CYNOSURE FC APPOINTS RAHEEM TAJUDEEN AS HEAD COACH FOR 3RD EDITION OF NPFL PRE-SEASON TOURNAMENT PROJECT

ABAKALIKI — Cynosure FC has officially announced the appointment of tactical veteran Coach Raheem Tajudeen to lead the team ahead of the highly anticipated 3rd Edition of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Pre-Season Tournament Project.

The club confirmed that Tajudeen will be in charge for the duration of the preseason tournament project, during which Cynosure FC is expected to face top-flight NPFL opposition.

The elite pre-season fixtures have been designed as a vital competitive platform to give players maximum exposure and accelerate their professional growth.  

By testing the squad against established NPFL clubs, Cynosure FC says the tournament will serve as a direct bridge to market local talent and secure potential placements in top-tier teams ahead of the official league kickoff.

Under Coach Tajudeen’s technical direction, the squad will undergo intensive physical and structural preparation throughout the tour.  

The club stated that the objective is clear: to build a highly disciplined, tactically sound, and resilient team capable of matching the rigorous playing standards of top-flight Nigerian football.

Beyond results, Cynosure FC said the project will also provide a scouting platform for NPFL clubs to identify and acquire emerging talents from its ranks.

With the new season approaching, the appointment of Coach Tajudeen is expected to give Cynosure FC the tactical foundation needed to compete and showcase its players at the highest level.

The 3rd Edition of the NPFL Pre-Season Tournament Project is set to feature several NPFL sides and continues to grow as a key preparatory event on the Nigerian football calendar. The project will terminate before the start of the Nigeria Premier Football League on August 28.

Written by Mr Charles Mayuku 

12 Goals Light Up Matchday Two of Rivers State FA/Keves Global Football Competition

A total of 12 goals were scored as Matchday Two of the Rivers State FA/Keves Global Football Competition delivered another thrilling round of fixtures at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, on Thursday.

The day's action produced entertaining football across Groups B and C, with fans treated to one draw and two high-scoring victories.

In the opening fixture, Police Crime Buster and Rumuodumaya United battled to a 1-1 draw in a keenly contested Group B encounter, with both sides sharing the spoils after an evenly matched contest.

Group C produced the biggest result of the day as Family Love FC cruised to a commanding 5-0 victory over Dominion City FC, delivering a clinical attacking display to record the widest winning margin of the competition so far.

The final match of the day provided plenty of excitement as Bravo FC edged Ubonu Dominican FC 3-2 in a pulsating five-goal thriller, sealing all three points after an entertaining encounter.

With 12 goals scored across three matches, Matchday Two showcased the attacking quality and competitive spirit of the participating teams, setting the stage for another exciting round of fixtures on Friday.

Matchday Two Results

Police Crime Buster 1-1 Rumuodumaya United

Family Love FC 5-0 Dominion City FC

Bravo FC 3-2 Ubonu Dominican FC

Matchday Three Fixtures - Friday, 24th July 2026

Group D

9:00am: Zion Hills FC vs Rocks FC 

12:00 noon: Friends FC vs Reign FC 

Group E

3:00pm: Flash Flamingos FC vs Ambassadors FC

Venue: Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt.

RIVERS STATE KEVES GLOBAL FOOTBALL COMPETITION

MATCHDAY ONE RECAP 

A total of 15 goals were scored on Matchday One of the Rivers State Keves Global Football Competition at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, as fans were treated to an exciting opening day of football.

Dynamic FC began their campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over King Boma FC, while Echelenche FC delivered the biggest win of the day, thrashing Sporting FC 5-0 in a dominant display.

The day's final fixture produced a thrilling eight-goal contest as King Amachree FC and FC Novapex battled to an entertaining 4-4 draw, rounding off an action-packed Matchday One.

Attention now shifts to Matchday Two, scheduled for Thursday, 23rd July 2026, at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt

Matchday Two Fixtures

Group B

🕘 9:00am – Police Crime B. vs Rumuodumaya United

Group C

🕛 12:00 Noon – Family Love FC vs Dominion City FC

🕒 3:00pm – Bravo FC vs Ubonu Dominican FC

Venue: Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt.

Rivers State FA/Keves Global Football Competition Set To Kick Off As Organizers Release Full Fixtures

PORT HARCOURT — All is now set for the commencement of the 4th Edition of the Rivers State FA/Keves Global Football Competition with organizers releasing the full fixtures for the tournament scheduled to hold at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt.

The competition, which features 40 teams with 32 in the amateur category and 8 teams in the All Stars category, 

Amateur Category Fixtures Begin July 22

Action in the Amateur Category will kick off on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, with three matches lined up for the opening day.

In the headline fixture, King Boma FC will confront Dynamic FC at 9:00am. The second match will see Echelenche FC take on Sporting Rumuigbo at 12:00noon, while King Amachree FC will battle Novapex FC at 3:00pm.

Other fixtures in the amateur group include Police Crime Busters vs Rumuodumaya United on July 23 at 9:00am, Family Love FC vs Dominion City FC at 12:00noon, and Bravo FC vs Ubonu Dominican FC at 3:00pm.

The opening round will conclude on July 24 with Zion Hills FC facing Rocks FC at 9:00am, and Friends FC playing Reign FC at 12:00noon.

All Stars Category Set For August 8

The All Stars Category is scheduled to commence on Saturday, August 8, 2026, also at the Sharks Stadium.

Uniport Ex-Pros will open their campaign against Rumukarushi All Stars at 9:00am. 

In other matches, Police Crime Busters All Stars will face D-Line All Stars at 11:00am, while Rocks All Stars will take on Elite Ex-Professionals at 1:00pm. The day’s fixtures will wrap up with UniUyo All Stars playing O.G.S All Stars at 3:00pm.

Expectations High For 4th Edition

Organizers say the 2026 edition is designed to further develop grassroots football in Rivers State and provide a platform for talent discovery while also celebrating the state’s football legends.

The Rivers State Football Association, in partnership with Keves Global, noted that all matches will be played at the Sharks Stadium, with kick-off times strictly adhered to.

Football stakeholders and fans in the state are expected to troop out in their numbers to witness what promises to be another exciting edition of the competition.

Written by Mr Charles Mayuku 

2026 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP VOLLEYBALL QUALIFIERS: NIGERIA CONFRONTS HOST CÔTE D'IVOIRE AFTER OPENING DAY WIN

ABIDJAN – Nigeria will today, Wednesday, confront host Côte d’Ivoire in the 2026 African Nations Cup Zone 3 Qualifiers, following an impressive opening day victory over Niger Republic.

The Nigerian men’s team began their campaign on Tuesday with a hard-fought 3-1 win. Nigeria claimed the opening set 25-22 before Niger Republic leveled with a 25-19 win in the second set.

Coach Taiwo Oladipupo’s side showed resilience to regain control, taking the third set 25-23 in a tight contest. They then produced a dominant display in the fourth set, sealing the match 25-9.

Reacting to the win, head coach Taiwo Oladipupo expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and their ability to respond after dropping the second set.

“First of all, I thank Almighty God for giving us our first win of the tournament. I'm very happy with the result. The boys lost the second set, but they responded brilliantly by winning the third and fourth sets,” Oladipupo said.

The coach acknowledged that there were areas to improve on, but insisted the team will learn from the mistakes.

“We will go back and work on the areas where we made mistakes. This is a game of perseverance, and we know exactly what happened. We will correct those errors and come back stronger,” he added.

With the win over Niger Republic giving Nigeria an early boost, focus has now shifted to today’s crucial encounter against the host nation.

Despite facing the home crowd in Abidjan, Oladipupo maintained that Nigeria’s objective remains unchanged.

“Whether they are the hosts or not, our approach remains the same. We are going all out to play whoever comes our way. Our objective is simple, to secure the three points and move on, and that's exactly what we will be aiming for,” he stated.

Nigeria will be aiming to build on the momentum from the opening win as they continue their quest for qualification from the Zone 3 tournament to the 2026 African Nations Cup.

Written by Mr Charles Mayuku 

2026 RIVERS STATE FA/KEVES GLOBAL FOOTBALL COMPETITION DRAW CONCLUDES, GROUPS UNVEILED

PORT HARCOURT – The Rivers State Football Association, in partnership with Keves Global, has concluded the official draw for the 2026 Rivers State FA/Keves Global Football Competition, with 40 teams confirmed to participate across two categories.

The draw ceremony was preceded by a capacity building seminar for team officials on Tuesday (14th July 2026), and had Comrade Charles Dennis Dima, Chairman of the Rivers State Football Referees Council, as the guest speaker. 

The tournament is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday, 23rd July 2026

AMATEUR CATEGORY

A total of 32 teams will compete in the Amateur Category, drawn into eight groups of four teams each.

FULL GROUP PAIRING 

Group A: King Boma FC, Echelenche FC, Dynamic FC, Sporting Rumuigbo FC.  

Group B: King Amachree Sports Academy, Police Crime Busters FC, Novapex FC, Rumoudumaya United FC.  

Group C: Family Love FC, Bravo FC, Dominion City FC, Ubon Dominican FC.  

Group D: Zion Hills FC, Friends FC, Rocks FC, Reign FC.  

Group E: Flash Flamingos FC, Blue Hawks FC, Ambassadors FC, Villarreal FC.  

Group F: Elite FC, Fidelity FC, Wizzyfragrance Planet FC, Heisclinton FC.  

Group G: Bubba Eleven FC, FC Solid Boys, A & B FC, Lala FC.  

Group H: Harrison K FC, Midland FC, SKE FC, D-Kings Academy.

ALL STARS CATEGORY

The All Stars Category will feature 8 teams drawn into two groups of four.

Group A: Uniport XPro All Stars, Rocks All Stars, Rumuokwurushi All Stars, Elite Ex-Professionals.  

Group B: Police Crime Busters All Stars, UniUyo All Stars, D-Line All Stars, OGS All Stars.

The Rivers State FA described the competition as part of efforts to further grassroots football development and provide a competitive platform for both emerging talents and veteran players in the state.

With the groups now confirmed, attention shifts to the kickoff on July 23rd, where all 40 teams will begin their quest for the 2026 Rivers State FA/Keves Global Football Competition title.

Written by Mr Charles Mayuku 

Capacity Building Seminar Ahead of 2026 Rivers State FA/Keves Global Football Competition Draw

Happening now

The Rivers State Football Association is currently hosting a capacity building seminar for team officials ahead of today’s draw for the 2026 Rivers State FA/Keves Global Football Competition.

Guest Speaker:

Comrade Charles Dennis Dima  

Chairman, Rivers State Football Referees Council

The seminar is part of preparations ahead of the tournament kickoff on Wednesday, 23rd July 2026.

A total of 40 teams have been confirmed to participate:  

- 32 teams in the Amateur Category  

- 8 teams in the All Stars Category

(C) Charles Mayuku

RIVERS FA/KEVES GLOBAL FOOTBALL COMPETITION: DRAWS, SEMINAR HOLD JULY 14

PORT HARCOURT — All is now set for the seminar and draws of the 4th edition of the Rivers State FA/KEVES Global Football Competition as the Rivers State Football Association has fixed Tuesday, July 14, 2026 for the event.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary of Rivers FA, Mr. Omiete Edwin Tamuno and made available to Sports Concave Media on Monday.

According to the statement, the event will commence at 11:00am at the FA Office, NUJ Building, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. 

Mr. Omiete disclosed that 40 teams have registered for the competition. 32 teams will feature in the amateur category, while 8 teams will compete in the professional category.

The Rivers FA/KEVES Global Football Competition has grown to become one of the biggest platforms for talent discovery in the state. 

Team officials, club representatives, and other stakeholders are expected to attend the event as the FA intensifies preparations for the championship.

The Rivers FA/KEVES Global Football Competition, now in its 4th edition, has continued to provide a platform for grassroots football development and talent discovery in Rivers State.

NPFL CLUB OWNERS ENDORSE FG INTERVENTION, WELCOME N2.5BN NSC LEAGUE REVAMP

Chief Kpalukwu: “Government Will Is Critical To Building A Successful League”

ABUJA — The Nigeria Professional Football League Club Owners Association has thrown its full weight behind the Federal Government’s intervention in the domestic league, describing the National Sports Commission’s N2.5 billion commitment as a pivotal step toward repositioning the NPFL.

Chairman of the NPFL Club Owners Association, Chief Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, who also serves as an NPFL Board Member and General Manager of Rivers United FC, led club owners in commending the NSC for providing the leadership and funding required to drive the league forward.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Chief Kpalukwu said the intervention addresses the fundamental challenge that has held back the league for years — sustainable funding.

“You need money to have a successful league. Without government will, it is very difficult. The private sector can only come in after government has laid the foundation,” Kpalukwu stated. 

“Whatever name you give to your dog is what people will call it. We must first make the product attractive before investors will come in. 

“On behalf of the 20 NPFL clubs, I must sincerely thank the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for this bold intervention,” he added.

The endorsement from club owners highlights a growing consensus that public investment, combined with private sector partnerships, is essential to deliver better welfare for players, improved infrastructure, and a league that can compete commercially.

NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, who chaired the League Management Company from 2013 to 2022, said the Commission’s intervention was deliberate and necessary.

“We should have been accused of negligence if we failed to act. But now we are doing the needful and some people are opposed to it,” Dikko said.

He revealed that the Tinubu administration has committed N2.5 billion to improve league standards, with a target of implementing a N2 million minimum wage for players. 

Drawing parallels with global leagues, Dikko noted that the British government invested £200m to launch the English Premier League in 1992, while the South African and Moroccan governments provide annual subventions to sustain their leagues.

“Our responsibility as government is to provide enablers for all sports to thrive. Wherever we can intervene directly or indirectly, we will do so,” he said.

Dikko further disclosed that the NSC recently secured N5 billion from a single sponsor for the National Sports Festival, and expressed confidence that similar deals can be attracted to the NPFL through innovation and better packaging.

NSC Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, said Dikko’s experience uniquely positions him to reform the league.  

“Mallam Dikko ran this league for several years. If anyone understands where the problems are, it is him. With a President who is committed, we will get this right,” Olopade said.

NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, also called on stakeholders to support the process.  

“We once had sponsors back out overnight because of interference. Now we have a government that wants to support our league. We must support them, not discourage them,” Gusau stated.

With the backing of club owners and a direct funding commitment from government, the NSC says the reforms are targeted at creating a “truly professional league” — one that guarantees player welfare, creates jobs, and ultimately generates revenue for the economy through taxes and commercial growth.

For the NPFL Club Owners, the message is clear: government leadership first, private investment next.

Written by Mr Charles Mayuku 

NSC CHAIRMAN CLARIFIES THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN THE LEAGUE, SAYS "WE ARE HERE TO COLLABORATE AND MAKE THINGS WORK"

National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko has emphasised on the role of governments in kick-starting successful football leagues across the globe. Mallam Dikko was speaking in the aftermath of antagonisms to the Federal Government's intervention in the Nigerian domestic league pointing out that such interventions were necessary to set the league on the right pedestal. 

A former Chairman of the League Management Company, Mallam Dikko flashed back to the lack of political will that mitigated against the progress of the league during his reign. 

His words, "We should have been accused of negligence if we failed to do what we are doing, but now we are doing the needful and some people are against it. If I had this type of support from government those days we would have taken the League to much higher level now. 

"I was in charge of the league from 2013 to 2022 so I know what I am talking about. All the while not even 1 Kobo came from government to support the league. Rather some people in government were working against us. Those days I will work hard to generate revenue for the league and some people in government will call the sponsors not to work with us. Now that we are here, we shouldn't do the same thing. Only a mad man will keep doing the same thing when it is not yielding results. 

"We have all been complaining that the league is bad and needs support and now the government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in his wisdom has decided to intervene and some people are complaining. Our assignment as a government is to provide enablers for all sports to succeed. Anywhere we can intervene directly or indirectly we will do that."

The NSC Chairman enumerated private sponsorships initiated for sporting activities by the Commission and wondered why the same cannot be done for football and the league. 

He continued, "We just raised N5b for the National Sports Festival from just one sponsor..So why can't we put our heads together and get a similar result for the league? This sponsor was encouraged by the innovations at the last NSF in Abeokuta like Invited Junior Athletes. If we bring in more innovations into the league, the sponsors will be encouraged to come in. That is what we are doing when we put down N2.5b and push towards the N2m minimum wage. We have to make the product more attractive to investors.

"Right now we have commitments from A-list sponsors wishing to support our school sports initiatives. The money they are putting down for school sports is much more than the entire revenue of the NPFL. The league should be more lucrative, so why can't we work together with the NFF and NPFL in this direction?"

He punctured the opinion that governments had not made financial interventions in the thriving leagues across the globe.

"When the EPL started in 1992, the British government first put down £200m to get it started. At that time people also complained but today, from that £200m, the government gets £5-6b from taxes generated from EPL. 

"The South African government finds a way to put at least $20m  to the SA league indirectly through SABC who buy the free-to-air rights. Every year British government puts in over $400m into the EPL through the BBC. The government of Morocco pays every club subvention, repairs the stadiums, buys OB vans and several other interventions that help the league to grow."

Mallam Dikko pointed out that ultimately government's intervention in the league will rub off on the nation's economy.

"Just as the British government today generates more money through its investment in the EPL, the same will ultimately happen to the Nigerian economy. The money we put in will come back to the economy. We will have a truly professional league where the players will be well paid and we will generate plenty sporting jobs", he concluded.

In his speech the NSC Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade noted that if the domestic league doesn't improve under the leadership of Mallam Dikko as NSC Chairman, then a lot should be questioned.

He said, "Mallam Dikko did this league for several years, so if there is anyone who should know where the problem lies, he is the one. He should be in a good position to proffer solutions. And we have a President who wants to get this sorted. Where there is a will there will surely be a way "

Similarly, the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau called on the stakeholders and the media to rally round the current administration to fix the domestic league.

"I can recall when those days, we will think that we are going to hit a gold mine in the league, then over the night, one government official will call our sponsors and they will back off. Now we have a government that wants to support our league to develop, we should support and not discourage them", he opined.

Chairman of the NPFL club owners association, Sir. Okey Kpaluku commended the NSC for coming to the aid of the league.

"You need money to have a successful league. Without the government will, it is very difficult. The private sector can only come in after the government has put in so much. Whatever name you give to your dog is what people will call him. We have to make the league attractive first for investors to come in. On behalf of the NPFL clubs, I must thank the Federal Government for this intervention", he enthused.