Shooting Stars aiming for their first national title since the 1998 season got a setback in Ilorin after Kwara United inflicted a 2-0 defeat in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League match.

Shooting Stars had hoped to sustain their unbeaten run that has spanned 77 days in the league. Getting a point would have also narrowed the gap between them and the fast-running away Remo Stars.

The 2-0 loss to Kwara United also narrowed Shooting Stars goal difference from eight to six, giving Remo Stars an 11 gap in goal difference and eight-point advantage.

Interestingly, Shooting Stars’ last lost match was against Remo Stars with goals from Sikiru Alimi and Adedayo Olamilekan giving the Ikenne side a 2-0 win.

Since then, Shooting Stars have won six matches in a row including the famous away win against their eternal rivals, Enugu Rangers and then a 1-1 draw in Jos to Plateau United.

On Wednesday, the tittle-chasing Shooting Stars found themselves behind after 22 minutes when Kabiru Mohammed put the home side in front and Ogifini Abdullah doubled the lead in the 57^th minute.

The result also pushed Kwara United to eighth position with 32 points to their credit.

In Benin, Bendel Insurance’s quest to swim out of the murky waters of relegation got a boost when they beat multiple champions, Enyimba 1-0.

Elsewhere, Kano Pillars edged out El Kanemi 2-1 at the Sani Abacha Stadium. After a goalless first half, veteran defender and possibly the oldest player in the Nigerian league, Rabiu Ali put the home side in the lead in the 62^nd minute via a penalty kick.

 El Kanemi restored parity three minutes later through Umar Al Amin also from a penalty kick.

But with the looking like a draw, the stadium massive crowd at the stadium celebrated the late-minute goal off Rashid Alhasan.

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Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu has called to camp 30 players as Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles, prepare for a two-match tour of Egypt later this month.

Team Administrator, Aliyu Lawal Ibrahim informed thenff.com that the seven-time African champions will clash with their Egyptian counterparts in Cairo in friendly matches that have been scheduled for the 25^th and 27^th of February.

This year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations will be staged in Cote d’Ivoire, 26^th April – 18^th May, with the four top-placed finishers qualifying to represent the continent at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Chile, 27^th September – 19^th October.

The Flying Eagles, champions of Africa in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011 and 2015, won the WAFU-B U20 Championship held in Lome, Togo in October last year to be eligible for the finals in Cote d’Ivoire. They defeated Ghana’s Black Satellites 3-1 in the final match.

The two-time FIFA World Cup runners-up, in 1989 and 2005, came within breathing distance of the semi-finals at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Argentina, before losing narrowly to Korea Republic after extra time.

FLYING EAGLES FOR CAMPING IN ABUJA FOR EGYPT FRIENDLIES:

Goalkeepers: Ifeanyi Harcourt (Sporting Lagos); Light Emerenonye (Diamond Academy); Abubakar Rufai (Mavlon FC)

Defenders: Adamu Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors); Daniel Bameyi (Bayelsa United); Kenneth Igbokwe (Enugu Rangers); Haruna Aliyu (Wikki Tourists); Musa Ademu (Wireless FC); Shamsudeen Muhammad (Mavlon FC); Ibrahim Abdullahi; Shamsudeen Ishaq (Grassrunner FC); Steven Jolomi (Mavlon FC)

Midfielders: Raphael Oyebanji (Shuffle Select FC); Mohammed Ibrahim (Niger Tornadoes); Kizito Opara (Campus Academy); Alabi Sulaiman Jojo (El-Kanemi Warriors); Sulaiman Abubakar (Diamond Academy); Shafiu Adamu (Wikki Tourists); Cletus Simon (Mavlon FC)

Forwards: Bidemi Amole (Real Sapphire Academy); Clinton Japhet (Enyimba FC); Matthew Chukwusa (Morack Academy); Nasiru Salihu (El-Kanemi Warriors); Divine Olisha (Fostar Academy); Jerry Salami (Aspire Academy); Oluwaseyi Akinfenwa (Real Sapphire Academy); Shola Adelami (Ikorodu City); Abdulrahaman Ishaq (Sport Supply Academy); Ezekiel Anthony (Aspire Academy); Sodiq Olalekan Adewunmi (Jaguar Sports FC)     

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A late goal by Timothy Zacharia has ended a dry season for Rivers United who have previously gone five matches without a win. Their home game with Lobi Stars looked heading for a third consecutive draw before Zacharia’s header changed the tide to hand the hitherto dry Rivers United a soul-lifting 1-0 win.

They retain their third position behind Remo Stars and Shooting Stars. Akwa United at home bounced back into the reckoning as they won their first match since the second stanza of the Nigerian Premier League began.

They had before Sunday’s 2-1 defeat of Enyimba gone four matches without a win. Jacob Ogunleye set the Uyo side on a victory path with a 26th-minute goal.

Enyimba however levelled up in five minutes to regulation time of the first half. Uche Sebastine regained the lead for Akwa United in the 75th minute.

The woes of Sunshine Stars were compounded in Umuahia as the fast-rising Abia Warriors inflicted a 3-0 defeat on the Ondo State team that has been enduring a difficult season without a home ground of their own.

They now have a goal deficit of 15, the heaviest by any club so far this season.

The win has pushed Abia Warriors up to a shouting distance of title contenders. They are now fourth on the log ahead of traditional powerhouses of Enugu Rangers, El Kanemi Warriors, Enyimba and Kano Pillars.

Chidozie Iwundu launched Abia Warriors into the winning path in the 18th minute before Ijoma Desoua doubled the lead in the 36th minute. Samuel Ogunjimi completed the route on the dot of 90 minutes.

Champions, Enugu Rangers are yet to find their last year’s form as they laboured to a goalless draw away at Bayelsa United. The coal city sides have won only two of their last five matches before Sunday’s duel with Bayelsa United.

Rangers are now fifth on the log behind Abia Warriors and 13 points behind leaders, Remo Stars who they are hosting next Sunday.

CHAN Super Eagles player, Papa Daniel opened scoring for Niger Tornadoes in their 1-1 draw with Plateau United who levelled up through Samuel Kalu late into the game.

SUNDAY RESULTS

• Abia Warriors 3-0 Sunshine Stars
• Rivers United 1-0 Lobi Stars
• Akwa United 2-1 Enyimba
• Bayelsa United 0-0 Enugu Rangers
• Niger Tornadoes 1-1 Plateau United
• Ikorodu City 2-1 Kwara United

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