1472 F.C.

Last updated
1472 Football Club
FoundedOctober 2023
Stadium Teslim Balogun Stadium
Capacity24,325
Owner Dozy Mmobuosi
Head Coach Ortega Deniran
League Nigeria National League
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

1472 Football Club commonly referred to as 1472 F.C., is a Nigeria professional football club based in Lagos, Nigeria. [1] The club, founded in 2023, competes in the Nigeria National League, the second tier of the Nigerian football league system. The team plays their home games at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. [2] [3]

Contents

History

1472 Football Club was formed in October 2023 by Dozy Mmobuosi. [4] After sponsoring the 2023 Nigeria Federation Cup and attempt to purchase Sheffield United, Mmobuosi decided to start his own football club in Nigeria. [5] The name of the club was curled from the year 1472 in Nigeria where Lagos was visited by the Portuguese explorer Ruy de Sequeira. [6] 1472 F.C. purchased playing rights in Nigeria National League (NNL) in October 2023 after fulfilling all obligations to participate in NNL. [7]

Formation and 2023/2024 debut season

The club played its debut match on 11 November 2023 against former NPFL club Dakkada Football club where they gained a point from the away match against the club in a 2–2 draw at the Uyo Township Stadium in Akwa Ibom State. [8] Their first league goal was scored by Solomon Alade. [9] It is rumored that the team is currently constructing a 20,000 capacity stadium to house 1472 F.C. as its home ground.

On 21 November 2023, the club announced the signing of two international players from Brazil. [10] [11]

Stadium

The team currently plays at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. [11]

Fraud allegations against owner and controversies

In December 2023, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it had filed charges against Dozy Mmobuosi and three US-based entities: Tingo Group Inc, Agri-Fintech Holdings Inc, and Tingo International Holdings Inc. [12] The charges allege fraudulent financial claims aimed at deceiving investors. One notable example cited by the SEC involves Tingo Group's fiscal year 2022 Form 10-K, which reported a balance of $461.7 million across multiple bank accounts. However, the SEC alleges that the actual combined balance at the end of the year was purportedly less than $50. [12] It is also alleged that Mmobuosi siphoned hundreds of millions of investors' money for his personal benefit. [13]

Unpaid wages

In February 2024, Nigeria Sports News reported that 1472 F.C. had not paid players for months. The publication also disclosed that the club failed to honor financial obligations to both players and management. [14] Later that month, Dozy Mmobuosi ordered the sack of all technical and management team of the club following rumors that the coaches had instigated the players to protest. [15]

Squad

As of December 1, 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Dede Godwin Dare
2 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Afere Oluwaayemi Emmanuel
12 DF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Adenodi Micheal Oluwasegunfunmi
36 DF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Akinyemi Kayode John
19 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Emmanuel Solomon Ogochukwu
5 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Balogun Akeem
23 DF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Ominyi Samuel
16 DF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Bala Ezekiel
9 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Durugbor Paschal
30 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Eyitayo Rasheed Bolaji
29 DF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Ayodeji Thomas Adebowale
20 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Alade Solomon
No.Pos.NationPlayer
6 DF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Obansa Adeiza Ibrahim
10AMFFlag of Nigeria.svg  NGA David Bethel Fred
4DMFFlag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Michael Okwudili Oforkansi
14AMFFlag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Olasunkunmi Usman
8DMFFlag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Benedict Mehra
7AMFFlag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Henry Uche
34DMFFlag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Chinedu Kingsley Ezeali
22AMFFlag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Ohanaka Ifunanya
33 GK Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Cletus Anthony
13 DF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Udealor Uchenna
25 GK Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Anyanwu Ugochukwu
31 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Chika Odom
No.Pos.NationPlayer
28 DF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Daniel Ayodeji Osifo
26DMFFlag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Jibril Ahmed
27AMFFlag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Imrana Ahmad
DF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Abah Solomon Joseph
21 GK Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Obinna Junior Akuchie
32 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Obi Jeremiah Chinonso
11 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Ifeanyi Henry Abara
31 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Chika Odom
15 DF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Hagga Matthew
24 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Adeka Andrew Inalegegwu
2 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Afere Oluwaayemi Emmanuel

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References

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  10. Adesanya, Taiwo (2023-11-21). "NNL side 1472 sign Brazilian duo". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
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  12. 1 2 "SEC charges fintech Tingo chief with 'massive' fraud after Hindenburg short position" (PDF).
  13. "'A fiction': the fall of a fintech star accused of 'massive fraud'". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  14. admin (2024-02-02). "1472 F.C. players protest over unpaid salaries". Nigeria Sports News. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  15. "Unveiling the Shake-Up: Exploring the Decision Behind 1472 Football Club's Technical Crew Dismissal". Nigeria Sports News. 2024-02-11. Retrieved 2024-03-23.