Two games wrapped up Matchday 15 in this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Monday evening with Wikki Tourists v Rivers United the only outstanding. CAF Confederation quarterfinalists, Rivers did their progression no good with their 0-2 home loss to Yong Africans of Tanzania yesterday.
In Group A, Bendel Insurance put their five-game winless run to rest by handing bottom-placed El-Kanemi Warriors a 2-1 defeat. Striker Ismail Seriki, still in Eid-al-Fitri mood, in the 54th minute and Austine Ogunye four minutes later eased pressure on the Benin Arsenal, while Hussaini Mohammed Bata reduced the tally in the 69th minutes. Ogunye’s goal for the home side – his second in the season – enable Insurance to produce a win after 61 days of waiting!
Three matches to the end of Phase 1, the Benin side are five points clear at the top of Group A and have Gombe United (away), Shooting Stars (H) and Nasarawa United (away) to encounter in the regular season. Victory in their next game will guarantee their finishing in the top 3 and playing in the Super 6 to determine the league winners.
2020/21 champions Akwa United leap a step to No 2 to displace serial winners Enyimba. This evening, the Promise Keepers went three up at the break with goals from Taiye Murtala (19th), Cyril Olisema (29th) and Ubong Friday (third minute of first half added time). Samad Kadiri however reduced the deficit for the visitors five minutes into the restart.
Enyimba had played their first draw of the season on Sunday when they fought back to play 1-1 with visiting Remo Stars. The People’s Elephant are in third place, a point behind Akwa United, while also dropped a step on the table – from fifth to sixth.
Plateau United, who were declared winners when COVID-19 disrupted the season in 2020, are fourth on the log after pipping neighbours Nasarawa United 1-0 at the Jos International Airport through Silas Nenrot’s 13th minute strike. The midfielder disoriented his marker and fired towards goal and was helped by a wicked deflection.
Like El-Kanemi Warriors, Nasarawa United are also grasping for breath. At the moment, both side are in the relegation zone.
Shooting Stars turned in three goals against Gombe United. They had won the first leg 2-1, but by the first half in Ibadan, they were a goal down, no thanks to Malomo Ayodeji’s 41st minute’s strike. Five minutes into the second stanza, Udoh Godwin made it two for the Oluyole Warriors, while Douglas Achiv added another in the 66th minute to end the day.
Shooting are now fifth on the Group A table, having gained two steps from the previous Matchday. For Gombe, it was a step dropped from their previous sixth position.
For the fourth week in a row, Lobi Stars retain their top spot in Group B despite their lone goal defeat to Sunshine Stars. David Onovo’s 22nd goal made the difference for the Akure Gunners, who gained two spots to arrive at No 4, boosting their Super 6 chances.
With second placed Rivers United having a Matchday off, Doma United jumped from No 3 to second spot after beating visiting Bayelsa United. Charlse Chibuke (53rd minute) and Hilary Ekawu (68th) were on the score sheet for Doma United, and Fabby Clark (85th) for Bayelsa United.
The result means that Bayelsa United are just a place above the relegation zone with three points separating them and Dakkada.
All the matches
Group A: Bendel Insurance 2-1 El-Kanemi Warriors, Enyimba 1-1 Remo Stars, Plateau United 1-0 Nasarawa United, Shooting Stars 3-0 Gombe United, Akwa United 3-1 Kwara United
Group B: Doma United 2-1 Bayelsa United, Niger Tornadoes 3-0 Abia Warriors, Sunshine Stars 1-0 Lobi Stars, Dakkada1-1 Rangers, Wikki Tourists v Rivers United (postponed)
