Nigerian Football
AS 2ND ROUND KICKS OFF MFM, IFEANYIUBAH, ENYIMBA, AKWA UNITED AIM AT SUPER 6
BY APESIN ADEMOLA
The second phase of the 2018/19 Nigeria Professional Football League, which started on Saturday with Group A leaders MFM losing to Insurance in Benin 0-1, will get into full swing on Sunday with matches in eight centres.
In Group A, Enyimba, who are second on the log, will have the chance to close the gap on leaders MFM. The Lagos side retain a six-point gap at the summit, while FC Ifeanyi Ubah top Group B.
Enyimba have won all but one of their home fixtures this season, the only one being a goalless result against defending champions Lobi Stars on Matchday 3, while their visitors Sunshine Stars have won one game away (versus Wikki Tourists) and drawn another (versus Kwara United) out of five matches on the road. At some point in the season, the Akure Gunners were in second spot but have since dropped three steps down.
Lobi Stars, who were at the foot of the table while accumulating domestic fixtures during their now failed continental campaign, have since been catapulted to No 3. The Pride of Benue have the venues of their back-to-back encounters against bottom placed Niger Tornadoes swapped to avoid too many away matches in their schedule. Therefore, rather than host Tornadoes this Sunday for Matchday 12, they journey to Minna for Matchday 11 game.
Katsina United, in No 4, travel to Ilorin to engage a disappointing Kwara United. The Harmony Boys of Ilorin started the season with purpose and led the group on Matchday 3 but have failed to sustain the tempo, a situation that has now dragged them into the relegation four.
Their opponents Katsina United are among the front runners, and if they maintain their consistency, the Changi Boys may well finish in top three and challenge for the title through the Super 6.
Like Lobi Stars, Rangers too have to concentrate on the domestic scene after crashing out of the CAF Confederation Cup. With six outstanding fixtures, the fans of the Flying Antelope may worry less about their current standing at No 7, and 10 points adrift of top team MFM.
In Group B, four matches are also on offer, while the other two will be played later.
With leaders FC IfeanyiUbah not on duty, the door is open for either Akwa United and El-Kanemi Warriors to take charge of this section, even if temporarily.
For a side that started the season with a home defeat through a last minute blunder by their keeper, Akwa United have done remarkably well to rise above the setback in arriving at second place, only two points behind the top spot. Since that early blip, the Promise Keepers have gone on to win three home matches and shared honours with Plateau United in the other, while also winning two away fixtures.
Akwa United will be up against Heartland, who have gone down the pecking order; a team that had occupied No 1 on three Matchdays now marginally above the relegation zone.
El-Kanemi Warriors will file out at Pantami Stadium, Gombe where the home side have not been delivering results. In five matches on that ground, Gombe United have won only two, drawn the same number and lost one. If the Warriors reenact the form that made them to pip Akwa United in Uyo on the season’s opening day, Gombe United will be in further trouble as they are just one point and one step above Yobe Desert Stars, the last team in the group, who face seventh-placed Go Round.
The fixtures…
Group A (Matchday 12):
- Rivers United v Wikki Tourists
- Rangers v Remo Stars
- Kwara United v Katsina United
- Enyimba v Sunshine Stars
- Lobi Stars v Niger Tornadoes (rescheduled)
Matchday 11:
- Niger Tornadoes v Lobi Stars
Group B (Matchday 12):
- Go Round v Yobe Desert Stars
- Plateau United v Abia Warriors
- Akwa United v Heartland
- Gombe United v El-Kanemi Warriors
- Kano Pillars v FC Ifeanyi Ubah (Wednesday, March 27)
- Nasarawa United v Kada City (Wednesday, April 3)
Nigerian Football
Away two-goal specialists, Remo Stars win in Kano to stay atop
Remo Stars continued their good form in the Nigeria domestic league as they snatched another 2-0 away win against one of the traditional strong sides, Kano Pillars on Sunday.
They had earlier had another 2-0 away win when they defeated Abia Warriors in Umuahia two weeks ago. With Sunday’s win, they remain on top of the log with their nine points and five goals.
They are yet to concede any goal this season. On Sunday, Sodiq Ismail put Remo Stars in front after 26 minutes. Togolese import, Franck Mawuena doubled the lead in the 60th minute.
In another encounter, Niger Tornadoes pulled a major upset, winning 2-1 away from home as they beat former Nigerian champions, Plateau United. Ifeanyi Okechukwu put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute. They doubled theit lead in the fourth minute of added time of the second half through Kufre Ebong.
A minute later, Pam Samuel scored a consolatory goal for Plateau United. Hearrtland of Owerri continued their winless run as they played a goalless draw at home with visiting Katsina United.
Sunshine Stars also played 0-0 with Abia Warriors.
Nigerian Football
Remo Stars win Star War against Sunshine Stars to take temporary NPFL lead
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.
Nigerian Football
Westerhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job
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.”
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