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Coach Sheriff Jimoh: The Tactical 'Kekere' Behind La Planet FC Qualification To Promotional Playoffs In football, success is often measured by trophies, promotions, and records. But behind every successful team is a visionary leader whose tactical ingenuity, discipline, and ability to inspire players make the difference. For La Planet FC, that man is Coach Sheriff Jimoh, fondly known in football circles as "Kekere." The soft-spoken tactician has once again demonstrated his coaching credentials by leading La Planet FC to qualification for the 2026 Nationwide League One (NLO) Promotional Playoff in Abuja, where the club will battle for a coveted ticket to the Nigeria National League (NNL). For many followers of grassroots football in Kwara State, La Planet FC's achievement is not a surprise. The club has been on a steady rise since making its NLO debut in 2022 after competing in the NLO 2 division in 2021. Last season, the team narrowly missed out on ...

Kwara NPFL Referee Usman Abubakar Bags PhD from UNILORIN A Grade One Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) referee and lecturer at the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, Usman Abubakar, has added another remarkable achievement to his growing profile after successfully earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from University of Ilorin. Usman, who is a member of the Kwara State Football Referees Council from Ilorin West Local Government Area, recently completed the four-year doctoral programme, comprising two years of coursework and another two years dedicated to thesis research.  His Phd confirmation was made on Tuesday after succesfully defending his thesis at the department of Human Kinetics Education, University of Ilorin His doctoral thesis was titled "Administrative and Socio-economic Factors as Predictors of Football Referees' Performance in the Nigeria National League in North-Central States, Nigeria." The achievement comes barely a y...

Kwara Chess Association Distributes Chess Boards to Schools ..As Sports Commission Pledges ₦200,000 for Schools' Chess Competition The Kwara State Chess Association has distributed chess boards and other materials to selected schools in the state as part of efforts to promote the game among young people. Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Bolakale Adisa Mogaji, urged the beneficiary schools to make judicious use of the materials provided. Coach Mogaji commended donor, Alhaji Bolaji Nagode, and the Kwara State Chess Association for their commitment to the development of chess in the state. He also pledged a sum of two hundred thousand naira to organise chess competitions among primary and secondary schools. In his remarks, the Chairman of the Kwara State Chess Association and Executive Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government, Hon. Abdulrasheed Femi Yusuf described the distribution as the beginning of greater things to ...

AMAPRO 2026 set for kickoff as 16 Clubs battle for honours in Ilorin Defending Champions return as AMAPRO Unveils Bigger 2026 Championship The countdown to the 2026 AMAPRO Football Championship has started with 16 clubs confirmed for this year’s tournament in Ilorin, Kwara State. The annual competition, created to reduce the gap between professional and amateur football and speed up player development, will run from July 6 to July 12. Defending champions, House of Prayers Football Academy, return with the target of holding on to their title against a fresh and competitive field. Other clubs confirmed are Abraysports FC, Dickalo FA, Discovery FA, Cornerstone FC, KFA, Excel FA, Da Faria SC, Araba FC, NPFL Allstars, Gaa Akanbi FA, Laycon FA, Na Royal FC, Easy Nter Global FC, DollyP FA and HMK FC. Matches will be played across the Rashidi Yekini Main Bowl and the Kwara Football Academy Main Pitch. Speaking ahead of the competition, Project Manager of the tournament, Abdulkareem...

Kwara Sports Stakeholders Bid Abdul Momoh Farewell To World Cup, Decry Super Eagles Failure To Qualify  Stakeholders in the Kwara State Sports Industry, particularly those involved in football, have expressed their disappointment regarding the absence of the Super Eagles of Nigeria from the ongoing World Cup tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This sentiment was highlighted during the second edition of the Abdul Momoh Master Class Award Night, held on Monday at the Taiwo Awoniyi Media Sports Centre, Kwara SWAN Secretariat, George Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin. During the event, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Bolakale Mogaji, expressed his sadness over Nigeria's failure to qualify for the World Cup despite the nation's considerable size and talent pool. Coach Tunde Kazeem also voiced his concerns, stating that it is deeply troubling that Nigeria has missed out on the competition for the se...

“Scouts Impressed by Every Team” — Akande Hails High Standards at Mega Scouting Tourney Opener  The opening day of the Mega Scouting Tourney delivered a competitive showcase of young football talent at the Nitel Sports Ground, Oshodi, Lagos, with scouts commending the overall quality, intensity, and discipline displayed by participating teams. Following the conclusion of Day One fixtures, CEO of Giabayo Sports Management & Marketing, Mr, Gabriel Akande, expressed satisfaction with the standard of play, noting that every team had made a strong impression on scouting observers. "The scouts have been impressed by the performance of every team. The level is high, the energy is high and I'm sure by tomorrow the tempo is going to be higher," Akande said. Although the opening round produced relatively few goals across matches, Akande emphasized that the defensive organisation on display reflected tactical maturity rather than a lack of attacking quality. "Th...