Nigerian Football
Now, Rivers flow seamlessly at the top
Rivers United reclaimed the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) top spot but Plateau United who will only play their game on Wednesday against Gombe United and regain the position.
Rivers United ended the six game unbeaten away run of Enugu Rangers in Port Harcourt on Sunday while Akwa United and Sunshine Stars returned to winning ways before their fans as the league season entered MatchDay 14.
At the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode, Sunshine Stars bounced back to winning ways after a slim 1-0 win over Kwara United.
The Owena Whales had lost by a lone goal to Niger Tornadoes on Wednesday by virtually the last kick of the game in Abuja but they showed they were more businesslike when Abdul Taofeek shot them ahead in the second minute of the tie.
It was the only goal of the game and it also ended a run of four games without a victory.
Sunshine Stars are 11th on the table with 17 points from 13 games but Kwara United have slipped to the sixth spot with 21 points.
The Qua Iboe derby produced five goals between Akwa United and Dakkada FC with the home team securing their first win in Uyo after four games since January 16th, 2022 when they beat Katsina United 2-0 in a MatchDay 6 tie.
They had suffered three successive home draws with Sunshine Stars, Kwara United and Heartland with the latter tie leading to the disengagement of former boss, Kennedy Boboye.
The frenetic encounter saw Femi Ajayi scoring the curtain raiser for the Dakkada in the 17th minute after a brilliant pass from Solomon Kantoma but the Promise Keepers equalised 13th minutes later from the spot kick after the goal scorer, Samuel Amadi was upended in the 18 yard box moments earlier.
Akwa United then took the lead through Wisdom Fernando in the 51st minute off a good cross from Ubong Essien and they made it 3-1 in the 75th minute after a wonderful solo effort from Ezekiel Bassey.
Dakkada’s Rivio Ayemwenre reduced the deficit to 3-2 in the 79th minute to make it their third consecutive loss.
The win has taken the Promise Keepers to the 5th spot with 23 points from 14 games and it was also the first time this season that the league’s reigning champions would win two straight games but Dakkada continue to court the relegation zone as they are 18th with 12 points.
At the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers United put an end to Enugu Rangers’ unbeaten run in their away matches to assume the leadership of the league table at least for the next 24 hours with 29 points from 14 games after a 1-0 win.
Both teams were placed second and third spots on the league table before the tie but the Rivers United notched the all important goal in the 61st minute through Nyima Nwagua who tapped in from close range after Morice Chukwu’s free kick hit the woodwork and fell to his path.
Rangers remain in top spot with 23 points but the position may change at the conclusion of Monday rescheduled MatchDay 14 games.
Meanwhile at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, Shooting Stars failed to make home advantage count after they were held to a goalless draw by Wikki Tourists.
It would be the third time the Oluyole Warrriors will be dropping points at home after Akwa United and Sunshine Stars stopped them from claiming maximum points in Ibadan as well.
Shooting Stars are in the 10th spot with 19 points while Wikki Tourists are in the 8th spot with 20 points.
In the earlier game played on Saturday, MFM became the third team to pick valuable away point in Aba after they snatched a 1-1 draw against Enyimba at the Enyimba International Stadium.
Enyimba were held to another 1-1 draw by Niger Tornadoes at the same stadium seven days earlier and they were hoping to return to winning ways after the 1-0 slip in Ilorin against Kwara United at midweek.
They were in the ascendancy in the 7th minute through Victor Mbaoma but the Olukoya Boys fought back gamely and equalised five minutes later through Chukwudi Ekeocha.
points.
Katsina United will host Heartland FC while Lobi Stars are at home to Remo Stars in Makurdi on Monday.
Also, Kano Pillars will seek a return to winning ways when they slug it out with Abia Warriors at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna while Nasarawa United face Niger Tornadoes in Lafia.
Some of the Results of NPFL Week 14 Games
- Enyimba 1-1 MFM
- Rivers United 1-0 Enugu Rangers
- Akwa United 3-2 Dakkada FC
- Sunshine Stars 1-0 Kwara United
- Shooting Stars 0-0 Wikki Tourists
Monday
- Katsina United vs Heartland FC
- Lobi Stars vs Remo Stars
- Kano Pillars vs Abia Warriors
- Nasarawa United vs Niger Tornadoes
Wednesday
- Gombe United vs Plateau United
-NPFL
The miserable run of Akwa United and Ikorodu City came to an end after six games in the Nigerian Premier League this season. Both teams were initially glued at the bottom of the league table.
They now got respite as Akwa United beat Kano Pillar by 2-0 while Ikorodu City even did what could be considered an upset, beating Bendel Insurance 3-0.
Remo Stars bounced back to the top of the log after a 3-0 defeat of Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars are yet to get their rhythm this season, playing a barren draw with Enyimba in Ibadan.
Kwara United who got their first full points of the season last week after a 1-0 defeat of Remo Stars could not consolidate as they were beaten 1-0 by Abia Warriors.
Heartland under Emmanuel Amuneke are gradually recovering as they got a valuable away draw against El-Kanemi Warriors.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is 75 years since Nigeria’s national football team first played an international match. That was on 8 October 1949 when the first set of Nigeria’s assembly on their return voyage stopped over in Freetown and engaged Sierra Leone in an international football match. Nigeria won 2-0, setting a chain of positive results on 8 October.
The country never lost any competitive duel on that date. More significantly, the Super Eagles first qualified for the World Cup on an 8 October date.
That was in 1993 when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria in the quest for USA ‘94 World Cup.
Nigeria became the first English-speaking African country to qualify for the World Cup. Another significance of the October 8 match at the July 5 Stadium, Algiers is that Nigeria were unbeaten for the first time by Algeria at home.
The only deviation from the 8 October Magic was in 2015 when Nigeria lost 2-0 to Congo in a friendly match.
Twenty-six years after Nigeria’s debut international match, one of Africa’s biggest football nations, Egypt fell to the October 8 magic, losing 4-0 to Nigeria in the last stage of the triangular World Cup qualifying series for Argentina ’78.
Up till October 15, 2013, when Ghana beat Egypt 6-1 in Kumasi, the October 8, 1977 duel with Nigeria remained Egypt’s biggest loss in a World Cup qualifying match.
Before the 1977 duel, Nigeria in 1963 played a friendly match with Liberia in Monrovia. The October 8 magic was active, even in an away match. Nigeria drew 2-2 in their very first encounter with Liberia. It was shortly after the team had, through a protest, upturned a victory by Guinea to pick Nigeria’s very first African Nations’ Cup ticket.
Little wonder then that when FIFA suspended Nigeria in 2010, the world governing body provisionally lifted the ban on October 8!
Nigeria on 8 October
- 1949 – Freetown (Friendly) Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria
- 1963 – Monrovia (Friendly) Liberia 2-2 Nigeria
- 1977 – Lagos (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 4-0 Egypt
- 1993 – Algiers (World Cup qualifier) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria… qualify for USA ‘94.
- 2005 – Abuja (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 5-1 Zimbabwe
- 2010 – FIFA, in apparent respect to the 8 October magic, provisionally lifted a ban imposed on Nigeria.
- 2011 – Abuja (African Nations Cup qualifier) Nigeria 2-2 Guinea. Although undefeated, Nigeria failed to make it to the 2012 African Nations Cup.
- 2015 – D.R. Congo beat Nigeria 2-0 in Visé, Belgium. The ‘October 8 Magic’ is finally broken.
Rivers United have launched themselves to the top of the log at the end of the match day 5 of the Nigeria Premier League. The Port Harcourt side beat Akwa United 2-1 to go afloat after initial leaders, Remo Stars crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.
It was Remo Stars’ first defeat in the season. Rivers United are now with 13 points. Stephen Mayo put Rivers United ahead after 31 minutes. But it turned a temporary lead as Akwa United bounced back almost at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the second half.
Friday Apollos levelled up for Akwa United before Ndifreke Effiong Udo scored the winner in the 85th minute.
Sunday Results
- Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
- Rivers United 2-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
NFF Communication director unfolds 20 Points of a 20-hour ordeal on Libyan soil
African football legends, Adebayor and Aubameyang condemn Libya’s treatment of Super Eagles
BREAKING! CAF wades into the Libya-Nigeria Airport episode
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
Players boycott Libyan national team
-
AFCON5 days ago
Billiat’s penalty seals Zimbabwe’s 1-0 win over Namibia
-
AFCON1 week ago
Eguavoen unfolds Super Eagles’ squad for back-to-back duel with Libya
-
AFCON7 days ago
Facts & Figures as AFCON 2025 qualifiers enter Matchday 3
-
AFCON6 days ago
AFCON 2025 in Morocco: Everything you need to know
-
AFCON5 days ago
Libya’s captain, Faisal Al-Badri alleges poor treatment in Nigeria
-
Uncategorized7 days ago
CAF compels Kwasi Appiah to step down from Ghana FA
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
Fastest World Cup final scorer is dead!