Kazie Enyinnaya’s 76th minute goal was the only one in the top clash in Port Harcourt where leaders Rivers United prevailed and extended the gap at the top of the table to seven points as Week 29 of this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League ended this evening.
United’s victims – Remo Stars – were denied the opportunity to topple Rangers at No 3, which qualifies the occupier to CAF Confederation Cup involvement next season.
That victory marks United’s 18th in the season, 14 of them at home. Only Sunshine Stars denied the Pride of Rivers maximum points in Port Harcourt after playing goalless.
Plateau United and Rangers – in second and third – were on show at different centres yesterday.
Title holders Akwa United had to wait till six minutes to the end to break the resolve of Niger Tornadoes. By converting from the spot at that closing stage of the game, Etim Mathew lifted the Promise Keepers two steps up to fifth spot, while Tornadoes lost ground by two steps as well – from No 13.
Kwara United conceded four times to home side, Gombe United with the visitors conceding twice. Abdulazeez Yusuf recorded a brace – in the 12th and 62nd.
In between those strikes, Jide Fatokun found the net for Kwara United in the 23rd minute. Two quick fire goals came in for Gombe through Barnabas Daniel (81st) and Samaila Bello (86th), while ex-international Junior Lokosa reduced the tally at the stroke of regulation time.
Former champions Enyimba lost to Katsina United by a lone goal, produced by Ahmed Taofeek in the 50th minute. The outcome means that the People’s Elephant descended one step to seventh on the log, while Katsina gain a spot to be placed at No 14.
Four goals were fired in at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja – three of them from hosts Kano Pillars – in a battle against fellow relegation hunted team Heartland.
Just 21 minutes into the game, Pillars are already two goals up, thanks to Auwalu Ali (13th) and Ifeanyi Kelvin Eze (21st). Nnamdi Egbujuo reduced the tally 15th minutes after resumption, but Daniel Mark had the final answer with his 77th minute goal for Pillars, who are banished to Abuja for the rest of the season.
Micah Ojodomo rescued bottom based MFM from yet another defeat when he turned in an equaliser in the 90th minute away to Shooting Stars in Ibadan. The Oluyole Warriors hit their visitors in the 43rd minute through Chidera Ezeh.
Nasarawa United stayed 12th despite Tochukwu Michael’s sixth minute goal that earned the Solid Miners maximum points against Wikki Tourists.
The only barren result of the MatchDay is between visiting Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars.
Matchday 29 results: Abia Warriors 2-0 Plateau United, Rangers 1-0 Dakkada FC, Akwa United 1-0 Niger Tornadoes, Gombe United 4-2 Kwara United, Kano Pillars 3-1 Heartland, Katsina United 1-0 Enyimba, Lobi Stars 0-0 Sunshine Stars, Nasarawa United 1-0 Wikki Tourists, Rivers United 1-0 Remo Stars, Shooting Stars 1-1 MFM
