Sunshine Stars, Yobo FC through to Ottasolo Preseason Tourney semifinals

 

Sunshine Stars of Akure continued to show the form that helped them scale through the relegation hurdles towards the latter stage of the 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League season with their performance at the ongoing Ottasolo Pre-season tournament in Lagos.

The Owena Whales remain the only team without blemish as they have won their two matches, scoring two goals in the process without conceding any to scale through to the semifinal stage of the competition.

In their first match of the pre-season, Sunshine defeated Smart City 1-0 before dishing out same scoreline against Remo Stars on Thursday.

They will however wrap up their Group B games with a top of the bill encounter against another NPFL side, MFM of Lagos by 3pm on Friday.

Lagos-based Yobo FC also secured their place in the final four after securing four points in three matches while host team, Ottasolo Int. FC was dumped out of the competition as they could only secured three points from three matches albeit not losing any game against three opponents.

Meanwhile, the remaining group stage matches at the pre-season would be taking place today with 36 Lions playing against Lobi Stars by 9am.

With just one point, 36 Lions still have an outside chance of qualifying for the final four, but they will have to get a good win against Lobi Stars who currently top Group A with four points from two games.

The second match of the day will be between Sunshine Stars and MFM by 3pm with both matches taking place at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Ottasolo's Oluwaseyi eager for players' rejig after early exit

 

Ottasolo FC coach, Olufemi Olawaseyi has stated that the Ottasolo Pre-season Tournament has helped his team to see the level of their preparedness for the start of the Nigeria National League season which has been tentatively fixed for December 3rd.

Before the start of the ongoing tournament in Lagos, Ottasolo FC had taken part in two pre-season tournaments including the NLO Super 8 which was used to determine the placement of the teams ahead of last season.

But Oluwaseyi noted that the team needs to be beefed up before the commencement of the NNL season judging by how they have performed in the three tournaments.

The coach lamented his players' wastefulness in front of goal despite the ample time he devoted to coaching them on how to improve their predatory instinct in the goal area, before the start of the tournament.

"We are making up for our pre-season games. We used the tournament to see where our lapses are," Oluwaseyi told Ottasolo Pre-season Media.

"We had a lot of chances but my strikers need to do more to take the chances they are creating. We are not a bad team but it is just unfortunate that we didn't qualify. 

"Our failure to convert scoring chances is giving me a headache because we had a lot of practices before the game. We now know what to do to make a success of our upcoming games. 

"We need more good players to beef up the team before the start of the season so that we can readjust and get balanced."

Ottasolo FC drew all three games they played in the tournament and they are out of the race to finish in the top two with Lobi Stars and Yobo FC already with four points.

'Ottasolo Pre-season has given us more exposure,' Says Yobo's Ohioze

 

Head coach Yobo FC, Harry Ohioze has thumbed up the organisers of the Ottasolo Pre-season Tournament who have provided games with which to give his boys the needed exposure ahead of the Nigeria Nationwide League season.

Yobo FC put themselves in the best position to qualify for the semi-final of the tournament after a battling 1-1 draw against Ottasolo FC and Ohioze told Ottasolo Pre-season Media that his boys played to instructions and didn't lose concentration throughout the game.

"Football is all about total concentration. In the first 15 minutes, we dominated and had chances to kill off the game but in the last 15 minutes, we were out of the game and they were about scoring us," Ohioze told Ottasolo Pre-season Media.

"It was the same thing in the second half. They dominated the proceedings but I thank God for the concentration of our boys. They were able to sustain the pressure. 

"This is a better development for us because most of our boys need exposure and they need to mature in their game. Playing in the Ottasolo Pre-season Tournament brought them out and gave them the needed exposure."

Yobo FC are currently second in the group with four points and 0 goals difference having scored three goals and conceded the same number of goals and when asked the team they would like to meet in the semi-final if they manage to qualify, the coach affirmed that his boys would be open to meeting any team that emerges from Group B.

"We are ready for any team. We are not afraid of any team. I know the boys will continue to progress from game to game. 

"We will take advantage of any opportunity that comes. We will hold it and it will give us victory."

Ottasolo Pre-season Tournament is sponsored by Otunba Gabriel Davies who is the owner of Ottasolo FC.

Ottasolo Pre-season: Ottasolo FC stumble out despite draw with Yobo FC

 

Host, Ottasolo FC are the first team to be officially eliminated from the ongoing Ottasolo Pre-season Tournament after they could only secure a 1-1 draw against Yobo FC on Thursday at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Ottasolo FC that had earlier drawn with both 36 Lion and Lobi Stars needed an outright victory against Yobo FC to seal a semi-final place even before the start of the final Group A game between 36 Lion and Lobi Stars slated for Friday.

But it was Yobo FC who were with three points before the commencement of hostilities that began the game impressively. With only 11 minutes gone, Chinedu Okafor dribbled three Ottasolo FC players and fired a shot that beat the hosts' goalkeeper but the effort crashed the upright and returned back to play. 

Yobo FC made their early domination count with the opening goal of the game in the 24th minute when Shedrack Kaye nodded home an inviting cross from Chukwuma Ugbo.

Ottasolo FC woke up from their slumber almost immediately when they were behind but they were unable to get the equaliser until the end of the first half.

Ottasolo coach introduced Ugo Samson in the 50th minute to beef up the attack and barely 18 minutes later the super sub found the equalising goal from a good cross from Tosin Adelosi in the 68th minute. 

The game ended 1-1 despite Ottasolo FC's late desperate efforts to score the winning goal.

Despite only playing two games, Lobi Stars are on top of the Group A log with 4 points and plus one goal difference while Yobo FC are second with four points also but they have completed their three games. 

Ottasolo FC are currently third with 3 points from three games but they are out of the tournament.

While 36 Lion, Yobo FC, and Lobi Stars are all the race for the two tickets to the semi-final. 36 Lion versus Lobi Stars tie billed for Friday will unravel the mystery behind those that will qualify from Group A.

Ottasolo Preseason Day 3 Wrap: Smart City put Remo Stars on the brink; Lobi close in on semi-final ticket

 

Remo Stars will now depend heavily on the results of other matches if they are to qualify for the semi-final round of the on-going Ottasolo Pre-season Tournament after they lost their second consecutive game to Smart City on Wednesday at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Lagos.

The Sky Blue Stars had lost to MFM on Tuesday and were hoping to stage a comeback in the tournament but Lagos based Smart City had other ideas as they plan how to negotiate their qualification to the next round, too.

Smart City narrowly lost to Sunshine Stars in their first game on Monday but they stormed back to life with a 1-0 win over NPFL new entrants, Remo Stars. Habeeb Olaitan converted the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after he slotted the ball beyond the reach of Remo Stars goalkeeper, Timi Adeyoriju in the 15th minute.

After many failed attempts by both teams, Remo Stars were reduced to 10 when substitute goalie, Salami Kelvin was penalised for a foul on Amos Okoro in the 86th minute in the 18 yard box. Smart City's Toheeb Sunkanmi missed the resultant spot kick a minute later. 

There was no chance for Gbenga Ogunbote's men to get a face saving draw and have been booted out of the tourney with no points from two games.

Earlier, the host team of the on-going Ottasolo Pre-season tournament, Ottasolo International FC forced their more illustrious opponent, Lobi Stars, to a 1-1 draw at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, in the first game of the MatchDay 3.

Ottasolo drew their first game with 36 Lions while Lobi secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Yobo FC on Tuesday. Both teams were looking for a win that will move them closer to the semifinal stage of the maiden edition of the tournament.

Both teams came out smoking as they continue to look for the opening goal but failed to come until the 23rd minute when Ottasolo FC's Jelili Moshood put the ball beyond the reach of his goalkeeper, Korede Shodipo in his attempt to clear out  Lobi's goal-bound effort. 

The newly promoted Nigeria National League side didn’t allow the goal to weigh them down as they continued to pile on the pressure which paid off just three minutes later as Ogunjimi Samuel headed Ottasolo back into the game after he connected a lovely cross from Issah Mohammed.

While in another game also decided on Wednesday, Yobo FC put themselves in a better position to qualify for the semi-final of the pre-season tourney after a 2-1 win over 36 Lion.

Godwin Arewa put Yobo FC in the ascendancy with the opening goal of the game in the 23rd minute. It was their first goal in the tournament. Gift Nwokeke increased the goals tally in the 60th minute for Yobo FC but Raji Olamuyiwa reduced the goals deficit in the 70th minute to make for a frenetic final 20 minutes at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Lagos.

On Thursday, Yobo FC and Ottasolo FC will slug it out in their final Group A game with both teams needing positive result to progress. The host, Ottasolo FC with two drawn games are under compulsion to beat Yobo FC to progress to the semi-final while Yobo FC with three points must also secure the maximum points to be certain of qualification irrespective of the result of Lobi Stars vs 36 Lion on Friday.

Smart City will also on Thursday face MFM in their third and final Group B tie. Both teams are on three points but Smart City have played a game more. Both are Lagos based clubs but Smart City will be eager to pick the maximum points that should be sufficient for a place in the semi-finals while the Olukoya Boys can't afford to lose knowing that their final group game comes up on Friday against tough Sunshine Stars.

Remo Stars with two losses are close to being bundled out of the tournament but they will trade tackles with Sunshine Stars also tomorrow with the sole aim of fighting until the end of the group stage if they could get an outside chance to qualify.

The Ottasolo pre-season tournament is in its debut edition with the owner of Ottasolo FC, Gabriel Davies as sponsor.

Ottasolo Pre-season Tournament:

Results

Ottasolo FC 0-0 36 Lion

Lobi Stars 1-0 Yobo FC

Sunshine Stars 1-0 Smart City

MFM 1-0 Remo Stars

Ottasolo FC 1-1 Lobi Stars

36 Lion 1-2 Yobo FC

Smart City 1-0 Remo Stars

Day Four (November 4) Fixtures

Yobo FC vs Ottasolo FC 9.00 am

Smart City vs MFM  2.00 pm

Remo Stars vs Sunshine Stars 4.00 pm

MFM FC, Lobi Stars record morale boosting victories on Day Two of Ottasolo Preseason Tourney

 

Surulere continued to be on the spotlight as the second day of the 2021 Ottasolo Pre Season Tournament took place on Tuesday at Legacy Pitch.

It was Lobi Stars of Makurdi who faced Yobo FC in an entertaining opening match of the day at 9am.

Both sides were hoping to bag a win in the keenly contested battle.

However, Yobo FC could not contain their fast-paced opponents as they succumbed to a 1-0 loss.

Lobi Stars rested most of their key players, yet they remained a threat.

Experienced striker Daniel Jackson climbed off the bench to nod home the winner with 12 minutes left on the clock.

The win for Pride of Benue over the NLO side in the tournament takes them to top of the Group A standings with three points from one game, while Ottasolo FC and 36 Lion share one point apiece.

In the second match, coach Gbenga Ogunbote led his Remo Stars' side in search of a win over MFM FC, yet they failed to hit the ground running.

In the 23rd minute, Victor Osuagwu had the chance to put Sky Blue Stars in front but he failed to score as Onyeabuchi Ifeanyi intercepted his effort.

Remo Stars custodian James Faith denied Dennis Obasi the chance to wreck the ship with a fine save.

Adebayo Oyedele eventually got onto the score sheet in the 47th minute as the game ended 1-0 in favour of the Olukoya Boys.

The loss leaves Ogunbote and his troops with no point in Group B. Sunshine Stars and MFM FC have three points each. Smart City are also pointless. 

Meanwhile, the Remo Stars will now turn their focus to Smart City for their next clash on Wednesday whilst 36 Lion chase a win against Yobo FC on the same day. 

Ottasolo FC will be out to dim Lobi Stars in a pulsating encounter at Legacy Pitch.

Results So Far 

MatchDay 1 Monday Nov. 1

Ottasolo 0-0 36 Lion

Sunshine Stars 1-0 Smart City

MatchDay 2 Tuesday Nov. 2

Lobi Stars 1-0 Yobo FC

MFM FC 1-0 Remo Stars

MatchDay 3: Wednesday Nov. 3

9am - Ottasolo vs Lobi Stars

2pm - 36 Lion vs Yobo FC

4pm - Remo Stars vs Smart City

Ottasolo Preseason Tourney: Lobi Stars overcome determined Yobo FC

 

Lobi Stars started the Ottasolo Pre Season Tournament on a good note as Eddy Dombraye's side snatched a 1-0 win against Yobo FC on Tuesday morning.

The Pride of Benue struggled to get themselves into top gear in the opening 45 minutes at Legacy Pitch as Oliver David and Shedrack Kaye missed Yobo's best chances before the break.

Dombraye's Stars did looked to step up the tempo of the game after the restart with Chinonso Okonkwo lashing an effort just over the bar.

However, with the Lagos based side beginning to feel the pressure, usual suspect Daniel Jackson netted the winner on 78 minutes.

A loose ball was kept alive inside the final third by Austin Ogunye who crossed for the onrushing Jackson to head home the breakthrough.

Yobo FC came close to levelling up in the 82nd minute through Muhammed Adam but goalkeeper Orya Joseph denied him with a point blank save.

Another curled effort from Godwin Arewa was repelled by the impressive Orya five minutes later.

At the end of proceedings, Stars had three points in the kitty.

Remo Stars set up semifinal clash with Tornadoes in Ogunjobi Gold Cup

 

Remo Stars have set-up a tough semi-final clash with Niger Tornadoes in the ongoing Ogunjobi Gold Cup holding in Ikenne and Sagamu.

It's the 7th time the Sky Blues Stars were making it to the last four stage in the nation's first pre-season tournament. The clash of the two gladiators will be staged at the Remo Stars Stadium on Thursday morning (8am).

Remo Stars who became the only team to win all its Group B did so comfortably after they piped MFM FC by a lone goal and put two goals past FC Yobo.

In their last game against the Nationwide League One (NLO) team, the first real chance came to the Sky Blues Stars in the 21st minute after Qudus Akani was hacked down by an FC Yobo defender less than an inch away from the box. 

It was a close shave for goalkeeper Stanley Ihebueme, as Nduka Junior's effort from the free-kick went wide from the side goalpost.

Six minutes later, Remo Stars should have been one-goal up with another big chance for Nduka but his flicks with his head from a free-kick go off the woodwork.

At the half-hour mark, FC Yobo could have taken the lead but goalkeeper Bankole Kayode made a sharp reflex save via a free-kick from Ibrahim Abideen.

Remo Stars then got the reward for their hard work in the 43rd minute following a delight  flick from Michael Osoata inside FC Yobo's box.

The Sky Blues Stars earned much of the ball possession in the second half and in the 66th minute got their second goal.

FC Yobo defence was punished for its schoolboy defending in the box after Tolulope Ojo got past his marker to nod in Remo Stars winning goal.

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.

Oludayo Alabi solitary strike lifts MFM FC to first win at Ogunjobi Gold Cup

 

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM FC) pipped FC Yobo 1-0 at the ongoing Ogunjobi Gold Cup Pre-Season Tournament in Ikene, courtesy of a second-half strike from Oludayo Alabi.

FC Yobo players had themselves to blame for not converting their clear cut chances in the first half and school defending in the second half, as they could have taken a point in the game.

Barely 11 minutes into the game Shedrach should have punished MFM FC for their sloppy defending, but he rather wasted Chukwuma Ugbo's brilliant pass as he blasted his effort wide.

The first half ended with both teams failing to find the back of the goal as the scoreline was 0-0.

MFM FC had goalkeeper Abayomi Folarin to thank in the 55th minute, as he made a double save from an effort from FC Yobo's Muyiwa Balogun.

The introduction of Alabi in the second half by Olukoya Boys coaching staff paid off as he added bites to their attack.

With less than 10 minutes into the game, precisely the 66th minute, Alabi used his pace and body size to drive past his marker to create ample space for himself close in FC Yobo box and curled his strike into the top left corner for his first goal of the tourney.

MFM FC will now clash with their south-west derby rivals Remo Stars on Matchday Two of the pre-season tournament while FC Yobo square up against Osun United on Sunday.

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, Freestyle Sports, Renewed Hope, Kao Concept, Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation, Dejavu Communication, Olansile Football Academy, TSI Football Academy and ITS Football Management.

Ahmed Fresh hails organizers of Ogunjobi Gold Cup on two stadia innovation

 

Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) Executive Member and Chairman Technical and Development Committee, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh have given credits to the organizers of the Ogunjobi Gold Cup for using two stadia for its pre-season tournament.

The prestigious tourney which is in its 9th edition is been co-hosted at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikene and FC Ebedei Stadium in Sagamu, both in Ogun State.

Fresh who performed the official kick-off to set the tone of the Ogunjobi Gold Cup said, "The pre-season tournament has a name attached to it. Late Ogunjobi was a father figure in Nigeria's football, and glad we have used the pre-season to honour him.

"Marvelled at the level of works done at the FC Ebedei Stadium and a big kudos to Barrister Churchill Oliseh for this multi-million naira project. 

"This is what we want to see in our leagues across the three divisions, big applause to FC Ebedei President. If a Nationwide League One (NLO) team can have a FIFA /CAF certified stadium like this why not the over 350 clubs in the third-tier league and even the NNL and NPFL teams.

"I want to also commend the General Coordinator Tunde Shamsudeen and his team for maintaining the standard of the tourney and also thinking within the box to be the first  organizers to use two stadia to host its pre-season.

"The use of Remo Stadium and FC Ebedei Stadium for the Ogunjobi Gold Cup is for the benefit of the fans who are passionate about football."

Fresh, further said that he could grace the final on Saturday October 30, 2021 at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikene.

"The 9th edition won't be an exception, an assuring that if time permits I should be at the closing ceremony."

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, Freestyle Sports, Renewed Hope, Kao Concept, Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation, Dejavu Communication, Olansile Football Academy, TSI Football Academy and ITS Football Management.

Remo Stars book Gold Cup Semi Final spot

Newly promoted Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Remo Stars have qualified for the semi finals of the Gold Cup Preseason Tournament after defeating non league side, FC Yobo 3-2 in the final round of Group B match.