After the 6th round of NPFL matches, 115 goals have been scored this season 25 of which came from this concluding weekend’s 7 league fixtures. Quite an exciting weekend it was.

MFM FC return to the summit of the league while Sunshine Stars are still searching of their first win of the season, dropping to 19th on the log. Tony Okpotu scored his fifth goal of the season, to lead the goal scoring chart.

Here is my review of Matchday 6:

Friday 11-03-16 7pm

AKWA UNITED 2 VS 0 PLATEAU UNITED (Ubong Friday 28’ 78’)
Akwa United made their home advantage count when they hosted Plateau United, last Friday at the Goodswill Akpabio Int’l stadium. The game ended 2-0.

In a game that was live on TV, Ubong Friday incidentally scored twice that Friday night. The first was a sweet header in the 28th minute.

Although Plateau United weren’t looking threatening, there was fear that Akwa might bottle up in the second half. But that wasn’t to be. In the 78th minute, Ubong Friday, curled a beautiful strike, in the box, that beat Plateau’s goalkeeper to his near post, to make it 2-0.

The win moved Akwa United above Plateau to ninth on the log, as Plateau dropped to 13th, with both teams equal on 7 points.

Sunday 13-03-16 4pm

ABIA WARRIORS 2 VS 2 RANGERS INT’L (Uluocha pen 39’ Chikatara 65’- Bobby Clement 22’ Egbuchulam 44’)
At the Umuahia Township Stadium, Abia Warriors and Rangers Int’l thrilled spectators and viewers at home, to a pulsating south-eastern derby draw. Abia Warriors fought back twice in the game, to keep their unbeaten status undamaged.

Rangers went into the tie, top of the table, and were hoping to leave the game with that reputation intact. When Bobby Clement put them ahead in the 22nd minute, it was looking likely. Unfotunately for Rangers, they conceded a penalty and Abia made them pay for it. Uluocha scored from the spot in the 39th minute to level proceedings.

However, the dream was on again for Rangers. Chisom Egbuchulam restored their lead in the 44th minute, meaning they went into the break with the advantage.

Eventually, Nigerian International, Chisom Chikatara, re-equalized for Abia Warriors.
In the remaining minutes, both sides tried in different means and measures to win the game but none could. A draw had to be settled for.

The result meant that The Flying Antelopes went down a place to second, two points behind the incumbent league leaders, MFM. While Kenendy Boboye’s Abia remain in 6th position.

GIWA FC 1VS 0 SUNSHINE STARS (Omotayo Adegbogun 90+5’)
Sunshine Stars left Jos heartbroken, after suffering yet another defeat. In a season that has already seen a manager sacked for lack of result, it was another low. The conceded a goal with possibly, the last kick of the game.

The result means Sunshine Stars remain 19th on the table.

Giwa moved up four places to 12th on the log, thanks to Omotayo Adegbogun’s last minute effort, as the tie was already looking set to be a stalemate. No one will be happier than Gbenga Ogunbote.

FC IFEANYI UBAH 4 VS 1 IKORODU UNITED (Nico Doa 11’ 18’ Okereke 56’ Seka Pascal pen 82’ – Stephen Nwaiwu 52’)
Ifeanyi Ubah’s NPFL honeymoon continues. This time, it was at the expense of new boys, Ikorodu United. 4-1 the final score was, on a wet and bouncing pitch in Nnewi, Anambra State.

As expected from a cosmopolitan side, lanky Malian, Nico Doa, who was making his league debut, put the host ahead in the 11th minute with a brilliant effort. Eight minutes later, he completed his brace. This time, he made use of his 6ft 5” height to head home Aberico Barbosa’s precise cross.

Edema Beson’s Ikorodu United pulled one back in the 52nd minute, through former Ifeanyi Ubah player, Stephen Nwaiwu’s freekick. They were hoping to spring a comeback. The dream didn’t last 4-minutes. Homeboy Madubuchi Okereke restored Ifeanyi Ubah’s two-goal cushion. The rout was complete in the 82nd minute when Seka Pascal scored from 12yards.

The win moved Ifeanyi Ubah five placed to 4th with 10 points. Ikorodu United went down four places to 16th. They really are not finding the league easy at all.

MFM FC 3 VS 1 EL-KANEMI WARRIORS (Stephen 26’ Julius Emiloju 47’ Onuwa 74’ – Japhet Daniel 65’)
MFM FC’s romance with top spot continued as they secured a table topping win against El-Kanemi Warriors in one of their most impressive performances of the season, recording a 3-1 win at the Agege stadium.

Stephen Odey put The Olukoya Boys ahead in the 26th minutes after completely outplaying their opponent, led by Laden Bosso. MFM took their one goal advantage into the second half.

Julius Emiloju capitalized on a napping defence to extend MFM’s lead in the 47th minute, capping an extremely beautiful team passing effort.

Japhet Daniel pulled one back for El-Kanemi warriors in 65th minute but pint-sized dynamite, Chukwuma Onuoha restored MFM’s cushion in the 74th minute to seal victory.

MFM moved to the top of the table, two points clear of their nearest rivals – Kano Pillars and Rangers Int’l.

LOBI STARS 2 VS 2 KANO PILLARS (Okpotu pen 16’ Rapheal Ayagwa fk 62’ – Prince Aggreh 17’ Moses Bunde OG 32’)
Lobi Stars dragged Kano Pillar’s table topping aspiration when they held them to a 2-2 draw at the Aper Aku stadium in Makurdi.

League top scorer, Tony Okpotu put Lobi Stars ahead in the 16th minute from the spot. The lead didn’t last a minute. Prince Aggreh made light work of two defenders before applying the finish, to equal the tie. Kano Pillars took the lead in the 32nd minute, after Prince Aggreh’s cross was turned into the net by Lobi’s Moses Bunde.

Lobi Stars’ attempt to fight back didn’t yield result until the 62nd minute, when Rapheal Ayagwa scored a free-kick to bring the tie level.

As a result of the game, Kano Pillars dropped to 3rd on the log with two points behind MFM FC. Lobi Stars slipped a spot to 5th.

NIGER TORNADOES 3 VS 2 RIVERS UNITED (Ismaila Gata 45’ Gabriel Wassa 58’ Jackson Daniel 64’ – Israel 77’ Guy 81’)
Four second half goals were recorded as Niger Tornadoes notched their 2nd win of the season in 5-goal thriller, that ended in 3-2 win for the home side against Rivers United side attempting a comeback, at the Confluence stadium in Lokoja.

Ismaila Gata scored his 3rd goal of the season, to put the home side ahead in the 45th minute. Gabriel Wassa’s 58th minute goal and Jackson Daniel’s 64th minute effort, put The Ikon Allah in cruise control.

Israel scored what first looked like a consolation goal in the 77th minute, before Guy added one more four minutes later, to make for a tense final minutes. Niger Tornadoes held on to secure a much needed win.

The win moved them to 11th on the table, with 7points. Rivers United dropped from 5th to 7th as a result.

League Table:

Highest Goal Scorers:
5 – TONY OKPOTU (LOBI STARS)
4 – WASIU JIMOH (SHOOTING STARS)
3 – FEDRICK OBOMATE (RIVERS UNITED)
3 – RABIU ALI (KANO PILLARS)
3 – GODWIN OBAJE (WIKKI TOURIST)
3 – SEKA PASCAL (IFEANYI UBAH FC)
3 – ISMAILA GATA (NIGER TORNADOES)
3 – PRINCE AGGREH (KANO PILLARS)
2 – GODBLESS ASAMOAH (RIVERS UNITED)
2 – MUSA NEWMAN (MFM FC)

CONTINENTAL FIXTURES (Sunday 13-03-16)

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:
Enyimba 5 vs 1 Vital’O
Warri Wolves 0 vs 1 Al-Merrikh

CAF CONFEDERATIONS CUP:
Nasarawa Utd 1 vs 0 CS Constantine