NPFL roundup: MFM FC still on fire, Rangers stage fiery comeback | More stories

This weekday round of matches promised to be an exciting encounter across different venues in the country, and yes, it was.

Kano Pillar lost in Warri to a late Kevin Itoya goal against Warri Wolves in what was described as the biggest game of the week.

Also, Chisom Chikatara who surprisingly still lines up for Abia Warriors, was on target as 10-man Abia Warriors saw off stubborn El Kanemi Warriors in Umahia in a game that was seen by a sell-out audience.

Abia Warriors 1Abia Warriors 2

In Enugu, Rangers International secured their first victory of the season against Plateau United. Chisom Egbuchulam starred in this game.

Rangers found themselves a goal down, when Kim John put Plateau United ahead in the 8th minute but 3 second-half goals from the Enugu giants was all they needed.

Sunshine Stars of Akure left Makurdi still in search of their first win and worse still, a loss to Lobi Stars.

Lobi had ‘Beast’ Okpotu to thank as his brace handed them a deserved win and continued their fairy-tale start to the season which was even more impressive as they climbed up the league table to second. What a way to start for a team that was on the brink of relegation, last season.

NPFL 1

Niger Tornadoes and Giwa FC shared the spoils in Lokoja as the neighbours battled for local supremacy. While elsewhere, Wikki Tourist held Heartland of Owerri to a goalless draw in a packed stadium in Bauchi.

 

NPFL 2

However, I was at the Agege Stadium to witness the fire boys MFM FC’s first home game of the season where they defeated Rivers United to lead the NPFL league table and here is how I saw the game.

NPFL 3

 MFM FC vs RIVERS UNITED

It was a tale of two halves at the Agege stadium when MFM FC hosted and defeated 2 – 1 Rivers United FC to go top of the league table.

The beauty of the NPFL is it is gradually getting noticed by people. Agege is known for two things: Bread and Football.

So it wasn’t a surprise when premium football returned to one of its favoured territories as it was welcomed with both hands as fans trouped-in to make a crowded Agege stadium. For those who were there, the atmosphere was electric.

Now, I can’t wait for the next game.

Back to the game, in the first-half MFM, like how it was in Nasarawa, unsettled the visitors early with quite a number of good early chances. Eventually, Rivers caved in and conceded a penalty. Ifeanyi Ifeanyi made no mistakes from the spot to put MFM FC in the lead.

MFM continued to apply pressure on their opponents creating chances as Chukwuma was pulling the strings for the ‘Prayer Warriors’. Some minutes later, it was two. Sikiru Olatubosun was sent through on goal, with only the goal-keeper to beat, he expertly went past him, coolly placing the ball into an empty net. The fully packed Agege stadium went into a delirium.

Rivers United found rhythm in the second-half. Guy was sent on for the Port-Harcourt boys. And boy! What a player. He assisted Obamote in getting Rivers’ goal and ceaselessly troubled MFM’s backline.

It took a fantastic double-save from James – MFM’s goalkeeper, the post and some gritty defending from MFM FC to maintain their advantage.

Eventually, the game ended 2-1 in their favour. Making it two straight wins for the Lagos side in the league. Way to go!

NPFL 4

At the end of another round of hostilities across the seven match venues:

  • no away team recorded any victory as five matches ended in home wins, while two games ended in draws.
  • 16 goals were scored across different centres in the country by 15 different players (Only Okpotu scored 2 goals) with an average of 2 goals per-game.
  • Only MFM FC and Lobi Stars are yet to drop a point; winning all their two games.

 

Here are the full results of all week two games

RANGERS  3 vs 1 PLATEAU UTD ( Togaba Komlan 54’ Nnamdi Ayansodo 66’ Egbuchulam 74’Kim John 8’)

WARRI WOLVES 1vs 0 KANO PILLARS (Kevin Itoya 90+’)

WIKKI TOURIST 0 vs 0 HEARTLAND ()

ABIA WARRIORS 2 vs 1 EL KANEMI WARRIORS ( Chikatara ’12, Olaha 81’  – Mustapha Ibrahim ‘13 )

LOBI STARS 2 vs 1 SUNSHINE STARS ( Okpotu 36’ 70’ – Emmanuel Sunday 68’)

MFM FC 2 vs 1 RIVERS UNITED ( Ifeanyi 18’, Sikiru Olatubosun 24’ – Obomate 56’)

NIGER TORNADOES 1 vs 1 GIWA FC ( Lukman Mohammed 45’ – David Sunday 65’)

View the current league standings below

NPFL league table

————–

NPFL Roundup done by Adebiyi Tobi, who can be reached via @THETOBBI

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail