Nigerian Football
League title coronation day beckons for unstoppable Rivers United
Rivers United again put more distance from their position and second placed Plateau United after a home win over the Jos side.
And in other games of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) MatchDay 31, Gombe United, Katsina United, Enugu Rangers, Lobi Stars, Enyimba and Nasarawa United all recorded important home victories on Wednesday evening.
Rivers United seem determined to be crowned champions before the final four games of the season if they maintain their form and keep the ten points lead after MatchDay 35.
The Port Harcourt side now has 67 points while their day’s losing opponents, Plateau United are second with 57 points.
Chijioke Akuneto scored all the goals in the 2-0 defeat of Plateau United. His first was on 34th minute and the second on 82nd minute, thus drawing level on 14 goals with teammate, Ishaq Rafiu and Gombe United’s Abdulazeez Yusuf in the race for the league’s top scorer.
Gombe United’s Yusuf netted one of the three in his side’s 3-2 defeat of struggling Heartland. It was the first time the Owerri side would score two away goals this season but they are still 18th on the log with 34 points.
Samaila Bello scored Gombe United second goal on 47th minute while Barnabas Daniel got the third in the 62nd minute.
Heartland attempted a late fightback through goals by Chukwudi Nwaodu’s penalty and Chijioke Mbaoma in the 68th and 82nd minutes.
Katsina United took a big leap off relegation zone after a 2-0 home win against Niger Tornadoes.
Ahmed Taofeek and Madaki Alkali Dauda scored the goals in the 67th and 75th minutes to lift their side to 13th on the log with 39 points.
Enugu Rangers recovered from the embarrassing loss to Plateau United in the last game with a 2-1 victory over Wikki Tourists. Christian Nnaji scored a brace in the 13th and 49th minutes while Christopher John netted the Bauchi sides’ lone strike in the 38th minute.
The win has seen Rangers opening a three point gap in third position with 51 points ahead of fourth placed Enyimba.
Shooting Stars dropped another points at home, this time to Remo Stars in the South West derby. It was the visitors that scored first from the spot after seven minutes through Sikiru Alimi who notched his fourth goal of the season since his mid season acquisition but the Oluyole Warriors equalised barely five minutes later through Ebuka Anaekwe.
Lobi Stars got their first win in four games after a 3-1 home win against Kwara United. Chinonso Okonkwo who earlier missed a spot kick atoned for it with the curtain raiser in the 21st minute. Olamilekan Adams and Nanen Imenger added two more in the 47th and 55th minutes after a 42nd brief equaliser from ex-Lobi Stars, Samuel Tiza who elected not to jubilate because he netted against his former club.
At Aba, Enyimba relied on Chukwuemeka Obioma and Samuel Stone’s goals in the 29th and 79th minutes to chalk up a 2-0 win over Sunshine Stars. The victory sends Enyimba to the top four for the first time since the start of the second stanza. They are on 48 points but Sunshine Stars slid to the ninth spot with 42 points.
Nasarawa United did their relegation worries some good with a laboured 2-1 victory over Abia Warriors. Abubakar Abdullahi and Aliyu Abdullahi were on the score sheets for the Solid Miners while Flying Eagles’ Augustine Njoku made it a nervy finish when he reduced the deficit in the 55th minute.
- NPFL Matchday 31 Results
- Enyimba 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Katsina Utd 2-0 Tornadoes
- Lobi 3-1 Kwara Utd
- Akwa Utd 0-0 MFM
- Gombe Utd 3-2 Heartland
- 3SC 1-1 Remo Stars
- Rivers Utd 2-0 Plateau Utd
- Rangers 2-1 Wikki
- Nasarawa Utd 2-1 Abia Warriors
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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