Ikorodu City FC will be playing their first-ever Nigeria Professional League game against Kano Pillars on Saturday after they gained promotion from the NNL last season.

As per 72co, Leeds United are plotting a move to sign the Nigerian youngster, Leonard Ngenge. Daniel Farke’s side are confident of securing an agreement with Ikorodu City for the transfer of the 16-year-old left-back.

However, the young defender will not be allowed to officially join the EFL Championship club until he turns 18, owing to FIFA regulations.

The player has been on trial with Leeds during the last few weeks and the Whites are confident of getting a deal over the line as both parties have mutual interest.

Ngenge could end up being a quality long-term acquisition for the Yorkshire giants, who are well known for nurturing talented young players into established stars, and they could help the youngster fulfil tremendous potential in the coming seasons, should an agreement be reached.

Swedish side, Hammarby IF Fotbollförening, are also admirers of Ngenge, but it appears the Whites are best placed to bring him through the door when he’s allowed to move.

Unlike the majority of English clubs, Leeds are not a powerhouse in the transfer market. Their only option of staying afloat financially is buying youngsters, building them, and selling them for profit.

James Milner, Kalvin Phillips, Fabian Delph, Crycencio Summerville, and Archie Gray are famous names that have grown into mature stars at Elland Road.

The 26-year-old forward was one of the players who lit the heart of the fans of the Noisy Lagosians in their debut Nigeria Professional League spell.

Odibo missed several games due to injuries but was able to feature in 26 league games for Sporting Lagos, scoring one goal and providing four assists.

The former Ikorodu City man is well-known for his explosive pace and will continue his footballing career abroad with Rwandan side, Armée Patriotique RFC, following Sporting Lagos’ relegation from the Nigerian top-flight.

EXCL: Godwin Odibo set to join Rwandan champions, APR FC of Rwanda

– Understand the winger has agreed to the move and COULD travel in the next 72hrs to conclude all formalities.

– Odibo leaves Sporting Lagos after the club got relegated.

– APR FC will play in the CAF… pic.twitter.com/y8qEbqEKV0

— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) July 14, 2024

Odibo joins Pashcal Durugbor and Adekunle Adeleke to walk through the door at Sporting Lagos, leaving Abdullahi Biffo with even more problems as the team continues their journey in the Nigerian National League last season.

Odibo started his footballing career in the Nigerian local league with Ikorodu City FC. He had a brief stint with Belgian Pro League side, Oud-Heverlee Leuven. He returned to the NPFL a few years back, playing for Remo Stars before moving to Sporting Lagos last summer.

Armée Patriotique are one of the most successful clubs in the Rwandan football league winning twenty-two Rwandan league titles and thirteen Rwandan Cups.

They are joined by Beyond Limits (Remo Stars Academy), Nasarawa United, and El-Kanemi Warriors.

The four teams secured promotion to the NPFL from the Nigeria National League (NNL) play-offs held in Enugu. Nasarawa United and El-Kanemi Warriors are returning to the top division.

The teams clinched the top two spots in the Northern and Southern Conferences of the NNL.

In the Northern Conference, Nasarawa United of Lafia beat Sporting Supreme 2-1, finishing first with nine points. El-Kanemi Warriors defeated Sokoto United 4-1 to take second place with six points.

Both Nasarawa United and El-Kanemi Warriors were relegated from the NPFL last year after finishing bottom of the league’s Group A but they have bounced back impressively at the first time of asking.

In the Southern Conference, Beyond Limits topped the group with seven points after a 1-0 win over Inter Lagos. Ikorodu City beat Madiba FC 2-0, securing the second promotion spot with five points.

Beyond Limits, owned by Hon. Kunle Soname, is the youth wing of Remo Stars FC, a club already established in the Nigerian top flight.

It would be recalled that earlier this year, Beyond Limits Football Academy etched its name in the history books after becoming the first African team to win the prestigious Viareggio Cup in Italy.

Each team in the playoffs played three matches, with the top two teams from each conference earning promotion to the NPFL.

Ikorodu City, established just two years ago, and Beyond Limits will be playing in the NPFL for the first time.

Paul Aderibigbe scored a goal-of-the-season contender that powered Ikorodu City FC to a thrilling 2-1 victory over visiting Warri Wolves in their Nigerian National League clash on Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports.

Aderibigbe produced a moment of sheer brilliance minutes into the second half of his team’s tough battle and left many supporters speechless.

Ikorodu were already one-nil up – courtesy of a fine Musa Habeed header from an excellent Gidado corner midway through the first half – when Aderibigbe decided to take matters into his own hands.

The 21-year-old received the ball on the right flank and appeared to pose no danger to the Warri Wolves’ defence from that far out wide.

However, Aderibigbe conjured a few side steps, full rotation, and nutmeg to dance past four defenders before hitting a rocket past the goalkeeper.

https://twitter.com/IkoroduCityFC/status/1743909382075588977

It was a goal that had enough tricks and dazzles that would have made Super Eagles great, Austin Okocha proud.

Warri Wolves reduced the deficit in the 75th minute of the clash, but nothing could take the shine off Aderibigbe’s excellent strike and the three points in the bag for Ikorodu City FC.

https://twitter.com/paul_aderibigbe/status/1743713983218004469

Ikorodu FC, with the win over Warri Wolves, climbed to second place behind Crown FC on the NNL table as the Oga Boys boast 11 points from their six games played.

The Lagos-based club has claimed three victories and two draws so far this season, losing only once to Giant Brillars.

Ikorodu City FC are the form team of the division, having lost none of their last five matches.