Ahmed Fresh made the unpopular statement, which is against popular opinion by few football stakeholders, during the 2022 edition of the NLO Super 8 Championship in Lagos, held at the Legacy pitch, last Sunday.

Before now there has been a popular saying in the Nigeria Football circle, that the second tier league in Nigeria – Nigeria National League (NNL) is the most important, but the Chairman of Chairmen disagrees.

“Well for me NLO is the most important League in Nigeria, people say NNL but I disagree with that fact, because this is where you catch them young,’’ the former Referees Appointment Committee Chairman told newsmen.

He stressed further stating why the third tier league is crucial to the development of the round lethal game in Nigeria.

“You can see the two finalists look at the display of fantastic football they are giving us this evening.

“Most interestingly, the pitch panels. I’m happy with the branding.

“Yes it’s on TV for live streaming is good for our game is good for the league and this is exactly what we are asking for.

“To be sincere with you NLO are getting it right and I’m happy with the organization,”Fresh concluded.

Madiba FC of Lagos emerged Champions of the Super 8, after they defeated Mailantarki Care FC 1-0 in the final of the 2022 NLO Championship.

The Nationwide League One (NLO) has slammed Kurfi Tiger a Six (6) points deduction for perpetrating fraud on players license.

Investigations revealed that officials of the club tampered with license of 10 players thereby warranting the wrath of the nation’s third-tier domestic league Secretariat.

In a statement released by it’s Media Department regarding the fraudulent act by Kurfi Tiger management read: “Kurfi Tiger FC have lost 6 points due to criminal act, as they doctored official players license and it was discovered by their opponents.

“Our own investigation showed that Kurfi Tiger had committed the crime in the Group G1A MatchDay 6 game away to Jedo Academy and MatchDay 7 home game against Kanta Warriors.”

According to article 3.01(7) of the NLO rules book: Only Player who holds valid players License shall be eligible to participate in the League. In case of transfer, the players must have fulfilled all the necessary transfer procedures and have been cleared accordingly before being eligible to play/participate in the League, any club that uses an unduly registered player shall be made to lose the match or all the matches that this player was discovered to have featured in previous games, and the point will be awarded to the opponent by 3 points and 3 goals, with further sanction from the NLO Secretariat.

By this, Kurfi Tiger have forfeited Six (6) point already got this season.

The Lagos Derby billed for the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere will have top brass of the Nigerian football family in attendance as Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 1st Vice-President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi will have the honour to perform ceremonial kickoff rituals, to herald the new NLO season.

Mohammed Akali, Chairman of the NLO, “Getting matches on television is relatively expensive. So one of the positive steps the NLO management took to ensuring games are shown live with a cost-effective budget was the launch of the NLO.TV App.

“The livestream of the Smart City versus Gbagada FC game on NLO.TV will it first this season, and this opens a new chapter on how we intend to use visual technology via an application to showcase our grassroot football to Nigerians, who are one of the highest data consumers and to a wilder audience, as the world is now a Global Village.

“Launched few months ago, during the Optima Energy NLO Super 8 Tourney in Ikenne was used as test run for the television and video viewing application.

“It was a success story as we recorded more than two million views on the NLO.TV App during the Super 8, with the final between Destiny Boys and Compos FC as the most viewed match, as it turned out to be an epic grand finale.

“Nevertheless, the NLO.TV app which is user friendly have also been upgraded to accommodate other features which was noticed during the test run.

“We hope to definitely sustain the livestream of subsequent matches on the NLO.TV App, as when clubs grassroot football becomes more appealing to Nigerians, it will drive small revenue as brand will place adverts on the App.”

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 1st Vice-President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi will on Wednesday have the honour to officially kickoff the new season of the Nationwide League One (NLO).

Akinwunmi, head of Lagos State football’s governing body will perform the ceremonial kickoff in a Lagos Derby between Smart City FC and Gbagada FC at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere-Lagos.

An official statement from the Media Department of the NLO further informed that the NFF Chairman of Youth Football Development Committee and other top dignitaries in Nigeria’s football family, Chairman NFF Technical and Development Committee, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, Chairman NLO Alhaji Mohamed Alkali, Vice Chairman NLO Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi and NLO Chief Operating Officer (COO) Olushola Ogunnowo will be guest at the Teslim Balogun Stadium to watch the game.

According to the statement, Ogunnowo, the COO of the nation’s third-tier league, “Wednesday March 16 is less than 72 hours away to the new NLO season kickoff, everyone, the clubs, players and indeed every fan can’t wait to catch a glimpse of top grassroot football in the country.

“It’s been a long wait, which off course is not deliberate but for the good of the clubs as we needed to monitor the COVID-19 situation in the country, for us to take a final decision on if to maintain the Stadium League format or revert to the proper full season.

“We are glad to have the full season format back and nonetheless clubs are to strictly adhere to all COVID-19 rules before and after matches.

“Meanwhile, clubs too have used the waiting window to prepare themselves for the new season with proper scouting of talents, playing tune-up matches and taking part in a pre-season invitational tournaments, like the one that was held in Ikenne, that’s the Evolution Cup.

“Coaches in the NLO were not left out as many were participants in the 2nd edition of NLO/Berackiah Grassroot Football Coaching Clinic, which ended a few weeks ago in the six geo-political zones.

“Having the NFF 1st Vice President Akinwummi and other top dignitaries here at the Teslim Balogun Stadium shows the NLO’s commitment in ensuring that we catch up with the new trends in grassroot football, which is the foundation of our football development,” Ogunnowo said.

However, football fans living in Surulere, and other suburbs of Lagos are invited to come watch sublime football at the grassroot, as the kick off for the encounter between Smart City FC and Gbagada FC is 3pm.

The chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Technical Committee Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh and the chairman Nigeria Nationwide League, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali have expressed their delight over the Gombe State FA Award scheduled for Saturday 3rd July, 2021

The award ceremony is organized to honour distinguished personalities in the area of leadership, grassroot development and administration in the country, by the Mr. Yakubu Sarma led Gombe State Football Association.

Fourteen awardees have been penciled down, including His Excellency, Mohammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Executive Governor of Gombe State; His Royal Highness Abubabar Shehu Abubakar III, Emir of Gombe, Barrister Seyi Akinwumi, NFF 1st Vice President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, NFF Chairman of Chairmen amongst others.

Another feather to the cap of the Nationwide League One (NLO) after it unveiled the Haggai Zebra as its official match ball for the 2020/2021 season.

Designed by it’s kit partner Haggai, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 1st Vice President and Chairman Football Committee and Youth Football Committee, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi took the honour to unveil the match ball alongside NFF Executive Committee Members, Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, Alhaji Sharu Ahlan,  Mohammed Alkali, and NLO Chief Operating Officer (COO) Olushola Ogunnowo and other top brass of the nation’s third-tier domestic league at the NLO Secretariat in Abuja.

The epoch making event also saw the official kits for NLO ground staff and other officials at the various centres unveiled.

Haggai donated the Zebra match balls and kits as part of its fulfilment of his partnership with NLO.

Poised to esure the safety of all players, coaches and officials and to help curb the spread of the novel virus pandemic, the NLO Board who’ll adhere to the guideline set by Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and NFF, also made public the thermometers and hand sanitisers it procured.

The thermometers will be used to check body temperatures of every participant at the match centres while hand sanitizer will be used by players and officials before and after matches at the venues.

The 2020/21 NLO season kicks off on March 7 across the six Geo-Political Zones in Nigeria.

The First Vice President Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has assured the Nationwide League One (NLO) of massive support from the country’s apex football body.

Akinwunmi gave the hint on Thursday in Abuja after he commissioned the newly renovated administrative office of the NLO.

According to the renowned Football Administrator as well as a Sports lawyer said, “This is a sign of seriousness, it shows the NLO Board is serious as regards providing an enabling environment for its staff to function optimally and this is to our aspirations. 

“We also need to celebrate any small feat and am proud to celebrate with them. We all pray that from here, they will move to the building that belongs o them. NLO is a serious business and am glad they are taking things seriously.”

The Lagos Football Association boss also reiterated NFF stance towards the nation’s third-tier league as its poised to get massive support from the Amaju Pinnick Board.

“Certainly, even as at Monday when we had our meetings with all the league bodies, we did discuss and we particularly assured the NLO of our massive support. They have got our back and for me as Chairman of the NFF Football Committee and Youth Committee, grassroot football is my thing, am really interested in it and they have got my support.”

Akinwumi further assured that the Nationwide League One can become the best in the continent and among the best in the world.

“What the NLO does, is it creates a platform for those who venture into such business. They are not business men but run a league and ensure of its success. So it can be about a particular or number of players, in my opinion a wrong target. 

“The NLO is to ensure that its league reaches same standard of any youth development league in the world. It can be the best in Africa and among the best in the world.”

The North Central Zone of NLO Berackiah/Abigol Football Coaching Clinic came to an end in Lafia, Nasarawa State with participants pledging a new approach to football development.

Coach Rabo Bello, one of the participants who received his certificate at the closing ceremony of the 5-Day clinic on Friday at the Lafia City Hall commended the organizers for the initiative which he said has widening their horizon about the dug-out dealings and will bear a positive impact on their players.

Rabo who also thanked the Nasarawa State Government for providing the enabling environment, expressed his delight at the privilege and opportunity to have learnt from all the resource persons who he said have been able to bequeath them with insightful contents. 

In a remark, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Othman Bala expressed belief that the programme would change the narrative of football development and lauded the leadership of Nationwide League One (NLO) for finding the state worthy of hosting the programme.

Bala congratulated all the 52 participants and charged them to transfer the knowledge acquired to their players believing that the technical delivery has afforded them a new knowledge about the game.

He further assured that the State Government under the leadership of Engr. Abdullahi Sule would continue to do it’s best in a bid for the state to take it’s righteous position in the scheme of sports development in the country.

“A seed has been sown today and I want to urge you (coaches) to please tender that seeds to blossom so that it will yield multiple fruits which in the next few years will bear impact on the society” the Commissioner said.

The Chairman Nationwide League One (NLO) Alhaji Mohammed Alkali who expressed his satisfaction about the programme which he said has been able to serve the yearnings of coaches in acquiring more knowledge through a simple mechanism.

Alkali who is also the chairman Nasarawa State Football Association and a Board Member of NFF noted that NLO partnership with the Berackiah/Abigol Football Coaching Clinic reflects the philosophy of the league in providing equal opportunities for teams and also cause a new wave of development in terms of putting the league on a sustainable path.

In their separate remarks, the CEO of Berackiah International, Mr Wonders Nwigwe and Coach Mathew Olorunleke appreciated the government of Nasarawa State for their overwhelming support towards the success of the clinic.

They also thanked the government for the warm reception and hospitality the team had enjoyed since they entered the State.

The former Technical Director of NFF, Coach Bitrus Bewarang urged the coaches to materialise all they have learnt in the clinic to practice, charging them to live up to expectations the clinic was meant to fulfil.

The train of the clinic has now covered the South-West, South-South, South-East and North-Central with Nigerian coaches benefiting from an in depth delivery of coaching education aimed at enhancing their capacity and competence.

Next on the clinic schedule is the North Western part of the country with Kano State as the programme centre.

The clinic will run from Monday 15th – 19th Friday at the Pyramid City.

Nasarawa State Government has commended the organizers of Berackiah/Abigol Football Coaching Clinic for the initiative which it said will develop the capacity and competence of football managers.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the clinic which held at the Lafia City Hall, Honourable Othman Bala, the commissioner for Youth and Sports in Nasarawa state assured the organizers the support of the state government towards the success of 5-day clinic.

He noted that the clinic came at a better time when the state is now finding its bearing in sports development upon which it has designed policies aimed at changing the narratives for good with priority on capacity and competence.

“I believe with the depth of technical input of this programme, it will bring about career progression and add value to the coaches and the players, Othman said.

He further added that, “We have been left behind but we’re lucky that we haven’t lost focus. We have now find our bearing and we are going to partner with you as a state sovernment.”

In his remarks, the Executive Board Member of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF who also double as Chairman of Nationwide League One (NLO) Alhaji Muhammed Alkali revealed that the clinic with its partnership along with the board is aimed at impacting modern knowledge on the coaches.

Alkali who’s also as the Chairman Nasarawa State Football Association said the NLO partnership with the clinic is a manifestation of his management policy trust in a bid to rebrand and repackage the league as a professional campaign.

“NFF has approved this clinic as part of criteria for NLO clubs and you must have the certificate to be able to seat on the bench of NLO matches, Alkali said.

Bitrus Bewarang, the former Technical Director of NFF also commended the organizers of the clinic saying that it will go along way to help football development at the grassroots.

The CEO Abigol Football Management, Mathew Olorunleke thanked the state government for the hospitality and support it has accorded the Berackiah/Abigol team.

Other guests at the event include Hon. Halidu Akwashiki, Vice Chairman, Nassarawa State Football Association, Mallam Babarabi, the FA secretary and other board Members of the State Football Association.

Also at the opening ceremony are the former Super Eagles and a retired FIFA/CAF instructor, High Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, Roberto Bassi, Gian Marco, Mr. Wonders Nwigwe the CEO Berackiah International, Managing Director of Abigol Football Management Mr. Abraham Olorunleke and host of others.

The clinic for the North Central Zone will end on Friday 12th, February.

The management of Nigeria’s third tier league, Nation-Wide League One NLO, has announced the commencement of stadium inspection ahead of new football season.

The Independent board of the NLO led by its Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali also announced players of each club participating in the new NLO season would be going through medical examination in reference to Covid19 pandemic test. 

In a circular released by the league body on Wednesday, it also approved the zonal league format for the new season having considered the financial challenges faced by the clubs and also to reduce the curve for the spread of Covid19.

The NLO also warned that any club that fail to meet up with the league body’s requirements won’t be allowed to participate in the new season. 

It however promised to return the league to the old format once normalcy returns just as it solicited optimum corporation from the clubs to have an hitch free season.