Nigerian Football
Despite loss in Ibadan Rivers are still flowing in glory as Akuneto hits 18 goal mark
Champions-elect, Rivers United forward, Chijioke Akuneto netted twice to open a two goals gap in the race for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)2021/22 Golden Boot.
It was the strikers 18th goal of the season with his nearest contenders on 16 goals.
But his goals couldn’t save Rivers United from defeat as Shooting Stars of Ibadan won the encounter 3-2 to ease their relegation worries.
A six-minute spell in the game produced three goals as Emmanuel Lucky and Opeoluwa Olufemi both scored for Shooting Stars in the 20th and 25th minute respectively before Chijioke Akuneto – with his 17th goal of the season pulled one back for Rivers United.
Moses Omoduemuke gave Shooting a two-goal advantage before Akuneto scored again to close the game at 3-2 with his 18th of the season which has put him in a good stead for the top scorers gong with a game left of the season.
Remo Stars set themselves in pole position for third place and a continental slot by defeating Sunshine Stars 1-0 in Akure.
Dayo Ojo’s rasping effort in the 58th minute ensured that Remo grabbed the points despite a Sunshine Stars late offensive.
Gombe United were 1-0 winners over visiting Rangers International who knew if their continental hopes were to stay alive, they had to get points in Gombe – that didn’t happen.
Flying Eagles star Ibrahim Yahaya set the Pantami Stadium alight with a well-taken goal in the 47th minute to earn all the points available for his team.
At the Muhammad Dikko Stadium in Katsina, Katsina United made light work of Plateau United with a comfortable 2-0 win.
A much-changed Plateau United side, who have already sewn up the second spot put up a resilient fight in the first half that ended goalless but got beat by two second-half goals.
Young striker Mustapha Salisu’s brace in the 55th and 78th minute meant all the three points to Katsina and a quantum leap towards their quest to avoid relegation.
A brilliant game of football in Uyo saw Akwa United share the spoils with Abia Warriors in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
It was a ding-dong affair at the Nest of Champions as the two teams went at each other’s jugular.
Naipe Akpesiri gave the hosts the lead in the sixth minute before Godwin Obaje restored parity in the 23rd minute. Wisdom Fernando ensued Akwa United went ahead at the break with a 32nd-minute goal but Michael Ibe spoilt the party for the former league champions with the equaliser 12 minutes before time.
Niger Tornadoes had to dig deep to come from behind to earn a 2-1 win over Heartland of Owerri which effectively sealed their status in the NPFL for another season.
Heartland was top in patches in the first half and the second half and deservedly took the lead in the 84th minute through Nnamdi Egbujuo.
The goal seemed to wake Niger Tornadoes up as they launched a flurry of attacks that culminated in two goals.
Ifeanyi Okoye responded after his team went behind inside two minutes to tie the game before getting his second and Tornadoes’ winner in the 90th minute.
Kwara United, who are still in the hunt for a continental slot made light work of already relegated MFM in Ilorin hitting the Lagos side for three.
Junior Lokosa opened the floodgates in the 15th minute as Adesina Gata joined the act with a classy finish three minutes later to give Kwara United a soft cushion going into the break.
Samad Kadiri completed the rout with five minutes left of the encounter to boost Kwara’s hopes of going to the continent even though Remo Stars, who are in a direct race with Kwara United also produced a brilliant performance to nick all three points in Akure.
Aba side Enyimba faltered at home and kissed goodbye their fight for third place after receiving a 2-0 hiding at the hands of visiting Dakadda at the Enyimba International Stadium.
A goal in each half by Arise Ogundare in the 56th and Ezekiel Eddiong in the 90th minute meant Finidi George and his wards finished their home campaign with a loss and failed to qualify to play on the continent.
Nasarawa United edged Kano Pillars 1-0 in Jos as King Osanga popped up to prod home from Chinedu Ohanachom’s assist to earn maximum points. At the same time, Lobi had to dig deep to come from behind to beat Wikki Tourists in Makurdi.
Nanen Imenger had initially put Lobi ahead in the 17th minute but two quick-fire goals in three minutes by Ibrahim Salisu meant the visitors were ahead at the break.
Anthony Agbaji restored parity for Lobi from the spot in the 60th minute beating Galadima in goal for Wikki.
Another spot-kick for Lobi in the 89th minute, taken by Agbaji was saved by Galadima but Utim Godfrey reacted quickest to slot in the rebound to earn his side a 3-2 win.
MatchDay 37 Results
Akwa United 2-2 Abia Warriors
Enyimba 0-2 Dakkada FC
Gombe United 1-0 Rangers
Katsina United 2-0 Plateau United
Kwara United 3-0 MFM FC
Lobi Stars 3-2 Wikki Tourist
Nasarawa United 1- 0 Pillars
Niger Tornadoes 2-1 Heartland
Shooting Stars 3-2 Rivers United
Sunshine Stars 0-1 Remo Stars
Nigerian Football
Remo Stars beat Bendel Insurance to regain NPFL top spot as Enyimba crumble against El-Kanemi
Remo Stars are temporarily back at the top of the log in the Nigeria Premier League after beating their arch-rivals, Bendel Insurance 1-0 at Ikenne on Sunday.
The win gives the Ikenne side 18 points from eight matches as they await the result of Rivers United’s away duel with Niger Tornadoes on Monday for the confirmation of their match Day 8 position.
Ghanaian import, Dela Akorli’s brilliant strike in the 43rd minute gave the Remo Stars another bragging right against their rival.
In the other matches played on Sunday, Bayelsa United defeated Heartland by a lone goal.
Rabiu Abdullahi’s 55th-minute goal decided the match. With the loss, Heartland which benefited from Beyond Limits’ absence from the NPFL to be in the premier league are back again in the backwaters of relegation.
El Kanemi Warriors pipped former champions, Enyimba of Aba 1-0. The lone goal was scored by Usman Abbas at the end time of the first half.
But the result of the match still leaves the former African champions in the third position with 14 points.
Abia Warriors spanked visiting Plateau United 3-1. Although the visitors drew the first blood in the 40th minute through Adamu Abubakar, two quick goals from Sunday Megwo and Adejoh in the added time of the first half gave the home side the lead and Paul Samson put the match beyond the visitors with their goal in the 61st minute.
Ahmed Musa-led Kano Pillars could not replicate their big win against Enugu Rangers in the mid-week as they struggled to a 1-1 draw against visiting Kwara United of Ilorin.
The visitors opened the score in the 49th minute through Ismail Gata but Zilkifilu secured parity in the 57th minute of the match.
Sunshine Stars of Akure were one nil better than visiting Nasarawa United as Opeoluwa Olufemi scored the only goal of the match.
Actions resume on Monday as Ikorodu City will host Lobi Stars while Niger Tornadoes will be home against Rivers United and Shooting Stars will host Katsina United in Ibadan and Akwa United will play Enugu Rangers in Uyo.
Head Coach Justine Madugu has invited captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and 23 other players for the two international friendly matches planned for nine-time African champions, Super Falcons against their Algerian counterparts in Lagos at the end of this month.
The matches are billed for the picturesque Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos Island on Saturday, 26th October and Tuesday, 29th October respectively.
It is the first time that the Falcons are playing international friendly matches on home soil since the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament which was held at the same venue three years ago. Before then, they hosted the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project, Abuja in 2014.
Madugu has also called Turkey-based defender Oluwatosin Demehin, Comfort Folorunsho of Edo Queens, Spain-based Gift Monday and a long list of home-based professionals and a couple of Falconets who featured at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia last month.
It will be the first re-grouping of the Super Falcons since the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France in the summer, and following the departure of American trainer Randy Waldrum.
The Algerian delegation is expected in Nigeria on Wednesday.
The Confederation of African Football has already approved the two games, which will be superintended by FIFA match officials from Benin Republic.
SUPER FALCONS TO PLAY ALGERIA
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Monle Oyono (Edo Queens); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders: Chidinma Okeke (Club America, Mexico); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive FC, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Edo Queens); Florence Alexander (Bayelsa Queens); Blessing Ilivieda (Edo Queens); Sikiratu Isa (Nasarawa Amazons); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Tessy Ojiyovwi (Nasarawa Amazons); Chidinma Ogbuchi (FC Robo Queens)
Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Esther Onyenezide (Hapoel Katamon, Israel); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens); Josephine Matthias (Nasarawa Amazons); Amarachi Odoma (Edo Queens)
Forwards: Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain); Goodness Osigwe (Edo Queens); Janet Akekoromowei (Nasarawa Amazons); Delight Nwosu (Bayelsa Queens); Folashade Ijamilusi (Edo Queens); Mercy Omokwo (Bayelsa Queens); Olamide Bolaji (Remo Stars Ladies)
Remo Stars were beaten by a two-goal margin as they lost 3-1 to Plateau United. The same fate befell their western neighbours, Shooting Stars who lost 2-0 to Rivers United in Port Harcourt.
Both results meant that the leadership of the league is captured by Rivers United, pushing Remo Stars to the second position after seven matches.
For Remo Stars destiny was shaped by the rampaging Franklin Anthony whose hattrick gave Plateau United their victory.
Plateau United struck early in the match, shooting ahead in the fifth minute and completed the rout in the second half through goals in the 64th and 70th minutes.
Remo Stars only stalled the tide through Jabbar Malik in the 83rd minute.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers United prevailed over Shooting Stars with a 2-0 win. After a goalless first half, Aniekeme Okon put the home side in the lead in the 50th minute and Ndifreke Effiong Udo doubled the lead in the 65th minute.
The result lifted the side into the top spot with 17 points and a better goal difference of eight which is the highest by any team in the ongoing season.
In Benin, Bendel Insurance bounced back from Ikorodu City’s defeat last weekend in Lagos and recorded a resounding 3-0 win against visiting Bayelsa United in the early kick-off tie.
Kayode Oke Solomon opened the score for the home side in the 17th minute and Nnamdi Anthony doubled the lead in the 78th minute before Micheal Enaruna scored the third goal in added time.
In Owerri, coach Emmanuel Amuneke of Heartland FC had to work harder and salvaged a point at home against resurgent Ikorodu City who scored first in the 5th minute via Salaudeen Taiwo but Chukwuma Agor secured parity for the home side in a 1-1 scoreline in the 66th minute.
Katsina United pipped Akwa United by a lone goal scored by Azeez Falolu in the 27th minute.
Action resumes this weekend as leaders, River United will play away ay at Niger Tornadoes while Remo Stars will host Bendel Insurance in Ikenne just as Shooting welcomes Katsina United and Ikorodu City will host Lobi Stars.
El-Kanemi Warriors will continue their season’s unbeaten run as they host Enyimba while Bayelsa United will host Heartland of Owerri and Akwa United will welcome Enugu Rangers in Uyo.
Ahmed Musa’s Kano Pillars will hope to continue their winning streak as the host Kwara United and Sunshine Stars will host Nasarawa United and Abia Warriors will host Plateau United in Abakaliki.
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