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“Smart City FC Is Ready And Motivated For The New NNL Season” – Abiodun Obafemi
Ahead of the 2026/2027 NNL season, teams have intensified preparations with the recruitments of new players and officials, as well as, engaging in trial games.
Lagos based NNL side Smart City Football Club, are leaving no stones unturned as it has doubled up its preparations to ensure it gets the much desired ticket to the topmost cadre of Nigerian football, Nigeria Premier Football League.
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Speaking exclusively with Sports Chronicle Magazine, Abiodun Obafemi, who is the sporting director of Smart City FC, disclosed that the team is well prepared and better motivated ahead of the season’s task.
“We’re presently done with recruitments, we rounded up everything last week. So, we’re basically in the last phase of our preparations, with grade A friendly games lined up,” he disclosed.
Speaking on the targets of the management, Abiodun Obafemi, MON and a 1996 Olympic games gold medalist, said, “the target of all, including coaches, players and the leadership of team, of course, is to pick the sole NPFL ticket in our group.”
“We don’t just want to talk the talk, we want to do it this time around to make amend for the near misses of the last two seasons,” the former Super Eagles and Stationery Stores defender was full of praises for the management of the team for its commitment to the welfare and improvement of the team, ahead of the new football league season.
“In terms of motivation, the management has usual, has done their bit. And I can say that no Smart City player or official is being own a dime.
“Muchmore, there has been additional provisions of quality training materials, as well as, world class and modern football equipment,” he remarked gleefully.
“In my roles as a senior executive of the club, I remain committed to the development of the club, as well as, ensuring that all the units of the team, functions at their best to meet our seasonal goals. And our main objective this season, is promotion to the NPFL, which is long overdue,” he added.
Smart City FC have been placed in group B, and are expected to competed for the sole ticket to the NPFL, against other teams in the group, including, Beyond Limits FC, Ekiti United, Solution FC, Akwa United, Dokkal Khairu, Abakaliki FC, Bayelsa United and Right2Win FC.
Edo Queens midfielder Valentina Uroko has revealed that her stunning free-kick against USFA was the result of repeated practice in training, after the Nigerian champions powered into the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU-B qualifying tournament with a commanding 5-1 victory.
READ ALSO: Edo Queens Demolish USFA 5-1, Storm WAFU-B Champions League Final
Uroko produced a moment of brilliance at the Stade 4 Août in Ouagadougou on Wednesday, scoring from an almost unimaginable position to give Edo Queens a 3-0 lead just before half-time.
The midfielder said she had repeatedly practised the technique during training and was delighted to see it finally produce a goal on the continental stage.
“I practise it in training and it is something that I kept trying, so I’m happy that it turned out good today,” Uroko said.
Her spectacular strike came in the 45th minute, shortly after Chioma Moses had doubled Edo Queens’ advantage.
Earlier, Atume Doosuur had opened the scoring in the 17th minute as the reigning NWFL champions established control of the semi-final.
Edo Queens returned from the break with even greater intensity, with Doshima Tarnum scoring directly from a corner just a minute into the second half to make it 4-0.
Aminat Folorunsho completed the scoring for the Nigerian side in the 62nd minute, effectively putting the contest beyond USFA before the hosts managed a consolation goal in the 91st minute.
The emphatic result sends Edo Queens into the WAFU-B final, keeping their hopes of regional glory and qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League alive.
The Benin-based side had earlier opened their campaign with a remarkable 7-0 demolition of AS Garde Nationale of Niger Republic, followed by a 3-1 victory over ASEC Mimosas in their first two Group B matches.
Their only defeat came in the final group game when Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies edged them 2-1 on Sunday.
Edo Queens could now meet Ampem Darkoa again in the final, setting up the possibility of a rematch with the Ghanaian champions.
Despite scoring one of the highlights of the tournament and helping Edo Queens reach the final, Uroko insisted that the team must remain focused.
“I will remain focused and not carry it away because we are not there yet,” she added.
For Uroko, the spectacular free-kick was a reward for persistence in training. For Edo Queens, however, the bigger prize is now within touching distance.
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