Enugu Rangers recorded their first win of the campaign following a hard-fought 1-0 win against Akwa United at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium on Sunday, reports Completesports.com.
Israel Abia netted the winning goal for Rangers on the hour mark.
The former Sunshine Stars striker nodded home from close range following a cross from Ifeanyi Nweke.
Nasarawa United recorded the only away win of matchday two edging out Heartland 2-0 in Owerri.
Chinedu Ohanachom put the visitors ahead in the 14th minute, while Shedrack Oghali equalised for the home team in the 63rd minute.
Adamu Hassan scored the winning goal 16 minutes from time.
The Lafia club now occupy top spot on the table with six points from two games.
At the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano Pillars defeated Katsina United 2-0 with David Ebuka and Rabiu Ali scoring both goals.
In Makurdi, Martins Ossy scored the decisive goal as Lobi Stars beat MFM 1-0.
In another matchday two fixture, Sunshine Stars pip FC IfeanyiUbah 1-0 at the Akure Township Stadium.
Timileyin Ogunniyi on the ninth minute.
FULL RESULTS
Kano Pillars 2-0 Katsina Utd
Heartland 1-2 Nasarawa Utd
Rangers 1-0 Akwa Utd
Dakadda 2-1 Jigawa GS
Sunshine Stars 1-0 FCIU
Lobi 1-0 MFM
Wolves 1-0 Adamawa Utd
11 Comments
When we see good developments, let learn to appreciate them.
For the past 2 weeks now, I’ve been watching NPFL Live on television with joy and pride in me. This could only get better I do say. Good Officiating, Competitive fixtures and fine displays from both teams. I think if this should continue, Nigeria will soon have a good home based team. I watched Kano Pillar Vs Katsina United today and i can point out to like 3 players in Katsina United that impressed me more not even Kano Pillars just to show how competitive it was. Good Job NFF and Thanks to the sponsors
Thanks @ChairmanFemi. Presently, I can’t watch NPFL on television from my current location, but it’s refreshing to hear good and encouraging reports like this about the league. Also, the pitch in the picture looks quite okay. Hopefully other pitches in the league are up to this standard or even better. Encouraging signs that someday we’ll get there.
Good one @ chairmanfemi. Sounds like good old days are returning. Just sad though, those of us outside are finding hard to see these games. Please kindly help with links to watch these local league matches.
On which stations did you watch them please @Chairmanfemi. The home-based guys do impress sometimes. They just needed good organisation/administration. There were really some flashes of brilliance I saw I think in 2 FA cup final ago – Kano Pillars vs Enugu Rangers I think. If some of the recent games impressed you, I’d like to have a go too. I’ll keep a date.
Hi Kel, I have been watching some of the matches on the NPFL app which you can download from the Play store on Android. It comes with a subscription fee of 1,500 naira per month but you get an initial free 7 day trial period.
The matches are visually crystal clear and the commentary is lucid and engaging. There are even highlights of previous matches to revisit on the app.
This development augurs well for the desirability and marketability of the league going forward.
Performance of homebased players has now been catapulted to a whole new height of visibility. If the league runs to schedule, homebased players should do better in CAF club competitions and in Super Eagles B assignments.
I am so excited.
Hi @deo, thanks for the info and well done for all the quite insightful research below. I look forward to when the NPFL matches will be religiously followed and teams passionately supported like in the EPL or even the SA league.
I believe we have the raw materials, we just need the administrative acumen, creativity and will plus heavy investment by corporate Nigeria to retain and maximise talents. Dangote and Orji Uzor Kalu, for example, could start here – rather than at Arsenal.
My affable Chairmanfemi, I endorse and echo your sentiments on the availability of NPFL matches to a global audience. It is hopefully an augury of more fascinating things to come for the Nigeria Professional Football League.
Finally, I can give the LMC a pass mark for something!
But I hear that clubs still owe players wages. This weed would also need to be rooted out and replaced with mechanisms to ensure NPFL clubs attract and retain truly exciting talents across the sub region.
I have seen some matches and will watch highlights later.
This is good!
We can all watch NPFL MATCHES NOW irrespective of our location both live matches and full videos of matches across the NPFL just download THE NPFLTV APP on google play store or visit the NPFL.tv site
I am not trying to play the role of devil’s advocate but the problem with the NFA, NPFL and the LMC has been the maintenance culture. They come up with exciting and promising programmes and sometimes even actually those promises but after a year or two the evil that always befall them will raise up its head again. The greedy ones among them, take the other party to court and scared the sponsors away.
Hopefully they get their act together this time and all parties( if any) will bury their hatchets for the progress of the game.
Below are some of the players I managed to monitor in the Nigeria Professional Football League last season despite meagre match coverage and low visibility.
I do hope these and other players set the league alight this season with sparkling performances this time around with the whole world watching!
1)Stanley Dimgba (Eyimba): he has had a barnstorming season for the People’s Elephant hitting double figure of goals in all competitions and has also been able to retain some of his trickery down the wings.
2)Ali Kalla Maro (Jigawa Golden Stars): he has made a good impression with darting runs on the flanks and ultimately some goals as well .
3) Eka Unegbe (Adamawa United): his dribbling skills have not gone unnoticed in the colours of doomed Adamawa United.
4) Rafiu Ishaq (Rivers United): he has thrilled fans on occasion with decent footwork.
5) Joseph Atule (Katsina United): he always seems to have some tricks up his sleeves.
6) Wisdom Fernando (Akwa United): although he has had playing time very hard to come by this season, he still produces some eye catching performances when called upon.
7) Nelson Esor (Rivers United): he simply weaves the magic wand whenever United needs it most. The ease at which he goes past opposing players creates opening for the team at crucial periods.
8) Anayo Iwuala (Enyimba): the former Delta Force man, who is now a regular under Fatai Osho, terrorises opponents with his incredible dribbling skills. Just ask any Abia Warriors player about this lad.
9) Timilehin Ogunniyi (Sunshine Stars): Omo-Jesu is a left footed winger who stays predominantly on the right for the Owena Whales. Likened to the Dutch winger Arjen Robben, he boasts of an electric pace while going past his markers.
10) Abdullahi Abubakar Aliyu (FC Ifeanyiubah): this youngster has grown into being a regular at the Nnewi-based club this season. He has the nimbleness that takes him past two to three markers at once.
11)Ibrahim Olawoyin (Rangers): It is rare for individual players in the league to have such enchanting grip on a fanbase the way Olawoyin has done at Rangers. Perhaps only Pillars captain Rabiu Ali has such magical charisma before the emergence of this star nicknamed Nigeria’ Hazard.
For those living in Nigeria, you can watch the matches live on NTA and NTA Sports (on startimes). Thanks