The newly promoted club are becoming the
revelation of the season alongside El Kanemi
Warriors after they beat Enyimba on Sunday to
return to the top of the NPFL
BAYELSA UNITED 1-0 ENYIMBA
The Restoration Boys beat the erstwhile league
leaders Enyimba 1-0 to take up their position
on the log at the Samson Siasia Stadium,
Yenagoa on Sunday.
Bayelsa’s Uche Ihuarulam's 17th minute goal
proved to be the difference. Ladan Bosso’s side
now have 55 points from 33 matches while the
Peoples Elephant are three points behind in
fourth with 52 points from 32 games. Bayelsa
United could hold on to top spot if they beat
neighbours Nembe City on Wednesday. The
first leg result ended 2-0 in the league leaders’
favour. Enyimba will be praying for a slip in
Yenagoa when they host Akwa United at Aba on
Wednesday also in Matchday 34 clash.
LOBI STARS 2-1 KADUNA UNITED
Lobi Stars of Makurdi defeated Kaduna United
2-1 to move to 12th on the log with 45 points
from 33 games after an energy sapping tie
played at the Emmanuel Akume Atongo
Stadium, Katsina Ala.
Two first half goals from Abraham Peters and
Esosa Igbinoba put Lobi in the lead before
Kaduna United reduced the arrears in the
second half to make for a tension soaked
climax at Katsina Ala.
Lobi started faster of the two teams right from
the blast of the referee's whistle and
impressive Douglas Achiv almost scored the
opening goal inside the first two minutes.
The Makurdi Bombers got the curtain raiser in
the 4th minute after another nice work from
Achiv gave lurking Peters the opportunity to
nod into an empty net. Lobi netted again
before the Ben Duamlong tutored Kaduna
United could recover from the initial shock.
Igbinoba was the architect of the second goal
after he drilled the ball beyond the reach of
Kaduna United's goalkeeper.
Lobi hung on to an important victory. The win
shot the Evans Ogenyi coached side to 12th on
the log with 45 points from 33 games while
Kaduna United slipped to 14th with 44 points
from as many matches.
ABS 2-1 HEARTLAND
The privately owned side eased their relegation
worries with a home win at the Kwara State
Stadium, Ilorin.
Abdulrahman Bashir and Thomas Zenke scored
for the hosts before Heartland reduced the
arrears. All the three goals were scored in the
first half.
ABS are 15th on the log with 44 points while
Heartland slid to 11th with the same 45 points
from 33 games.
ABS' head coach, Kabiru Suleiman Dogo told
Goal that the club would be aiming for an
away point in Enugu against the Flying
Antelopes on Wednesday.
He praised his wards for ensuring that
Heartland did not come back from behind the
second time in the match but informed them
that the game against Rangers would be key to
their survival battle.
"We beat Heartland 2-1 but we have a bigger
task at Enugu on Wednesday where we hope to
get a positive result to ensure that we secure
our objective of not going on relegation.
Wednesday will be key for us and my players
know this," Dogo said
3SC 2-1 ENUGU RANGERS
The two traditional clubs never disappointed in
their league tie decided at the Lekan Salami
Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan as the Oluyole
Warriors picked all available points to return
the Flying Antelopes back to Enugu empty
handed.
Shooting Stars’ Edem Francis got the opener
from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute but
their goal lasted only few minutes as
impressive Chinedu Udeagha equalised for
Rangers 10 minutes later.
The Oluyole Warriors dug deep and got the
winning goal in the second half.
The Ibadan side are still last on the log with 39
points from 33 matches while Rangers are still
fifth with 48 points from as many games.
3SC will seek second consecutive away points
in Lafia against equal relegation battlers
Nasarawa United on Wednesday while Rangers
will trade tackles with ABS in Enugu, midweek.
SUNSHINE STARS 1-0 SHARKS
The Akure Gunners edged the Blue Angels 1-0
in a tough league encounter played Sunday
evening.
Philip Auta, who has played for Enyimba,
Heartland and Dolphins scored the winning
goal in the first half. It was some minutes after
his initial effort was inexplicably overruled by
the centre referee.
Sunshine have risen to their best position in
the league this season. They are placed seventh
with 47 points from 33 matches while Sharks
are 13th with 44 points from same number of
matches.
Sunshine and Sharks will play Heartland and El
Kanemi Warriors respectively at Owerri and
Port Harcourt in that order this Wednesday.
EL KANEMI WARRIORS 1-0 GOMBE UNITED
El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri continued
their home invincibility yesterday after they
edged Gombe United 1-0 to rise to second
position on the table with 54 points from 33
games.
The Maiduguri side just gained a return to the
elite division at the start of the season after
some seasons in the lower league, but they
have gone beyond their expectation after
another routine win at the El Kanemi Stadium.
The Zachary Baraje-led club are currently in a
CAF Champions League spot with 54 points
from as many games which is an opposite of
their modest target of staying in the top flight
at the beginning of the season.
The will be hoping to consolidate on their
league form away to Sharks in Port Harcourt
on Wednesday while Gombe United who are
yet to secure an away point this season will be
home to Dolphins on Wednesday also.
AKWA UNITED 1-1 NASARAWA UNITED
The Uyo side slipped to another home draw
again against Nasarawa United at the Uyo
Township Stadium on Sunday.
The draw has slotted Akwa United into the
drop zone. They are 16th with 43 points from
33 matches while Nasarawa United are 17th
with 43 points from same encounters.
Victor Namo scored his 14th goal of the
season at Uyo while in-form striker and one of
the closest challengers to the top scorer's
award, Mfon Udoh was also on the scorer'
chart. He scored his 13th goal of the campaign
Akwa United will visit Aba to play Enyimba and
the Lafia team will await their guests, 3SC in a
must win match.
WIKKI TOURISTS 3-0 NEMBE CITY
The Bauchi side whipped fellow relegation
battlers 3-0 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
Stadium to move up just by a step on the log.
Wikki are 18th on the log with 42 points from
33 matches while Nembe are in race against
time. They are 19th with 42 points from 33
matches also.
Wikki will seek another favourable result to
wounded Warri Wolves while Nembe will also
pray for good display against Bayelsa United in
their South South derby. Both matches hold on
Wednesday.
KANO PILLARS 2-0 WARRI WOLVES
Two goals from Rabiu Ali was all Sai Masu
needed to turned back the resistance of Warri
Wolves at the Kaduna Township Stadium where
the reigning league champions were banished
to after alleged crowd violence in Kano.
Ali's double took his tally for the season to 13
goals and he is barely a goal behind hotshot,
Nasarawa United's Victor Namo who has fired
home 14 goals.
Pillars win lifted them up to third on the table
with 54 points from 32 matches while Warri
Wolves slipped on the log further to ninth with
46 points from 32 games.
Pillars will play against Kaduna United in the
club's supposed new home for the rest of the
season while Warri Wolves will welcome Wikki
Tourists to Warri on Wednesday.
DOLPHINS 1-0 KWARA UNITED
A last gasp strike from Emem Eduok handed all
three points to Dolphins in a tough home clash
against Kwara United at the Liberation
Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The Afonja Warriors were almost running away
with a point but momentary loss of
concentration caused them to lose the match.
Dolphins are eighth with 47 points from 33
matches while Kwara United lost more ground
after the defeat. They are now sixth with 47
points from 32 matches.
Dolphins visit Gombe United while Kwara
United entertain Lobi Stars at Ilorin on
Wednesday.
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