Premier league action resumed on Wednesday, 2nd of March 2016 across 8 different match centres across the country with Enyimba vs Ikorodu United’s game being rescheduled to hold today, in Umuahia.
When the games ended, no away team recorded any victory, 22 goals were scored across the country in nine games by 19 different players with three players scoring two goals.
Lobi stars, MFM FC, Abia Warriors and Wikki Tourist completes the top four while Sunshine Stars, Enyimba, Nasarawa United and El Kanemi Warriors complete the bottom four.
Tony Okpotu and Wasiu Jimoh lead the scoring chart with four goals each.
Okpotu and Wasiu Jimoh lead the scoring chart with four goals each.
Here is my review of the games played yesterday:
ABIA WARRIORS vs KANO PILLARS
Abia Warriors hosted Kano Pillars the same day their former attacker Chisom Chikatara who played their last match was unveiled by Wydad Casablanca in Morocco.
This was a game where a win would consolidated Abia’s position as first on the league table however Kano Pillars had other plans as they looked to avoid defeat achieving that as the gamed ended in a goalless stalemate. 0-0 was the score line on the day.
The game saw few chances created by the home side as Kano Pillars looked the more dangerous side. Abia Warriors would have their goalkeeper, John Gaadi, to thank as he stopped every attempt Baba Ganaru’s men made to his goal, most especially, the 86th minute attempt from Adamu Mohammed.
Abia won’t be happy about the result as they dropped to third on the log, behind Lobi Stars and MFM FC. But it’s still early days.
AKWA UTD vs HEARTLAND
Akwa Utd put away the disappointment of their continental exit when they hosted Heartland, who also were fresh from a defeat at home to Abia warriors at the Oriental derby, some days earlier.
So, the game was a perfect opportunity for both teams to bounce back. Eventually only one team took advantage.
There were no goals recorded until the 59th minute in the second-half when Aneikan Ekpe’s effort from 20 yards, took a massive deflection beating the goalkeeper and going into the net.
Heartland however responded almost immediately as Onyebuchi Ajunwa’s strike from quite a distance, flew past Akwa’s goalkeeper, Bassey Akpan to level the score line.
Maurice Cooreman’s Akwa United continued dominating and in the 80th minute, Kufre Ebong nodded in a Yusuf Adio effort to restore Akwa United’s advantage.
Victory was sealed for Akwa in the 90th minute as Micheal Ibe Okoro got on the end of Nnamso Edo’s free kick to call it a day.
LOBI STARS vs EL KANEMI WARRIORS
Lobi capped an impressive performance with a 3-0 win over El Kanemi Warrior, who are yet to score a point this season, to take them top of the league standings.
Lobi’s talisman, Tony Okpotu wasted no time in scoring his third goal of the season, blasting in a penalty in the 4th minute, after he was fouled in the box.
In the 55th minute, it turned from bad to worse for El Kanemi as Lobi’s Nasiru was fouled in the box. The referee, Akintunde Akinsanya pointed to the spot before sending off the offender, Yahaya. Tony Okpotu stepped up and dispatched the penalty expertly, to score his 2nd of the game and 4th of the season.
Nanen Imenger completed the victory for Lobi in the 69th minute securing Godwin Uwa’s men their first victory over El Kanemi Warrior in 9years.
With that victory, Lobi lead the NPFL, ahead of MFM, on a goal difference of +4.
MFM FC vs SUNSHINE STARS
Having scandalously lost to 3SC in Ibadan last Saturday, MFM welcomed Sunshine Stars of Akure, to a packed Agege Stadium, hoping to return to winning ways. Samson Unuanuel’s Sunshine Stars on the other hand, came desperately in need of points having recorded just one point in 2 games.
MFM’s goalkeeper, James Aiyeyemi wasn’t included in the matchday squad having recently lost his mom. So, Folarin Abayomi was handed his NPFL season debut.
Sunshine Stars dominated proceedings in the early in the first-half, but MFM’s goalkeeper, Folarin Abayomi was equal to all of Sunshine’s goal-bound attempt. In the 25th minute, against the run of play, Musa Newman put the ‘prayer warriors’ ahead.
Thirteen Minutes later, Kadiri Samad finished off a trademark Stanley Dimgba run to level scores. Both teams went into halftime levelled at 1-1.
In the second half, the game opened up a bit more as both teams gave good accounts of their selves. The referee, Francis Agbaegbu, might have denied MFM what looked like a penalty, later on in the game when Sunshine’s goalkeeper, Ariyo David tripped an MFM attacker who was through on goal.
However, in the 86th minute, Stephen Odey scored to restore MFM’s advantage, with a cheeky finish.
Tension arose late on, as Sunshine’s captain, Sunday Abbey was sent off for a second bookable offence.
At the end of the day, it was a thrilling match for all present. Everyone got value for their money as MFM moved to second posting on the log.
IFEANYI UBAH FC vs SHOOTING STARS (3SC)
Shooting Stars arrived in Anambra on the back of an impressive win against MFM to play against multinational Ifeanyi Ubah FC. At the end of the first half, the game was already over.
Brazilian, Alberico Barbosa da Silva opened scoring in the 9th minute with a delightful free-kick.
With the visitors having barely had any sniff on goal, Sulieman Mohammed’s cut back allowed Ghanaian, Kofi Nti extend Ifeanyi Ubah’s lead in the 37th minute.
A minute before halftime, Alberico’s corner kick was turned in by Ivorien, Seka Pascal to make it 3-0.
Wasiu Jimoh got his fourth goal of the season, for Shooting Stars in the 58th minute however that could not inspire a comeback from the team as the game ended 3-1.
GIWA FC vs RIVERS UNITED
With only a point from two-games, Giwa knew they needed a result when Rivers United visited. Rivers travelled without Fedrick Obomate who had school exams.
Seeing that Rivers were without their talisman Obomate, Giwa could well have seen their chance of a positive result increase.
Gbenga Ogunbote’s men came flying out of the box in the 8th minute as Moses Opitoke put them ahead.
After several minutes with little moments of excitement, Giwa extended their lead in the 71st minute through David Sunday.
Godbless Asamoah pulled one back with a late goal for Rivers United which wasn’t enough to spark any comeback.
NIGER TORNADOES vs NASARAWA UNITED
Niger Tornadoes hosted Nasarawa Utd at the Lokoja Confluence stadium with one task in mind – to seal their first win of the season. Nasarawa United went into that game without a win yet, this season. They left still searching for one courtesy of Ismaila Gata’s brace
Ismaila Gata broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, with a free-kick to give Abdullahi Biffo’s men the lead.
Gata cemented victory for the confluence side with another goal in the 60th minutes.
As a result of the loss, Nasarawa United are 19th on the table, while Niger Tornadoes are 12th.
WIKKI TOURIST vs PLATEAU UNITED
Heading into this tie in Bauchi, both sides knew a win will see them move above each other.
Wikki had 4 points from three games, while Plateau United had an impressive 6 points for 3 games.
By halftime, Gowdin Obaje had put the game out of Plateau’s reach with a brace, thanks to an Emenike Onuoha and Waziri Christopher assist.
Abubakar Lawal sealed it for Wikki, with a close-range finish, in the 87th minute. This victory takes Wikki Tourist to fourth on the league table, while Plateau United dropped to 9th.
FULL RESULTS OF WEEK 4 NPFL MATCHES:
ABIA WARRIORS 0 vs 0KANO PILLARS
AKWA UTD 3 vs 1HEARTLAND(ANIEKAN EKPE 59’KUFRE EBONG 80’ MCHEAL OKORO 90+’– ONYEBUCI AJUNWA 60’)
LOBI STARS 3 vs0EL KANEMI WARRIORS (TONY OKPOTU 4’55’ pen NANEN IMENGER 69’)
MFM FC 2 vs 1 SUNSHINE STARS (MUSA NEWMAN 25’ STANLEY ODE 86’ – KADIRI SAMAD 38’)
IFEANYI UBAH FC 3 vs 1 SHOOTING STARS (ALBERICO BARBOSA da SILVA 9’ KOFI NTI 37’ SEKA PASCAL 44’ – WASIU JIMOH 58’)
GIWA FC 2vs 1RIVERS UNITED (MOSES OPITOKE 8’ DAVID SUNDAY 71’- GODBLESS ASAMOAH 90’)
NIGER TORNADOES 2vs 0 NASARAWA UNITED (ISMAILA GATA 39’60’)
WARRI WOLVES 0vs 0 ENUGU RANGERS
WIKKI TOURIST 3 vs 0 PLATEAU UNITED (GODWIN OBAJE32’ 35’ABUBAKAR LAWAL 87’ )
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NPFL Roundup done by Adebiyi Tobi, who can be reached via @THETOBBI
