Sports

NNL MVP Abdullahi Umar Sets Sights on Super 8 Promotion playoff

Published

4 months ago

February 13, 2025

Kebbi United’s 18-year-old striker, Abdullahi Umar, has expressed confidence that his team will secure a spot in the NNL Promotion Super 8 playoffs.

The young forward, who was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Highest Goal Scorer at the NNL/Prostar/Sportslight Hub Monthly Awards, was honored on Thursday at the NNL Secretariat in Wuse Zone 7, Abuja.

Umar, a native of Kwara State, made headlines with the first hat-trick of the NNL season and has been a key playmaker for his team, providing multiple assists.

Speaking at the award ceremony, the talented forward said he is motivated to help Kebbi United qualify for the Super 8 playoffs and ultimately earn promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

“As the MVP and Highest Goal Scorer, I am very happy to receive these awards. I thank the NNL and, most importantly, my teammates because this wouldn’t have been possible without them,” Umar said.

“My goal is to help Kebbi United qualify for the Super 8 and secure an NPFL ticket. These awards have truly motivated me, and I am determined to do my best. This is just the beginning of great things to come. Please pray for me.”

While presenting the awards, former General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Musa Amadu, urged Umar to remain focused and committed to his football career.

“This is just the beginning for you, Abdullahi. Your career will be what you make of it. Stay dedicated, keep improving, and never lose focus,” Amadu advised.

With his impressive performances and growing confidence, Abdullahi Umar is emerging as one of the brightest young talents in the NNL, and all eyes will be on him as he pushes towards his Super 8 and NPFL ambitions.

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Sports

NLO’s Shola Ogunowo Earns Praise for Driving Grassroots Football and Exemplifying Integrity

Published

7 mins ago

June 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Nigerian football community has lauded Mr. Shola Ogunowo, Chief Operating Officer of the Nationwide League One (NLO), for his unwavering commitment to integrity and the development of grassroots football, earning him widespread respect and admiration across the sporting landscape.

In a statement released in Abuja and signed by Okechukwu Okebugwu, Mr. Ogunowo was praised as a transformative leader who has redefined the ethics and standards of football administration at the grassroots level. According to the release, Ogunowo has emerged as a “leading figure in the fight against match-fixing, bribery, and all forms of corruption” that have plagued the lower tiers of Nigerian football for decades.

Through consistent enforcement of transparency, fairness, and accountability, Mr. Ogunowo is steering the NLO toward becoming a credible platform where talent can be discovered and nurtured based on merit, rather than manipulation or favoritism.

“In an environment where shortcuts and compromises are all too common, Shola Ogunowo has remained a pillar of integrity,” Okebugwu stated. “He is restoring credibility to grassroots football by ensuring that fair play, discipline, and professionalism are non-negotiable.”

Since taking over as COO, Ogunowo has spearheaded a number of structural reforms aimed at instilling discipline and operational excellence among participating clubs. These include stricter licensing requirements, performance audits, and compliance monitoring to ensure clubs uphold the league’s code of conduct. His administration has also emphasized youth development, with a renewed focus on coaching education and player welfare.

The result is a reinvigorated Nationwide League One that is beginning to attract renewed attention from fans, corporate sponsors, and local communities. Observers say Ogunowo’s leadership is helping reshape perceptions of grassroots football—not just as a stepping stone to the elite leagues, but as a vital foundation for the future of Nigerian football.

“His leadership is not only impacting the pitch—it’s rebuilding trust, creating real value, and setting a good standard for sports administration in Nigeria,” Okebugwu concluded.

As the NLO season progresses, many stakeholders believe that with figures like Shola Ogunowo at the helm, the future of grassroots football in Nigeria is not only secure, but promising.

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