Tag 2017/2018 NPFL

Review
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, June 11, 2018 (NAN) Ten-man Akwa United defeated hosts Yobe Desert Stars 1-0 in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 24 fixture in Damaturu on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the result meant the Uyo-based team reduced the gap between them and league leaders Lobi Stars to two points.

The Promise Keepers, who had Ayobami Asekunowo sent off for a second bookable offence in the first half, scored 14 minutes from the end through Micheal Ibe who jabbed home Matthew Etim’s cross.

Abdu Maikaba’s men remain in second position on the table with 43 points, while Yobe Desert Stars still remain deeply rooted at the relegation area in the 19th position.

At the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, fans were served up a thriller as hosts Kano Pillars and Rivers United battled to a 1-1 draw.

Chikere Osita nodded home the opening goal for Rivers United on 12 minutes after an inviting cross by Markson Ojobo.

Junior Lokosa, making his return to Pillars’ starting line-up after recently spending time with the Super Eagles, equalised for the home team two minutes after the break.

It was Lokosa’s 19th goal of the campaign.

Rivers United however finished the game with 10 men after Musa Newman was sent off in the 77th minute.

Pillars extended their unbeaten run to seven games following the draw as they held firm to the third spot with 38 points.

Rivers United, on the other hand, are with 34 points and moved a step up to ninth on the NPFL log.

Shedrack Oghali’s 69th minute strike condemned leaders Lobi Stars to their second consecutive defeat at Go Round FC.

They had gone down 0-1 against Enyimba in a rescheduled Match Day 21 encounter in midweek.

The result saw Go Round FC with 29 points leap out of the relegation area to 16th position on the log.

Elsewhere, champions Plateau United needed a late Saidu Salisu penalty kick to earn a share of the spoils against Abia Warriors in Jos.

Salisu gave Kennedy Boboye’s men the lead from a free-kick five minutes after the break, but Sunday Adetunji restored parity for the visitors in the 68th minute.

Abia Warriors took the lead for the first time in the game two minutes later when Samson Obi fired them ahead with his ninth goal of the campaign.

Plateau United were awarded a penalty kick five minutes from the end when Kabiru Ayinde fouled Tosin Omoyele inside the box, but Reuben Bala’s effort was saved by Uche Okafor.

The home fans got a reprieve when their side were awarded another penalty kick in the 90th minute which was converted by Salisu.

Both the champions and Abia Warriors remain in fourth and eighth positions respectively.

Goals from Uche John and Joseph Osadiaye helped Enyimba International beat Katsina United 2-0 at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

Enyimba climbed to fifth on the log, while Katsina United dropped to the seventh position.

In other results, Sunshine Stars who handed starting spots to two of their new signings, Kunle Odunlami and Ajibola Otegbeye, beat Nasarawa United 2-0 in Akure.

Jide Fatokun and Sikiru Alimi got the goals.

It was the Owena Waves’ third win in 11 league outings against the Solid Miners.

The Akure-based team who are still struggling in the relegation area moved just a step to 18th on the log, while Nasarawa slipped to the 12th position.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Match
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, June 11, 2018 (NAN) Kwara United Football Club returned to winning ways on Sunday when they defeated visiting FC IfeanyiUbah 1-0 in a Match Day 23 fixture in the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex in Ilorin.

FC IfeanyiUbah’s striker Pascal Seka stunned the home fans by scoring what should have been the opening goal with just three minutes into the game.

But after the centre referee had pointed to the centre for a goal, only for his second assistant to tell him something which led to the goal being declared offside.

A player’s long range effort had hit the woodwork and the rebound fell to Seka, who wasted no time to put the ball beyond Jonah Usman in goal for Kwara United.

The home side gathered momentum and were always dangerous on the attack, but their poor showing in front of goal won’t allow them to score.

Sunday Chinedu benefitted from a Mohammed Rabiu’s corner kick to head home the only goal of the match in the 14th minute to give the Harmony Boys the maximum points.

Kwara United would have doubled the lead in the 29th minute but Sodiq Abubakar cleared the ball on the line to give the Anambra Warriors hopes of equalising.

Three minutes later, Segun Alebiosu missed a sitter for Kwara United when he wasted an opportunity inside the goal area.

NAN reports that Kwara United were wasteful upfront for most of the game’s second stanza, while FC IfeanyiUbah players and technical crew were always unhappy with the assistant referees’ calls.

Speaking after the game, coach of FC IfeanyiUbah, Ladan Bosso, said his team would bounce back from the three consecutive losses they have had.

He said this was because it was not a new thing for teams to have a dip in form.

“I wasn’t comfortable with today’s officiating but the game has been won.

“If we have had 40 per cent and Kwara United with 60 percent, we would have beaten them today.

“But we will be a better team after the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup break,” Bosso said.

His Kwara United counterpart, Abubakar Bala, was full of praises for his players.

He said the game was a difficult one for them because they created a lot of chances in the first half which they failed to convert.

The former Niger Tornadoes FC coach said the support from the people of the state and the club’s management had really helped his work.

“Since I came, the welfare of the players has changed and this has really helped us too,” Bala.

NAN reports that the victory has now taken Kwara United out of the relegation zone, at least for now.

They moved from the 17th position to the 15th position, with 29 points from 24 games.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Review
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, June 3, 2018 (NAN) MFM Football Club on Sunday stunned hosts FC IfeanyiUbah 1-0 in Nnewi as they recorded the only away win of Match Day 23 in the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Balogun Alade grabbed the winner in the 59th minute to end the Lagos side’s two-game losing run.

The result meant they moved from 16th to an impressive 11th position with 30 points on the NPFL 20-club table, while FC IfeanyiUbah slipped to the 15th spot.

At the Lafia Township Stadium, Nasarawa United edged out Enyimba International FC of Aba 4-3 in a highly entertaining encounter.

Nasarawa United’s captain Emmanuel Makama grabbed a brace from the penalty spot during the game, while Nojeem Olukokun and Micheal Okoyoh got the other goals for the home team.

Abdulrahman Bashir, Chinedu Udeagha and Freedom Omofoman were all on target for Enyimba.

Lobi Stars continued their chase for a first NPFL title with a comfortable 3-0 win against Yobe Desert Stars at the Aper Aku Stadium.

Veteran forward David Tyavkase, Augustine Ogunye and Cletus Itodo were all on target for the Makurdi club in the encounter.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men late in the first half after top scorer Samad Kadiri was sent off for elbowing Yobe Desert Stars’ Babatunde Solomon.

Solomon Ogbeide’s men sit at the top of the standings with 43 points, while the visiting side dropped to just a spot above the relegation area on 16th position.

Akwa United moved to the second position on 38 points following a 2-0 home win against Niger Tornadoes in Uyo.

The  Promise Keepers got their goals courtesy of Paul Obata and Gabriel Wassa in the 19th and 46th minutes respectively.

The Minna-based clubside slipped to the sixth position on 34 points.

Kano Pillars dropped to the third position after they held hosts Abia Warriors to a 0-0 draw in Umuahia, while the hosts are on the seventh spot in the NPFL log,

Champions Plateau United went down in a 1-0 defeat at El-Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri.

Sunday Anthony netted the winning goal a minute after the hour mark to move the Maiduguri  side to 13th position, while Plateau United dropped to fifth.

Former champions Rangers International lost 0-1 to hosts Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium with Destiny Ashadi scoring the only goal of the game on the half hour mark.

Rangers finished the game with 10 players after defender Pape Ousmane was sent off nine minutes from the end for dissent.

The result saw Katsina United moving to the fourth position, while the Enugu-based side dropped to 10th on the log.

In Port Harcourt, Sunshine Stars still deeply rooted in the relegation zone boosted their survival hopes by holding Rivers United to a goalless draw.

The hosts remained in the eighth spot on 33 points.

Bottom club Heartland beat fellow relegation strugglers Go Round FC 1-0  in Owerri through Zeidine Ahimeye’s strike.

Wikki Tourists recorded a 1-0 win against Kwara United, with Ocheme Edoh netting the decisive goal in the 11th minute to move the Bauchi-based clubside to the 14th spot.

The Ilorin-based clubside still languish in the relegation zone in the 17th position.

NAN also reports that a total of 17 goals were scored in the 10 matches played, with seven home wins, two goalless draws and an away win recorded.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Review
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, May 20, 2018 (NAN) Leaders Lobi Stars returned to winning ways on Sunday after their midweek slump against champions Plateau United, defeating Rangers International 1-0 at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Anthony Okpotu, who has endured an underwhelming 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League campaign this time around, scored the decisive goal.

Okpotu who was last season’s top scorer scored from a freekick in the 64th minute.

The Makurdi club have now garnered 40 points from 21 games, while Rangers are with 30 points from 22 games and have slipped to the seventh position on the log.

Kano Pillars moved to the second position after they held hosts Nasarawa United to a 0-0 draw in Lafia, with the Solid Miners maintaining their 14th position on the log.

The biggest result of the day however saw Niger Tornadoes of Minna record the weekend’s only away win, ending FC IfeanyiUbah’s six-game unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory in Nnewi.

Tornadoes scored first in the 72nd minute from a fine Mubarak Ejiogu strike.

Substitute Godwin Obaje levelled scores for the Anambra Warriors in the 90th minute but Bashir Usman stunned the home fans by grabbing the winner four minutes into stoppage time.

The result meant Niger Tornadoes leapfrogged to an impressive fourth position, while FC IfeanyiUbah remained on the 11th spot.

Champions Plateau United went down to a 1-0 defeat against Rivers United at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Osita Chikere netted the winning goal in the 16th minute off a freekick by Bernard Ovoke.

Kennedy Boboye’s men dropped to the third position on the table following the defeat, while Rivers United climbed to the sixth position on the log.

MFM FC lost 1-3 against Kwara United in Ilorin in spite of putting up a brave performance in the encounter.

The hosts who were battling to avoid the drop went ahead in the 16th minute through Segun Alebiosu following a blunder by Sunday Chinedu.

Sikiru Olatunbosun equalised for the visitors 10 minutes later, while Kwara United regained the lead from the penalty kick spot three minutes after the break.

Stephen Alfred scored for his ninth goal of the season, while Sunday Odudu scored the third for the hosts 15 minutes from time.

Kwara United who are still in the relegation zone moved one step up to 18th following their victory, while MFM FC maintained their 13th position on the log.

At the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, hosts Katsina United secured a slim 1-0 win against Sunshine Stars.

Tasiu Lawal grabbed the winning goal in the 61st minute after he was set up by Joshua Agboola.

Katsina United climbed to the fifth spot on the log, while the Akure-based club side still languish in the relegation zone in 19th.

Wikki Tourists recorded a 3-1 win against Yobe Desert Stars in Jos.

Nasiru Jibrin, Ocheme Edoh and Elijah Ani got the goals for the hosts, while Samuel Agba scored the consolation strike for Yobe Desert Stars.

The result meant the Bauchi-based clubside moved out of the relegation area to the 16th position, while Yobe Desert Stars maintained their 12th position on the 20-team NPFL table.

NAN also reports that a total of 14 goals were scored in seven games played on Sunday with five home wins, a draw and an away victory recorded.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

NPFL
Kano, May ‎13, 2018 (NAN) Kano Pillars Football Club beat visiting Katsina United 3-1 on Sunday to earn the maximum points in a week 21 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The match which was played at the Sani Abacha‎ Stadium in Kano was watched by large number spectators.

Kano Pillars’ striker Junior Lokosa opened scoring in the eighth minute, while Nwagua Nyima doubled the lead in the 37th minute of the entertaining encounter.

Lokosa scored the third goal of the match in the match 48th minute to increase his season’s tally to 18 goals from 20 games.

Destiny Ashade scored a consolation goal in the 57th minute.(NAN)

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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Disappointment

By Benson Ezugwu
Calabar, May 10, 2018 (NAN) Usman Abdallah, the Assistant Coach of Enyimba International Football Club of Aba, says drawing at home with visiting FC IfeanyiUbah of Nnewi is not just about dropping two points.

The coach, while expressing his disappointment with Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, said they planned to win the match.

“We really planned to win the match before our next game in the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup competition. At least, that would have boosted our morale,’’ he said.

“But I think I must give credit to the opposing team who stood their ground to deny us victory, ‘’ he added.

Speaking also, Ladan Bosso, the Head Coach of FC Ifeanyi Ubah, praised his boys for their resoluteness.

“It was a good game and I am happy with the result,‘’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the rescheduled week 17 match of the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the visitors opened scoring in the 40th minute.

Pascal Saki capitalised on a mix-up between an Enyimba defender and goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa to hand FC IfeanyiUbah the lead.

However, the home team came back stronger in the second half pushing for the equaliser.

They were rewarded in the 65th minute when the visiting goalkeeper initially handled the ball but surprisingly pushed it into his own net.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Review
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, April 26, 2018 (NAN) Super Eagles goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa kept a clean slate for the second consecutive game as Enyimba International Football Club of Aba recorded a 2-0 win against Go Round FC.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match at the U.J. Esuene Stadium on Wednesday in Calabar was a rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 13 fixture.

Ezenwa, who was voted man of the match in Enyimba’s 0-0 draw against Wikki Tourists last Sunday, has now featured in four NPFL games for the Aba giants this season.

Joseph Osadiaye who has barely featured for the People’s Elephants this term after returning from the injury he picked in a pre-season game, got the opening goal in the 51st minute.

Bashir made the points safe by grabbing the second in the 63rd minute with Ibrahim Mustapha setting him up for the goal.

Paul Aigbogun’s men, who still have two games in hand, moved from eighth to fifth on the table following the win.

Go Round FC, who are battling hard to escape relegation, dropped a place from 17th to 18th. (NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Review
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, April 22, 2018 (NAN) Lobi Stars Football Club on Sunday underlined their 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title credentials by edging a tightly-contested encounter against 10-man visiting Kano Pillars 1-0 in Makurdi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ayo Saka scored the winning goal nine minutes from time at the Aper Aku Stadium, nodding home Ebube Duru’s cross.

Kano Pillars were reduced to 10 men a minute before the hosts scored the opening goal, with left-back Chris Madaki receiving the marching orders for a second bookable offence.

Solomon Ogbeide’s men now sit at the top of the standings with 33 points, six more than second-placed Katsina United who beat visiting El-Kanemi Warriors 1-0 at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium.

Destiny Ashadi’s 53rd minute penalty kick gave the hosts the maximum points in the game.

At the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna, Niger Tornadoes extended their unbeaten streak to eight games by beating Yobe Desert Stars 1-0.

Andrew Ikefe scored the goal in the last minute of added time as Tornadoes leapt to third on the NPFL log with 27 points.

The Desert Stars slipped to the ninth position on the log.

In Uyo, Akwa United bounced back from their exit from the CAF Confederation Cup to edge visiting Sunshine Stars of Akure 2-1.

Ifeanyi Ifeanyi opened scoring for the home team from a free-kick three minutes from half time, while Franklyn Sasere restored parity for Sunshine Stars two minutes after the restart.

However, Victor Mbaoma scored the winner two minutes from time to move the Uyo-based side to fourth, while the Akure-based team slumped to 16th on the log.

Also, Nasarawa United put an end to Abia Warriors’ seven-game unbeaten streak with a 1-0 win at the Lafia Township Stadium.

Shammasu Mohammed scored the decisive goal a minute before the half hour mark as the Lafia-based team moved to 11th on the log with 22 points.

Both sides were only separated by goal difference, with Abia Warriors in 10th.

In another match day 18 encounter, Kwara United extended their unbeaten run under a new coach to five games after being held to a 1-1 draw by Go Round in Ilorin.

Stephen Alfred put the hosts ahead in the 16th minute, his eighth goal of the campaign.

Azu Chile missed a penalty kick for Go Round in the 53rd minute, but Chidi Nwachukwu ensured they picked their first away point by grabbing the equaliser 14 minutes from time.

Kwara United still languish in the relegation area on 19th position, while Go Round are also at the bottom of the NPFL 20-team log on 17th.

Enyimba held Wikki Tourists to a 0-0 draw at the New Jos Stadium, improving their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games.

The Aba-based clubside are on eight, while the Bauchi-based team are on 15th.

The Oriental derby between hosts FC IfeanyiUbah and Rangers International FC ended in a goalless draw to leave both sides on 12th and seventh respectively.

A total of nine goals were scored in eight matches played on Match Day 18, with five home wins and three draws recorded.

Heartland of Owerri hosts Champions Plateau United, while MFM FC take on Rivers United on Monday.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

League
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, April 22, 2018 (NAN) Kwara United Football Club’s upward climb on the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) table suffered another setback on Sunday in Ilorin, after a 1-1 draw with visiting Go Round FC.

Kwara United started the game on a good note, and with high hopes of not only winning the match, but also reducing their goals deficit.

But the team’s good display ended with the goal they scored in the 16th minute, through Stephen Alfred, who increased his goals tally to eight in the 18-week-old 2017/018 season.

Kwara United could have built positively on that goal, but the Alfred, Sunday Odudu and Tijjani Adamu all lost a string of begging scoring chances.

Those misses gradually brought back into the game Go Round FC, as they took over completely, and would have leveled up before the interval.

The highly enterprising and more coordinated Go Round FC team from of Omoku in Rivers extremely exposed the inadequacy of the stamina and technical level of the hosts.

The visitors lost the chance to level up in the 53rd minute, with the brilliance of goalkeeper Jonah Usman put to test, stopping a well-taken penalty kick by Chile Azu.

Go Round FC’s Atinushola Olafimihan, a 57^th minute replacement for Odinaka Onyirumba, brought finesse to the game and was always dangerous moving forward with his mesmerising display.

Akobundu Ebuka forced Jonah Usman to one of the saves of the season in the 62nd minute.

In the 76th minute, Olafimihan’s introduction paid off when he went past Kwara United defenders and his cross met Chidi Nwachukwu, who perfectly turned it in for the equaliser.

Speaking after the game, the coach of Kwara United FC, Abubakar Bala, said the result was disappointing. “But such happens in football.

“We created many scoring opportunities in the first half but we couldn’t utilise them.

“They got their chance in the second half and they utilised it. We were punished for not taking our chances.

“The difference between the first and second halfs was that they grabbed their opportunity but we didn’t take ours. If we had done, we would have led at least 3-0 in the first stanza,” Bala said.

The former coach of Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna said however that he had told his club management he was not satisfied with the crop of players he met on ground.

“We have been managing the players to see how we can end the first round of the season on a high.

“We will reinforce the team in the transfer window and you will see a better Kwara United,” Bala added.

His Go Round FC counterpart, Ngozi Elechi, said he noticed Kwara United lacked energy in the first half and he had to bring in players to change the pace.

“I told my players not to concede more than one goal in the first half if they must concede, so that we can come at Kwara United in the second half.

“I changed our formation to a 4-3-3 and opened up the game.

“But I came to this game for a win because I was sure of the quality in my team.

“However, we have to go with this and plan for the next game.

“I recruited all our players from the Nigeria National League (NNL) to mould them to stars and for people to know there are quality players in the second tier.

“We have not been taking our chances both home and away and that is why we are where we are on the log,” Elechi said.

He promised he would address the issue around his attacking line when the transfer window opens.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that with the draw, Kwara United now have 18 points, and have two away matches upcoming.

They are up against Plateau United on Wednesday and Yobe Desert Stars on Sunday.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)