Yahuza Bala broke the deadlock in the 78th minute Kaduna to enable Niger Tornadoes win their second game of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) as the 2023/24 season enters MatchDay 4.
The guests, Bayelsa United were hoping to avoid another away defeat after losing 0-2 to Doma United in Matchday 2.
The result lifted Tornadoes to sixth on the log. But with eight matches on Sunday, and several teams queueing behind, the Ikon Allah are quite unlikely to keep that spot at the end of this weekend matches.
One of the matches on Sunday is that in Lafia between hosts Lobi Stars and Abia Warriors, which originally meant for Saturday.
According the NPLF Media, the League granted the 24-hour shift following the tragic robbery incident in Makurdi, home base of Lobi Stars.
“Everything and all officials involved in this fixture, including the crew of our broadcast streaming partners, Propel Sports are on ground in Lafia but this is a huge human tragedy that deserves our sympathy and support, not just for Lobi Stars but the entire people of Benue State”, NPFL’s Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, said while announcing the date shift.
“The NPFL commiserates with the families that lost loved ones and the greater people and government of Benue State on this unfortunate incident”, he further said.
Owumi disclosed that NPFL has sought the understanding of the match officials and the visiting team, Abia Warriors whose schedule and logistics would directly be impacted by the shift. He added that “all other fixtures will be played as scheduled”.
Doma United versus Enyimba had earlier been postponed owing to the People Elephant’s involvement in the prestigious Africa Football League. Enyimba will be hosting Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo in the first leg quarterfinal of the competition.
Seven people, including policemen and a former councillor transacting business, were killed on Friday by robbers who operated for more than an hour in three banks in the Otukpo area of Benue State, carting away several millions of Naira.
The suspected robbers were said to have driven into the town around 3:15 pm and used dynamites to force the door open.
On Sunday, log leaders Bendel Insurance travel for the first time in the season after beating Shooting Stars and Plateau United in Benin City. The Benin Arsenals will be in Gombe to face Gombe United, who are chasing their second win having lost to Sporting Lagos and Shooting Stars in Lagos and Ibadan respectively, while triumphing over Enyimba 2-0 in Gombe.
Second placed Rangers will be guests of Kwara United, who played goalless with Rivers United last MatchDay in Port Harcourt.
The fixtures: Heartland v Katsina United, Lobi Stars v Abia Warriors, Kano Pillars v Rivers United, Kwara United v Rangers, Remo Stars v Sporting Lagos, Akwa United v Shooting Stars, Gombe United v Bendel Insurance, Plateau United v Sunshine Stars (all 4 pm)
Postponed: Doma United v Enyimba
