Nigerian Football
BEN IROHA HITS A MILESTONE
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Left sided defender, Benedict Iroha who also featured in the golden age of the Super Eagles may not be a scorer of note. But the few he scored became landmarks.
In his Super Eagles’ career, which spanned eight years from 1990 to 1998 and involving 50 appearances, he scored just once. But it was a goal that enabled Nigeria qualify for the final of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations which the Super Eagles won.
Similarly, when he opened scoring for the then Iwuanyanwu Nationale in a 2-1 defeat of Stores on the opening day of the Nigerian Professional League, Iroha entered the record books at the first professional football league scorer in Nigeria.
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
Former Nigerian champions, Enyimba were coasting to a comfortable 3-0 lead before the game got enveloped by darkness.
The game could not be completed after 75 minutes when the floodlights of the arena suddenly went off.
According to a post on Enymba x-handle, the match will resume at 8.00 am on Monday “ as agreed by both teams and the match officials.”
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 1-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
Heartland finally got into winning ways on Sunday after the Owerri side secured a 2-0 win over Niger Tornadoes.
The club, under former Super Eagles’ assistant coach, Emmanuel Amuneke had gone four matches without a win, finding themselves swimming in the murky waters of relegation.
A brace by Michael Ogu has lifted the club which climbed up to the 16th position. They had begun the season badly losing at home to Enyimba and failing to win any of the subsequent three matches.
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 1-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
Titanic battle as Super Cup winners Zamalek drawn to face Enyimba
Players boycott Libyan national team
Pressure mounts on Libya ahead of Super Eagles clash
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
International Football7 days agoWhy FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o
-
AFCON2 days agoEguavoen unfolds Super Eagles’ squad for back-to-back duel with Libya
-
International Football3 days agoPortugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad
-
Nigerian Football7 days agoThere are paedophiles among Nigerian coaches, former Super Eagles player alleges
-
AFCON2 days agoLibyans jubilate over Osimhen’s injury
-
Nigerian Football1 week agoHalf-time reflection of Gusau’s tenure at Nigeria Football Federation
-
World Cup1 week agoFIFA’s big stick falls on Argentina
-
Nigerian Football1 week agoAmuneke regrets 1-0 away defeat by Shooting Stars