth goals of the match with remarkable ease, further solidifying Dino Sporting Club's commanding lead. 

Jibril Mohammed then capped off the remarkable victory with a hat-trick of his own, completing the emphatic 12-0 triumph.

With this stunning win, Dino Sporting Club has firmly established their dominance in the NLO1 league, having won three out of their four games and securing a draw in the remaining fixture. 

Their formidable performance sends a clear message to their competitors as they aim for continued success in the league.

Kaduna derby to light up New Year Mega Lottery NLO season

 

After weeks of break, the wait is finally over as the New Year Mega Lottery Nationwide League One (NLO) 2024 Division One season opener will be a Kaduna Derby game between Kaduna United FC and Yoca Crocodiles FC. The match will be held at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna on Saturday, April 13th, 2024.

Football enthusiasts residing in Kaduna and surrounding areas are welcome to witness the exciting grassroots football. The game is scheduled to start at 3 pm.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the league body, Olushola Ogunnowo states that the 2024 league season in NLO promises to be a very interesting showpiece of football at the grassroot in Nigeria and the league opener in Kaduna will give a glimpse of what to expect in the entire season in the third tier league in Nigeria.

“NLO season kicks off on Saturday, April 13, in Kaduna. Kaduna United will host Yoca Crocodiles FC. This is the league opening game and the board and secretariat of the NLO hope to see very interesting football in Kaduna.” Ogunnowo said.

“We also expect to see more organized and better football games from the clubs participating in the 2024 season. The NLO clubs have done well in the past season, but they can also do better this season to continue to ensure a smooth flow of football at the league venues, devoid of any rancour or acts that can bring the administration of the game to disrepute,” he added.

2024 NLO champions to get 18 Seater Bus worth #30m from New Year Mega Lottery

The start of 2024 Nationwide League One season will offer clubs a chance for glory, as the overall winner of the NLO Division One will drive home a 18 seater bus worth ₦30m courtesy of title sponsor New Year Mega Lottery. 

Nationwide League One Chief Operating Officer (COO) Olushola Ogunnowo broke the news to the league media department while rolling out the other benefits of the multimillion naira sponsorship deal with New Year Mega Lottery. 

According to Ogunnowo: "New Year Mega Lottery will give the winner of the league a 18 Seater Bus worth #30 million Naira and that would run for four years.

"As Title Sponsor for the next four years, New Year Mega Lottery will offset 30% of the club’s expenses during the league matches, thereby NLO will not increase the participation fees to proposed ₦300, 000 and still maintain the ₦200, 000.

"The lottery firm who's licensed by the Nigeria Lottery Commission will provide five match balls for all the registered clubs in the nation's third-tier league. 

"New Year Mega Lottery will support the NLO star matches to be shown on National TV stations. The company will also provide the right sleeve badges for all the players jerseys."

Furthermore, "New Year Mega Lottery will open a window whereby club owners can be agents under the lottery company, this is another revenue stream for the clubs," Ogunnowo noted.

New Year Mega Lottery splashes #964 million sponsorship on NLO

The Nationwide League One has announced a deal worth a staggering sum of N964 million as a sponsorship deal with New Year Mega Lottery. 

This sponsorship will make New Year Mega Lottery the official Title Sponsor of the third-tier domestic football league in Nigeria for the next four seasons.

The NLO signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) with New Year Mega Lottery at a special signing and unveiling event held at the Harris Hotel, Wuye in Abuja on Thursday, March 14th, in Abuja.

The announcement was made by the former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State now NLO Chairman, His Excellency Silas Agara, during the unveiling of New Year Mega Lottery to the media.

Agara provided a detailed breakdown of the sponsorship deal, stating that the Nigerian licensed lottery company will provide an annual payment of 241 Million Naira in cash and value in kind, totalling a sum of #964,000,000 Naira for the four seasons of the sponsorship deal.

"New Year Mega Lottery is a Nigerian firm and lottery company licensed by the Nigeria Lottery Commission; they will be our Title Sponsor for the NLO. 

"The sponsorship deal will run for four seasons and of Two Hundred And Forty-One Million Naira (N241, 000, 000) annually (both Cash and Value in kind). With the annual payment totalling the sum of N964, 000, 000, 00 (Nine Hundred And Sixty-Four Million Naira).

“This sponsorship recognises NLO not just as a football body but also acknowledges our position as the league with the single-biggest football talent base in Africa.”

The collaboration between the Nationwide League One and New Year Mega Lottery is intended to effectively promote and elevate the status of grassroots football in the country, aiming to establish it as a prominent Nigerian spectacle and one of the most flourishing and appealing leagues on the continent.

In her address during the epoch-making occasion the representative of New Year Mega Lottery, Ms. Obiorah Emmanuella, Head of Corporate Communications, said it was the firm passion for football and humanitarian commitments that have compelled them to sponsor the NLO.

She also canvassed for the support of other well-meaning Nigerians to ensure grassroots football continues to flourish.

She said: “We are thrilled to enter this sponsorship deal with the Nationwide League One (NLO) and engage a large audience through our brand. It is for the love of soccer and a prioritized social responsibility in line with our humanitarian commitments, that prompted us to sponsor the NLO.

“Through this collaboration, we are also excited to connect with the future generation of football athletes at the grassroots level across Nigeria and help them grow. The company’s strong commitment to nurturing and empowering talents, fostering opportunities, and gratifying fans within its market are among the primary motivations for aligning with the NLO.

“I want to use this medium to urge other well-meaning Nigerians to get involved in the development of these laudable sports to enable the country to attain its expected height in world football,” she said.

By sponsoring the NLO until 2027, New Year Mega Lottery is building on its rich history as a frontline provider of job creation and empowerment through sports and education in Nigeria.