Nigerian Football
RABIU ALI, SUNUSI, TASIU CHASE UDOH FOR NPFL TOP SCORER AWARD
The trio of Kano Pillars playmaker Rabiu Ali, Katsina United winger Tasiu Lawal and Nasarawa United’s Sunusi Ibrahim have put themselves in the running for the top scorer’s award in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) writes George Akpayen for www.npfl.ng
The three players are currently on eight goals
apiece, two behind Akwa United forward Mfon Udoh.
Last matchday, Rabiu Ali set things rolling for
the Kano club with a goal from the spot as they cruised past Delta Force 3-0
while the impressive Sunusi who has been the mainstay in Nasarawa United’s
attack this term netted in the disappointing 2-2 at home to Go Round FC.
Leading scorer Udoh did not get among the goals
in Akwa United’s 2-2 draw against Abia Warriors, and will now be looking over
his shoulders with the footbeats of chasing pack sounding loud behind him on
the final day of the regular season. Tasiu also failed to score for Katsina
United last weekend when Katsina United fell 1-2 at MFM FC.
This Sunday, the quartet of Ali, Sunusi, Tasiu
and Udoh will have the chance to add to their tally.
Udoh will hope Akwa United head coach Rafael
Everton hands him a starting place in their dead-rubber game at FC Ifeanyiubah
who will hope to land a Super-6 place with a win while Ali heads out of Kano
with his teammates to face relegation-threatened Abia Warriors. Interestingly,
Udoh scored the goal that won Akwa United the full points against FC
Ifeanyiubah in the reverse fixture in Uyo.
Sunusi, also in the race for the most assists
this season, will be available for Nasarawa United’s trip to the northeast town
of Damaturu to play against relegated Yobe Desert Stars.
As for Tasiu, he will enjoy the comfort of
playing at their home turf the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium when playoffs-chasing
Enyimba come into town.
THE OUTSIDERS MAY NOT COUNT ANY LONGER
Apart from the quartet who now are genuine
contenders for the top scorer’s award, there are a list of players who are
regarded as outsiders in the race.
Yobe Stars striker Philip Auta has accounted for
seven of his club’s 10 goals this season, and unfortunately could not save the
Damaturu side from getting relegated. Auta can only pull off what would be a
miracle if he scores loads of goals as it will be difficult to upstage the like
of Udoh who will still feature in the playoffs in the coming days.
There are nine players on six goals apiece.
Usman Musa (Gombe United), Lobi’s Yaya Kone, Ndifreke Effiong of Akwa United,
Abba Umar (Wikki Tourists), Rangers midfielder Godwin Aguda, Rivers United’s
Ossy Martins, Martins Usule of Katsina United, Enyimba defender Ifeanyi
Anaemena and Abia Warriors striker Samson Obi.
Realistically, only Aguda and Effiong are still
in the race as outsiders since their clubs have secured their places in the
Super-6. The door into the contest is slightly open for the pair of Anaemena
and Kone, only if Enyimba and Lobi reach the playoffs at the end of Sunday’s
matches.
THE
LEADING SCORERS
10 GOALS
Mfon Udoh (Akwa United)
8 GOALS
Tasiu Lawal (Katsina United)
Sunusi Ibrahim (Nasarawa United)
Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars)
7 GOALS
Philip Auta (Yobe Stars)
6 GOALS
Usman Musa (Gombe United)
Yaya Kone (Lobi Stars)
Ndifreke Effiong (Akwa United)
Abba Umar (Wikki Tourists)
Godwin Aguda (Rangers)
Ossy Martins (Rivers United)
Martins Usule (Katsina United)
Ifeanyi Anaemena (Enyimba)
Samson Obi (Abia Warriors)
The miserable run of Akwa United and Ikorodu City came to an end after six games in the Nigerian Premier League this season. Both teams were initially glued at the bottom of the league table.
They now got respite as Akwa United beat Kano Pillar by 2-0 while Ikorodu City even did what could be considered an upset, beating Bendel Insurance 3-0.
Remo Stars bounced back to the top of the log after a 3-0 defeat of Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars are yet to get their rhythm this season, playing a barren draw with Enyimba in Ibadan.
Kwara United who got their first full points of the season last week after a 1-0 defeat of Remo Stars could not consolidate as they were beaten 1-0 by Abia Warriors.
Heartland under Emmanuel Amuneke are gradually recovering as they got a valuable away draw against El-Kanemi Warriors.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is 75 years since Nigeria’s national football team first played an international match. That was on 8 October 1949 when the first set of Nigeria’s assembly on their return voyage stopped over in Freetown and engaged Sierra Leone in an international football match. Nigeria won 2-0, setting a chain of positive results on 8 October.
The country never lost any competitive duel on that date. More significantly, the Super Eagles first qualified for the World Cup on an 8 October date.
That was in 1993 when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria in the quest for USA ‘94 World Cup.
Nigeria became the first English-speaking African country to qualify for the World Cup. Another significance of the October 8 match at the July 5 Stadium, Algiers is that Nigeria were unbeaten for the first time by Algeria at home.
The only deviation from the 8 October Magic was in 2015 when Nigeria lost 2-0 to Congo in a friendly match.
Twenty-six years after Nigeria’s debut international match, one of Africa’s biggest football nations, Egypt fell to the October 8 magic, losing 4-0 to Nigeria in the last stage of the triangular World Cup qualifying series for Argentina ’78.
Up till October 15, 2013, when Ghana beat Egypt 6-1 in Kumasi, the October 8, 1977 duel with Nigeria remained Egypt’s biggest loss in a World Cup qualifying match.
Before the 1977 duel, Nigeria in 1963 played a friendly match with Liberia in Monrovia. The October 8 magic was active, even in an away match. Nigeria drew 2-2 in their very first encounter with Liberia. It was shortly after the team had, through a protest, upturned a victory by Guinea to pick Nigeria’s very first African Nations’ Cup ticket.
Little wonder then that when FIFA suspended Nigeria in 2010, the world governing body provisionally lifted the ban on October 8!
Nigeria on 8 October
- 1949 – Freetown (Friendly) Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria
- 1963 – Monrovia (Friendly) Liberia 2-2 Nigeria
- 1977 – Lagos (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 4-0 Egypt
- 1993 – Algiers (World Cup qualifier) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria… qualify for USA ‘94.
- 2005 – Abuja (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 5-1 Zimbabwe
- 2010 – FIFA, in apparent respect to the 8 October magic, provisionally lifted a ban imposed on Nigeria.
- 2011 – Abuja (African Nations Cup qualifier) Nigeria 2-2 Guinea. Although undefeated, Nigeria failed to make it to the 2012 African Nations Cup.
- 2015 – D.R. Congo beat Nigeria 2-0 in Visé, Belgium. The ‘October 8 Magic’ is finally broken.
Rivers United have launched themselves to the top of the log at the end of the match day 5 of the Nigeria Premier League. The Port Harcourt side beat Akwa United 2-1 to go afloat after initial leaders, Remo Stars crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.
It was Remo Stars’ first defeat in the season. Rivers United are now with 13 points. Stephen Mayo put Rivers United ahead after 31 minutes. But it turned a temporary lead as Akwa United bounced back almost at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the second half.
Friday Apollos levelled up for Akwa United before Ndifreke Effiong Udo scored the winner in the 85th minute.
Sunday Results
- Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
- Rivers United 2-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
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