Caretaker News

Inter Lagos FC starting XI vs Shooting Stars SC in the 2026/2027 NPFL opening game!

Shooting Stars SC players arrive for their 2026/2027 matchday one clash vs Inter Lagos!

Style 💐

PICTURES: In 2025, Community Secondary School, Aka Offor defeated West Itam Secondary School 5-0 to win the State Secondary Schools Invitational Tournament.

Today by 2pm at the Uyo Township Stadium, all eyes will be on Aka Community Secondary School Girls when they face Secondary School Adadia in the first semifinals of the Girls category of the Troost-Ekong Foundation Secondary Schools Football Tournament.

Will they be as ruthless at they were in 2025?
Will Secondary School Adadia cause a major upset with victory ?

Be there at the Uyo Township Stadium for the Girls Semifinals today.

Meanwhile, what’s your prediction for Community Secondary School vs Secondary School Adadia?

NPFL Chairman Sacked Less Than 24 Hours Before Season Kickoff

The Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye, has been removed from his position less than 24 hours before the start of the new NPFL season.

The development is part of major changes in Nigerian football following the resignation of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and members of the NFF Executive Committee.

The National Sports Commission has also approved Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, the erstwhile Deputy General Secretary of the NFF, to oversee the NFF Secretariat as Acting General Secretary.

Dr Ademola Olajire, who was Director of Media and Communications, will serve as Acting Deputy General Secretary.

The changes have also affected the administration of the country's major domestic leagues.

The Chairmen, appointed Directors and Chief Executive Officers of the NPFL, Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) and Nationwide League One (NLO) have been directed to hand over the administration of their respective leagues to their Chief Operating Officers.

Where a league's COO is not a member of the NFF staff, the Acting General Secretary is expected to appoint a new COO from within the federation.

Before the latest directive, the domestic leagues were headed by:

- NPFL – Gbenga Elegbeleye
- NNL – George Aluo
- NWFL – Nkechi Nneka Obi

The decision to remove the league chairmen comes at a dramatic time for the NPFL, with the new season scheduled to begin less than 24 hours after the directive.

Meanwhile, all processes connected to the NFF Elective Congress scheduled for 27 September have been suspended.

A fresh electoral process will begin after the planned comprehensive reforms of Nigerian football have been completed.

The reforms are expected to be carried out in consultation with world football governing body FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the government and other stakeholders.

The National Sports Commission said the interim measures are aimed at ensuring continuity in the administration of Nigerian football during the transition.

Further changes and directives are expected as discussions continue on a new roadmap for Nigerian football.

Etinan Institute to Face St Brian Model College in Troost-Ekong Foundation Boys’ Final

Etinan Institute will face St Brian Model College in the boys’ final of the Troost-Ekong Foundation Secondary Schools Football Tournament after both schools won their semi-final matches in Uyo.

Etinan Institute booked their place in the final after coming from behind to beat Community Secondary School, Ikot Oku Ubo, 2-1.

Community Secondary School took the lead in the 65th minute when Philip Archibong headed home from a corner kick.

Etinan Institute responded seven minutes later as Nsikak Effiong fired a powerful 25-yard shot into the net to make it 1-1.

Ukpono Eno-Obong then completed the comeback in the 82nd minute with a header to send Etinan Institute into the final.

In the second semi-final, St Brian Model College produced a strong performance to defeat Apostolic Secondary School, Ikot Oku Nsit, 5-1.

Apostolic Secondary School fell behind in the 12th minute when Emmanuel Godwin scored an own goal.

Sunday Okon was the star of the match, scoring a hat-trick, while Imeobong Essien also found the net for St Brian Model College.

Gideon Nse scored a consolation goal for Apostolic Secondary School from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute, but St Brian Model College held on to win 5-1.

The boys’ final between Etinan Institute and St Brian Model College will take place on September 1, 2026, at Uyo Township Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.

-Girls’ Competition-

The girls’ competition will begin on Friday, August 28.

Community Secondary School, Aka Offot, will face Secondary School, Adadia, at 2pm, while Methodist Secondary School, Ibiaku Ishiet, will play Community Secondary School, Ikot Oku Ikono, at 4pm.

The winners of both matches will meet in the girls’ final on September 1 at 1pm.

As part of its broader vision to develop and improve school sports in the state, the Troost-Ekong Foundation presented jerseys and other playing equipment to the defeated teams.

Making the presentation, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Football Association, Mr Samuel Umoh, told the players not to feel discouraged by their semi-final losses but to draw inspiration from the vision of former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, who wants to see them excel in both academics and football and go on to become stars in the future.

The Coordinator of the Troost-Ekong Foundation, Mr Bernard Ekong, said the foundation’s vision goes beyond simply winning the tournament. He encouraged the boys to be proud of their efforts and look forward to more opportunities to shine.

The tournament is organised by the Troost-Ekong Foundation in partnership with the Akwa Ibom State Football Association (AKSFA), with eight secondary schools taking part across the boys’ and girls’ categories.

Photo Credit:

Nigeria eligible 20-year-old Chibby Nwoko played his first-ever professional match; the midfielder featured for Fulham against Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup.