Sports
Star Powers NPFL Finals, Ends Season In A Bright Shine
By BHM
The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) ended its 2015/16 season with a resounding final match that saw Rangers International Football Club of Enugu win the league after a 4-0 trumping of El-Kanemi Warriors of Borno on Sunday 2nd October 2016 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
Rangers International’s bid to end a thirty-two year wait for the league title eventually paid off as Chisom Egbuchulam and Osas Okoro recorded their names on the score sheet to help Rangers clinch the title.
The season’s final match supported by Star Lager, the official beer partner of NPFL ensured that thousands of fans at the league title deciding game had a memorable time participating in various activities at the stadium.
Star’s inclusion of the premium experience at the stadium was to deliver on the agreement it entered with the League Management Company beginning from 2015/16 season, to actively support participation of fans’ interest in league matches.
Commenting on plans by Star to further consolidate the NPFL partnership, Portfolio Manager, National Premium, Nigerian Breweries, Tokunbo Adodo, explained the final match in Enugu was an opportunity to celebrate fans as well as the participating teams in this league season.
“Let me begin by congratulating the winner and of course other teams in the league season which has ended today. As the official beer partner of the NPFL, Star is committed to fulfilling the mandates obligated by the agreement to make the league more exciting for fans and lovers of football in Nigeria. We’ve had an outstanding association with supporting good football experience and by virtue of all existing partnership, millions of fans can enjoy better quality in the round leather game on NPFL match days next season” Adodo said.
It was not merely a final match at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium but celebration of the league’s new life that is gradually turning around in brighter strides, following a recent partnership announcement with Star in August this year.
Chairman, League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko said the partnership is beginning to resonate with the league, in particular, football fans.
“The season has gone a lot better than we envisaged. We had a very competitive league, many good teams playing in ways that were appealing to Nigerian football fans. We have seen clubs administering better welfare and this will continue to improve in league seasons to come. At LMC, we are very pleased to see that our efforts to restore local footfall enthusiasm is yielding fruits, averaging several thousands of audience at each match venue. Having a partner like Star has brought a deeper engagement with football fans and their favourite league clubs” Dikko said.
The partnership has seen Star Lager providing extraordinary experience zones for fans including use of NPFL logo on bottles and cans of the brand, as well as creating stronger affinity with the Nigerian league.
Furthermore, Portfolio Manager, National Premium, Nigerian Breweries, Tokunbo Adodo, added that support from super fans of the competing teams were appropriate to cap a thrilling football season.
“We are excited to be a part of what has been a thoroughly exciting season for the fans and NPFL clubs. It is unarguable that this season has been a watershed for the League Management Company, the teams and media. Star is committed to the drive in viewership and attendance at NPFL matches by using activities that resonate with fans. The experience enjoyed by fans today is only a snippet of what to expect in the next season” Adodo enthused.
Star has a long history of supporting consumers’ passion in football and in the next league season will continue to create more premium experience for fans across the country on match days.
The Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium had a dedicated activity zone where different games that included target ball shooting, back-heel penalty and table soccer competitions were played and prizes won by excited football fans.
Captivated by the carnival-like atmosphere, supporters club from El-Kanemi Warriors engaged in a fun, cheerleading competition against the supporters club of Rangers International with the later emerging winner, as declared by the football fans that were enjoying the time of their life with Star lager.
The league season might have ended but for Star, the recognition of million shinning fans will continue to reverberate, as the premium football experience provided by the brand at Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium is a taste of what to expect in the new season.
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Nigeria’s Super Falcons will look to secure their place in the quarter-finals when they face Egypt in their final Group C match on Wednesday at 9:00 pm at the ongoing WAFCON 2026 in Morocco.
The defending champions bounced back from their disappointing 3-2 defeat to Malawi with a crucial 1-0 victory over Zambia and will now be aiming to finish the group stage strongly. All the matches of the tournament air live on SuperSport via DStv and GOtv.
The final matchday of Group A saw hosts Morocco play out a goalless draw with Senegal, a result that was enough to send Morocco through to the quarter-finals in first position in their group. Algeria also secured their place in the knockout stages after a 2-0 victory over Kenya, bringing their group-stage campaign to a strong close.
Tuesday, Group B will conclude with Burkina Faso facing South Africa before Tanzania takes on Ivory Coast. South Africa and Ivory Coast played out a 2-2 draw in their previous match, while Burkina Faso bounced back from their opening defeat with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania. With the group still to be decided, the final results will determine which teams join the quarter-final line-up.
All eyes will then turn to Group C on Wednesday, where Egypt will face Nigeria, and Malawi will take on Zambia, with both matches kicking off at 9:00 pm. The Super Falcons will be hoping to build on their victory over Zambia and secure the result they need to advance to the knockout stages, while Egypt will be looking to end their campaign on a positive note after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Malawi in their previous game.
Nigeria’s final group match comes after a difficult start to their title defence. The Super Falcons were stunned 3-2 by Malawi in their opening game but responded with a 1-0 victory over Zambia to revive their campaign. The ten-time champions will now need to complete the job against Egypt as they look to keep their hopes of retaining the continental crown alive.
The final group-stage fixtures on Thursday will see Ghana take on Mali, and Cape Verde face Cameroon on Thursday, with both matches also scheduled for 9:00 pm. Ghana suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their previous outing, while Mali secured a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde. The final results will determine which teams progress to the knockout stages from Group D.
Matchday 3 Fixtures
Tuesday, August 4
Burkina Faso vs South Africa – 9:00 pm
Tanzania vs Ivory Coast – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, August 5
Egypt vs Nigeria – 9:00 pm
Malawi vs Zambia – 9:00 pm
Thursday, August 6
Cape Verde vs Cameroon – 9:00 pm
Mali vs Ghana – 9:00 pm
SuperSport Brings All the Live Action
Catch every match of WAFCON Morocco 2026 live on SS Football (Ch. 202, GOtv Ch. 61) and SS Football Plus (DStv Ch. 202) on DStv and GOtv. Fans can also stream every match live on DStv Stream from ₦6,000, with no decoder or dish required.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
At least for the next four seasons, DStv and GOtv subscribers are guaranteed access to all UEFA men’s club matches on SuperSport.
This is because CANAL+, the parent company of MultiChoice, which owns DStv and GOtv, has secured the exclusive broadcast rights to all UEFA men’s club competitions across Sub-Saharan Africa through 2031, ensuring SuperSport will continue to broadcast the UEFA Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues live to DStv and GOtv subscribers.
The four-season agreement, which begins with the 2027/28 campaign, covers more than 40 countries across the region and includes exclusive rights to the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
In English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa, SuperSport will continue as the exclusive broadcaster of UEFA club competitions, bringing the continent’s biggest European club matches to DStv and GOtv subscribers. The agreement also restores full UEFA Champions League coverage on CANAL+ Sport channels in French-speaking Africa, alongside the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
The rights deal further strengthens CANAL+’s sports portfolio, which already includes major football competitions such as the Premier League, LALIGA EA SPORTS, Ligue 1, the Betway Premiership and the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026.
The agreement ensures football fans across Sub-Saharan Africa will continue to enjoy live coverage of Europe’s premier club competitions on SuperSport when the new rights cycle begins in 2027.
“We are very proud of this new partnership, which gives us exclusive rights to all UEFA Men’s Club competitions across more than 40 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“For four seasons, until 2031, our subscribers will enjoy the thrill of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League’s biggest matches. Today, CANAL+ offers the most attractive sports line-up across Sub-Saharan Africa, and the acquisition of these rights is a perfect illustration of that.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to UC3 and to the teams at Relevent for once again placing their trust in CANAL+, following our recent agreements in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland and Austria,” the chief executive of CANAL+, Mr Maxime Saada, stated.
The start of a football season always tricks people a little. Everything looks fresh. New shirts, new signings, clean tables, confident managers, fans talking themselves into hope again. Then the first few matches arrive, and half the predictions start wobbling. That is what makes early-season betting interesting. It is not tidy yet. Manchester City may still be Manchester City, but that does not mean they are sharp from the first whistle. Arsenal might look strong on paper and still need time to settle. Chelsea can have another summer full of noise and still leave bettors guessing. Real Madrid might have the stars, but even stars need minutes together. The first weeks are not about certainty. They are about spotting who is ready before the market fully catches up.
New Signings Need Time
Transfer excitement can make people rush. A new striker arrives at Arsenal and suddenly every goals market feels tempting. Manchester United sign a defender and people start talking about clean sheets. Chelsea add another expensive player and the same old question comes back: does this actually fix the team, or just add another name? Sometimes a signing changes everything quickly. More often, there is an awkward stage first. A forward needs to learn where the passes come from. A midfielder needs to understand the press. A centre-back needs to build trust with the goalkeeper and full-backs. That is why early-season betting after the Betway app download should not treat a new signing like a finished answer. The name matters, but the fit matters more.
World Cup Legs Will Matter
This season also carries the weight of the World Cup. Some players will come back flying. Some will come back flat. Some may start the season with managed minutes because their clubs cannot afford to burn them out early. That can change player markets fast. A bettor looking through the betway app before a weekend card should not only check the famous names in the lineup. Look at who played deep into the World Cup, who missed pre-season, who came back late, and who is being protected by the manager. A star on the pitch is not always a star at full speed.
Early Tables Can Lie
The first league table always looks more dramatic than it is. One big club drops points, and everyone starts asking if there is a crisis. One promoted side wins at home, and suddenly people talk about momentum. A striker scores twice, and the golden boot conversations begin before anyone has really learned anything. That noise can be useful, but only if bettors do not get swallowed by it. Early results need context. Did the team actually play well, or just finish two chances? Did they control the game, or survive pressure? Was the opponent missing key players? Did the manager rotate because of fitness?
Patience Beats The Big Prediction
The new season will settle. The strong teams will usually rise, the weaker squads will get exposed, and the table will start to make more sense. But the opening weeks are different. They are full of strange fitness levels, overhyped signings, tired stars and teams that are still trying to remember what they are meant to be. That is why betting on the upcoming season should start slowly. Do not fall in love with last season’s form. Do not trust every transfer story. Do not assume every World Cup star is ready to carry club football straight away. The value is often hiding in the messy part, before everyone else agrees what the season really looks like.
