Nigerian Football
High riding Plateau go atop as Remo Stars taste second league defeat
The 2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Plateau United moved to the top of the table after an impressive 3-1 win over hard fighting Shooting Stars in a MatchDay 13 encounter decided in Jos on Wednesday.
With leaders Rivers United not playing until Thursday, Fidelis Ilechukwu’s wards took full advantage by recording their fifth consecutive win.
Mohammed Zulkifilu gave Plateau the lead in the 8th minute but Seyi Okeowo’s 42nd minute goal for 3SC ensured that both sides were level at the break.
Plateau United however claimed maximum points through goals from Albert Hilary and Nenrot Silas (P) in the second half.
Three days after suffering their first loss of the season, it became two losses in a row for Remo Stars after they were beaten 0-1 by Akwa United in Ikenne.
David Onovo netted the only goal of the game in the 28th minute after the Remo defence failed to clear a corner kick. Remo stay in third while Akwa United move to fifth.
Kwara United moved to 4th on the log after a 1-0 win over Enyimba in Ilorin.
Alao Danbani headed home in the 17th minute after former Enyimba striker Samad Kadiri had seen his effort tipped onto the post by goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo. Finidi George’s Enyimba who were 5th before Wednesday’s action now drop to 7th on the log.
Kano Pillars had their bad run compounded after Wikki Tourists came from behind to inflict a 2-1 defeat on Salisu Yusuf’s men at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.
Pillars drew the first blood through Gabriel Jeremiah in the 15th minute but Wikki nicked it in the end courtesy of Promise Damala’s goals in the 82nd and 84th minute. Pillars drop to 15th on the log, just one point above the relegation zone.
Niger Tornadoes left it late to beat Sunshine Stars 1-0 at the Abuja National Stadium. Munir Idris scored in the 93rd minute to leapfrog Sunshine Stars on the log and give themselves more hope in the early race against relegation.
There was also a late goal in Lagos as MFM FC ended a streak of seven winless games after they recorded a 1-0 win over Katsina United at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. Midfielder Tunde Azeez scored the all important goal nine minutes from time to lift MFM off the foot of the table at least till other games are decided on Thursday.
Pick of Thursday’s games will see Imama Amapakabo and Stanley Eguma go face-to-face as Rivers United face Abia Warriors in Okigwe while Rangers will entertain Nasarawa United in a happy hunting ground for the Solid Miners, Nnewi. Heartland are home to Lobi Stars
Wednesday’s Results
Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Sunshine Stars
Kwara United 1-0 Enyimba
MFM 1-0 Katsina United
Remo Stars 0-1 Akwa United
Plateau Utd 3-1 Shooting Stars
Wikki Tourists 2-1 Kano Pillars
Thursday’s Fixtures
Dakkada FC vs Gombe United
Rangers International vs Nasarawa United
Abia Warriors vs Rivers United
Heartland vs Lobi Stars
-npfl
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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