Nigerian Football
Remo Stars maintain League leadership, best away result
Returnee into the elite Nigerian league, Remo Stars of Ikenne maintain their good form as they rallied from a goal down to hold Dakkada 1-1 in Uyo on Sunday as the Nigeria Professional Football League entered its fourth match day.
They are the only away side with a goal as fellow stars, the Sunshine Stars who are the only other undefeated away team, held Rivers United to a goalless draw.
Home side, Dakkada shot into the lead in the 12th minute through Muritala Lawal. It was a significant incident. It was the first goal that Remo Stars conceded this season.
It came after Remo Stars had played 282 minutes of regulation time. But the Remo Boys still maintained their unbeaten run after four matches as Samuel Anakwe rallied back to draw level for the side in the 42nd minute.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers United got more than they bargained for as the initial punching bag of the league held on tenaciously to a goalless draw.
In Enugu, Rangers, the only Nigerian clubside never to have been relegated since national league of 1972, were truly at home, battering visiting Niger Tornadoes 4-0.
The visitor had held on stoutly to a goalless first half before Agu Kenechukwu’s 58th minute penalty kick goal opened a floodgate.
He doubled the lead in the 70th minute before Shedrack Asiegbu made it three in the 73rd minute.
Just a minute to regulation time, Christian Nnaji scored the fourth goal. Rivals, Kano Pillars beat Enyimba 2-0 . Rabiu Ali opened scoring from the penalty spot in the eighth minute of added time of the first half.
In the 60th minute Kokoete Udo made it 2-0 for Kano Pillars. In a game of the Uniteds, Nasarawa United also beat Akwa United 2-0. Tochukwu Udeh opened scoring in the 53rd minute while Silas Nwankwo added the second in 83rd minute.
Heartland of Owerri again proved poor travelers as they were beaten 3-0 by Plateau United, the same scoreline they had in their away loss to Remo Stars in matchday 2.
Jesse Akila shot Plateau United ahead in the 17th minute. Izuchukwu Chimezie made it two in the 47th minute before Mohammed Zulkilu put in the their goal in the 73rd minute.
It was another 3-0 result as Wikki Tourists fully utilized their home advantage in their duel with MFM. The 3-0 means that MFM have the worst goal difference so far this season. They are in negative of six goals.
They conceded the first goal when Nelson Abiam found the net in the seventh minute. A minute of added time in the first half saw Isah Usman putting in the second goal. Fiften minutes into the second half Ibrahim Sale made it three.
Three other matches are slated for Monday as Shooting Stars host Katsina United while Lobi Stars will be away to Gombe United. The last match pitches Abia Warriors against visiting Kwara United.
Results
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Enyimba
- Rivers United 0-0 Sunshine Stars
- Rangers 4-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Wikki Tourists 3-0 MFM
- Plateau United 3-0 Heartland
- Dakkada 1-1 Remo Stars
- Nasarawa United 2-0 Akwa United
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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