Enyimba ended a run of three games without a win by edging out Rivers United 2-0 in a keenly contested Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday-six encounter in Aba on Sunday, reports Completesports.com.
Abdulrahmam Bashir and Wasiu Alalade scored both goals for the seven-time NPFL champions.
It was Rivers United’s first defeat of the campaign and one which saw them surrender top spot in the NPFL Group A log to MFM who defeated Wikki Tourists 1-0 at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.
Chijoke Akuneto scored the decisive goal for MFM after he was played through on goal by Mubarak Said.
The Olukoya Boys top the table with nine points from five matches.
Sunshine Stars also secured a 2-1 home win against Remo Stars in the South West derby at the Akure Sports Stadium.
Fuad Ekelojuojti opened scoring for the home team in the second minute, while Bright Akpojuvwevwo equalised for Remo Stars three minutes later.
Alaba Adeniji got the winning goal for Sunshine Stars in the 57th minute.
Katsina United piled more pressure on Niger Tornadoes head coach, Bernard Ogbe in NPFL new season by handing his side a 3-1 defeat at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium Minna.
Martins Usule, Tasiu Lawal (brace) netted for Katsina United, with Eric Frimpong scoring Tornadoes only goal of the game.
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In NPFL Group B, FC Ifeanyi Ubah unbeaten start to the campaign came to an end after a 2-1 home loss to Abia Warriors in their oriental derby.
Emmanuel Ugwuka put the hosts ahead in the third minute after a sumptuous cross by Chibuike Eze.
Samson Obi equalised for Abia Warriors late in the first half with Shedrack Asiegbu scoring the winner in the 59th minute.
Kano Pillars defeated Nasarawa United 3-0 with Adamu Hassan scoring a brace and Chinedu Sunday scoring the other goal.
In Maiduguri, El-Kanemi Warriors recorded a narrow 2-1 home win against Yobe Desert Stars.
Abubakar Umar and veteran midfielder, Isiaka Olawale got the goals for the home team, while Abdullahi Usman scored for the visitors.
At the Pantami Stadium, Gombe United were held to a barren draw by Plateau United.
NPFL MATCHDAY-6 RESULTS
MFM 1-0 Wikki
Enyimba 2-0 Rivers Utd
Sunshine Stars 2-1 Remo Stars
Katsina Utd 3-1 Tornadoes
El-Kanemi 2-1 Yobe Stars
Akwa Utd 3-0 Go Round
Kano Pillars 3-0 Nasarawa Utd
Gombe Utd 0-0 Plateau Utd
Heartland 3-2 Kada Stars
FCIU 1-2 Abia Warriors
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
The surprise shock to me in this week result, is the game involving Ifeanyi Ubah vs Abia Warrior.
If our clubs continue to record away win like this, it will help to boost the morale of other teams to do same too, and the win by all cost syndrome will gradually fade away, and our league will begin to wear a new look and it will be attractive.
The LMC needs to sensitized the club owners to educate their fans to be discipline, to shun hooliganism and the win by all cost mentality.
The mentality of winning home matches at all cost has given some clubs and venue where matches are played some call for concerns.
And sometimes, crazy fans and their hostile behaviours towards visiting teams have made some clubs to forfeit hard fought points.
We will never stop advocating for the Nigeria league to be among the top best in Africa and possibly the world in general. It is very possible with the right mechanism in place.
The NFF needs to visit the foundation and structire of our league and see where things have gone wrong, a whole lot has to be put in place.
The way and manner in which we run the league is cruel to me and it must stop.
Two issues here:
1. Security of players and officials. Match day one match officils were beaten by Plateau United fans and match day two officials beaten up by Remo Stars fans. Both clubs fined and banished from their home stadiums for three games. BUT, there are police at the games and they as well as the home teams failed to protect the match officials. This has got to change.
2. The notion of home game=home win is also changing slowly. almost every week this season has seen one or two away wins, this is good for the game. I read that 6 teams failed to win at home in week 5 without a whimper from anyone. It means that the message is getting to everyone that you do not always win at home
Hi Abah-fada,
Thanks again mate for highlighting what the issues are and proffering credible solutions on the matter at hand.
Your right-up was crisp, concise, to the point and very much digestible. I just hope the kind of passion that comes from such write-ups gets to the right people so that they do the right thing because, yes, we do want our league to be among one of the best run in Africa and also to be a league of repute globally.
The raw materials (players) are there; the market (fans either going to the stadium or watching the match via paid-for television subscription) are there; the tools (internet, advertising, transport, communication) are there; sources of finance (state government, businesses, donors, access to bank loans) are there; potential sources of revenue (merchandise, television subscription, internet subscription, advertising) are all there.
What we need is, like you say Abah-fada, a mechanism to harness all these – and other – elements in order to produce a league that will be an attractive product for fans to follow and for investors to invest.
Let’s keep banging the drum, hopefully, someone will hear it and do the right thing!
@ Deo,
Thank you so much for the acknowledgement. May God bless you Deo.