Rivers United and Plateau United maintained their contention for the season’s title with wins away from home in the midweek games of MatchDay 16.
At the lower end of the log, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) continued their fight to get off the drop zone after an away point from their draw with Niger Tornadoes.
At the vintage match at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Nyima Nwagua was on a visit to his old team, Kano Pillars and it was his goal in the 70th minute that confined his former side to second home loss this season.
Nwagua dispossessed Goalkeeper, Idrissu Ibrahim the ball when he attempted to dribble him and slotted the ball into an empty net.
The win sustained Rivers United’s lead at the top of the table with 35 points ahead of Plateau United that also picked maximum points on the road at Lobi Stars in Makurdi.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side kept up the pressure on Rivers United and in the game in Makurdi, they gained ascendancy after 32 minutes and it was Albert Hilary’s stoppage-time goal that put the game beyond their hosts.
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NPFL reigning champions, Akwa United made it successive home wins for the first time since January 16th with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wikki Tourists at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
Akwa United were held to a goalless draw in the first half but the Bauchi side lost two opportunities after the opening minutes of the second half and allowed their hosts to score twice within a minute through Adam Yakubu and Leo Ezekiel in the 49th and 50th minutes. Akwa United moved to the fourth spot with 26 points by virtue of the win.
The North Central derby ended 1-1 apiece at the Lafia Township Stadium between Nasarawa United and Kwara United.
Alao Danbani was on the score sheet for the second game running when he struck in the 19th minute to give the Harmony Boys a shock lead but Michael Tochukwu bailed the Solid Miners out with the equalizer in the 64th minute. It was Tochukwu’s third goal in Nasarawa United’s last three games.
Nasarawa United have now been held three times at home out of the eight games they have played and have slipped to the 11th spot with 21 points. Kwara United are fifth with 25 points.
Sunshine Stars returned to winning ways barely three days after the surprise loss to MFM in Lagos with a 3-1 home win against Heartland to pause their resurgence under Erasmus Onuh Ollottah. It was their first loss under the Manager after five games.
It was a former player of the Naze Millionaires, Leonard Ugochukwu Aputazie who orchestrated their first defeat in six games with two goals in the 2nd and 34th minute with Vincent Temitope adding the third goal in the 93rd minute. Nonso Nzediegwu sublime finish in the 78th minute for the Owerri had looked like an imminent fightback but the Owena Whales’ third goal extinguished such hopes.
The win has seen Sunshine Stars leap to the eight spot with 23 points while Heartland remain on the 18th position with 16 points.
Katsina United ended their three-game winless streak with a 4-1 triumph over Dakkada FC.
Goalkeeper, Thomas Omokhudu punched Abbar Umar’s cross into his net in the 10th minute for the Changi Boys’ opener before Chibundu Amah doubled the advantage in the 29th minute. Adewale Lasisi halved the deficit for the Dakkada in the 51st minute but two more goals from Madaki Alkali Dauda and Aliyu Musa in the 72nd and 88th minutes made it an emphatic finish for Azeez Mohammed led side.
In Aba, Enyimba bagged their first maximum points in five games after a 2-1 home win over Remo Stars. It was the People’s Elephant’s first win in Aba since Matchday 9 when they defeated Katsina United 2-1.
Former players of Remo Stars Victor Mbaoma and Ekene Awazie scored for Enyimba in the 37th and 49th minutes but Nduka Junior halved the deficit in the 70th minute from the penalty spot.
Niger Tornadoes were held to a 1-1 draw by MFM; their first away point of the season.
Richie Eguavoen put the Church Boys in the lead in the 15th minute but Kabiru Adeniji equalised in the 37th minute for Ikon Allah Boys.
Gombe United pipped Abia Warriors 1-0 to continue their climb with William Ukeme scoring 20 minutes from time. The win takes the Desert Scorpions‘ points tally to 23 as they moved to the ninth spot while Abia Warriors are in the 15th spot with 17 points.
At the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, Shooting Stars settled for a 1-1 draw against Enugu Rangers in a tie played under floodlights.
The Flying Antelopes scored first in the stoppage period of the first half through Elijah Ani but the Oluyole Warriors leveled scores in the 56th minute through Chinedu Enuademu.
Rangers slipped to the 6th position with 24 points while Shooting Stars are 12th with 19 points.
NPFL Matchday 16 Results
Tornadoes 1-1 MFM
Sunshine Stars 3-1 Heartland
Enyimba 2-1 Remo Stars
Katsina United 4-1 Dakkada FC
Lobi Stars 0-2 Plateau United
Akwa United 2-0 Wikki Tourists
Gombe United 1-0 Abia Warriors
Kano Pillars 0-1 Rivers United
Nasarawa United 1-1 Kwara United
Shooting Stars 1-1 Enugu Rangers
NPFL Stats as @ MatchDay 16
Total Number of Matches Played: 160 Total Number of Matches Won: 119
Total Number of Home Wins: 101
Total Number of Away Wins: 18
Total Number of Matches Drawn: 41
Total Number of Goals Scored: 296
Average Goals/Match: 1.9
Total Number of Home Goals: 214
Total Number of Away Goals: 82
Total Number of Own Goals: 5
Total Number of Penalties Awarded: 32
Total Number of Penalties Scored: 24
Total Number of Penalties not Scored: 8
Highest Goal Scorer: Rafiu Ishaq (Rivers United- 10 goals)
Total Number of Yellow Cards: 615
Total Number of Red Cards: 22
Best Attacking Team: Plateau United (26 goals)
Worst Defence: Heartland (26goals conceded)
Rivers United FC have topped the table 7th time
