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Raptors Strike First! Taiwo Inspires 21-12 Victory As Ibom Launch Season XV With Statement Win
Ibom Raptors made an impressive start to SHOWTIME Bowl Series XV, defeating Lagos Greenbacks 21-12 at Showtime Arena on Sunday as another competitive chapter of Nigeria’s professional flag football league got underway.
The final score tells only part of the story. The contest produced momentum swings, defensive stops and several opportunities for both teams, but the Raptors ultimately found the execution required to secure their opening victory.
Quarterback Taiwo Oluwalanu was at the heart of the Raptors’ performance and finished with the team’s highest player rating of 7.5. He consistently moved the offence downfield and connected with his receivers in serious situations, including touchdown combinations with Titilayo Happiness Abanikanda as Ibom turned pressure into points.
The player ratings also highlighted contributions beyond the quarterback position. Aisha Raji Oluwatosin earned 7.0, Moyosore Adolphus recorded 6.6, while Billie Oyebanji Anuoluwapo finished on 6.3, reflecting the collective effort behind the victory.
Lagos Greenbacks had their own standout performer in Precious George, whose 7.6 rating was the highest displayed across the two teams. Her defensive influence included several pass break-ups as Greenbacks battled to stay in the contest. Emmanuel Ojirinnaka also impressed with a 7.0 rating, while Philip Osakwe and Divine Chidera both recorded 6.6.
For SHOWTIME, the growing emphasis on detailed player ratings adds another dimension to Series XV. Fans are no longer following only wins and losses; individual performances can now be tracked, compared and discussed throughout the season, giving emerging athletes greater visibility and creating additional storytelling opportunities for commercial partners.
That visibility matters as SHOWTIME continues building a professional sporting product around its players. Every touchdown, interception, defensive play and standout rating can help transform previously unfamiliar names into recognisable sporting personalities.
For the Raptors, however, the immediate prize is the result. They have opened Series XV with a victory and valuable early momentum.
Ibom Raptors have landed the first blow — and Taiwo Oluwalanu has given SHOWTIME fans another name to watch.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, declared that what Nigerians saw during the 2023 presidential election will be totally different from what they would see in 2027.
Wike made the remark while dismissing claims that the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, is giving President Bola Tinubu sleepless nights ahead of the 2027 elections.
The minister spoke during his monthly media chat in Abuja.
Wike said: “I watched Amaechi; he had a town hall meeting in Cross River and I counted the number; they were not up to 200 people.
“He told them that this election has been won, he told them ‘can I tell you how this election will be handled?’ Atiku is from North, Tinubu is from South, Obi is from South, Donald Duke is from South and Atiku has won the election.
“That is what he was telling stakeholders in a town hall meeting in Cross River State. How can a vice presidential candidate go to a town hall meeting and he is telling his supporters that do you know that this election has been won?
“I have always told people that what you saw in 2023 will be totally different from what you will see in 2027. Mind you, in the South-East, it was difficult for most of the governors to campaign but now look at the campaign going on in the South-East.
“You think that what happened in 2023 will be the same thing in 2027, certainly not.”
Dismissing Amaechi’s political relevance, he recalled how the late former President Muhammadu Buhari could not get 25 percent with him as campaign director general.
He added: “Amaechi won his last election in 2011 and I was the DG of his campaign, when I left him and became a minister, he was governor. See the margin, I had one million votes and he had 100,000 votes in 2015, in 2019 he was the DG of Buhari and he could not get 25 percent of the votes for his candidate.
“In 2019 when they came with federal might to Rivers, the military, even the American marine came, they brought everything but he couldn’t get 25 percent as he is the super Minister of Transportation.
“In 2023, he was still a minister, supported Atiku and he didn’t get 15 percent. What has Amaechi done for the people of the state to now change their mind to support him?
“He was Minister of Transportation
and not one port is in the South-South, so what has he attracted to the South-South and Rivers State to make them support him.”
‘2027 will be different from 2023’ – Wike says Amaechi not giving Tinubu sleepless nights
Plateau United goalkeeper, Okiemute Odah, has expressed optimism that the team will achieve success in the current campaign.
The Peace Boys have started their Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, campaign on a bright note with four wins, two draws and two defeats in eight matches.
Plateau United thrashed Kano Pillars 4-0 in their last league fixture at the New Jos Stadium on Sunday.
Odah, who has recorded three clean sheets for the Jos-based club this season, enjoined supporters to continue believing in the team.
“I want to thank my teammates and the coaches because it’s a collective game, the result against Kano Pillars is good for us and if we continue like this we will do more better,” Odah told Plateau United media.
“I want to urge the fans to support us that we can do it and we will make them proud.”
NPFL: Odah confident Plateau United will compete well this season
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