Plateau United moved into the championship playoff spots after a comprehensive 5-0 victory over El-Kanemi Warriors at the New Jos Stadium. The Jos side got off to a flying start scoring three goals in the first 30 minutes.
Anthony Sunday scored first in the fourth minute before Eru Jackson (21st minute) and Ibrahim Mustapha (28th) took the match beyond the visiting El-Kanemi who were poor on the day.
Second-half goals from Tochukwu Udeh (63rd minute) and Uche Onwuansanya (90+2) only heaped more misery on the visitors.
The win saw Plateau move up to third in Group A, level on points with Remo Stars. Plateau’s joy of moving into the playoff spots could however depend on the outcome of Akwa United versus Gombe United clash at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in the final fixture of MatchDay 8 on Thursday.
In Illorin, Remo Stars dropped out of the championship playoff spot after a goalless outcome against Kwara United. The draw leaves Kwara United one point off the relegation zone on the eighth position with six points.
Enyimba continued their fine run of form with three straight wins after brushing aside underperforming Shooting Stars 2-0 in Aba.
Chukwuemeka Obioma Godson scored a brace first in the second minute before doubling the lead at the stroke of halftime. The defeat leaves Shooting Stars four points off the championship playoff places. With the two goals, Obioma becomes the leading scorer with seven goals from eight games.
Group A leaders, Bendel Insurance returned to winning ways after edging Nasarawa United 1-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. The all-important goal was scored by Ebuka Akubundu in the 67th minute. Insurance is still unbeaten this season.
In Group B, leaders Lobi Stars saw their six-match unbeaten run come to an end after losing 1-2 at Wikki. An early goal by Muhammed Guda (sixth minute) gave the home side the lead, but Lobi equalised in the 34th minute through Umar Abba. However, it was Wikki who would have the last laugh when Muhammed Guda got his brace in the 38th minute to seal all three points for the Tourists who are now undefeated in their last three matches.
In Gombe, Abia Warriors missed the chance to go top of Group B after a 0-1 setback to Doma United. After a keenly contested first half, it was Doma who won all three points after Musa Usman scored in the 49th minute. The win lifts Doma to fifth on the table with 12 points while Abia Warriors are still second with 13 points.
Sunshine Stars missed the chance to get into the championship playoff spots after a 1-2 defeat to Dakkada at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. After a goalless first half, it was Dakkada that took the lead through Emmanuel Ayaosi in the 70th minute. But the lead lasted just four minutes with Udom Ekerette levelling for Sunshine. However, the visitor’s joy was short-lived as Dakkarda made it 2-1 two minutes later with Kareem Abdoulaye scoring the winner for the home side, who remain in the relegation zone, one point behind Wikki Tourists who are in eighth position.
Niger Tornadoes are now two points clear of the relegation zone after playing out a 1-1 draw with Bayelsa United, still sitting at the bottom of Group B.
David Okurumi gave Tornadoes the lead in the 26th minute but Bayelsa United equalised in the 44th minute through Robert Mizo.
The results
Group A: Bendel Insurance 1-0 Nasarawa United, Enyimba 2-0 Shooting Stars, Plateau United 5-0 El-Kanemi Warriors, Kwara United 0-0 Remo Stars
Thursday: Akwa United v Gombe United (4 pm)
Group B: Niger Tornadoes 1-1 Bayelsa United, Dakkada 2-1 Sunshine Stars, Doma United 1-0 Abia Warriors, Wikki Tourists 2-1 Lobi Stars, Rivers United v Rangers (postponed)
Nwankwor writes for the IMC Media
