NPFL MD 28 Review: NPFL On Fire As Sunshine Stars Glow in Ilorin
Some fans measure the competitiveness of the Nigeria Professional Football League with the number of away wins and how many goals the visiting teams score. Matchday 28 of the 2016/17 NPFL season provided a lot of excitement to all and sundry with goals galore in most of the match venues.
Amongst the 10 matches played, the encounter in Ilorin shined brightest. Sunshine Stars went, saw and conquered hosts ABS FC in Ilorin. At half-time you would have expected the match to end in a regular 1-0 home win or drab goalless draw but the Owena Waves, struggling in the relegation zones before the game ignited the atmosphere and went ahead 2-0 within the first 9 minutes of the second half. Sikiru Alimi was on song in the 46th minute while Ajibola Otegbeye scored the second in the 54th minute.
The quick goals stunned the hosts who reduced the deficit in the 61st minute from the spot via Samuel Oyedeji. Sunshine Stars were not taken chances. They restored their 2 goal cushion with Abiodun Joseph’s 67th minute goal to make it 3-1 to Sunshine Stars. The game still had two goals in it: Chukwuebuka Anaekwe scored for ABS in the 85th minute but Ezekiel Thompson’s goal seconds later ensured the visitors ended the game 4-2. Six goals in Ilorin, don’t you just love the spontaneity of the NPFL?
4 - @SunshineFCAkure scored 4+ away goals for the first time in their top flight history. Solstice. #ABSSUN #NPFL
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The defeat meant ABS FC finished the Matchday in 17th while Sunshine Stars left the relegation zone for the first time since Matchday 21. Can they dare to believe they would survive?
There were three goals each in Jos and Calabar. Plateau United were 3-0 winners over Akwa United in the battle of “First vs Third”. It was their first win over Akwa United in the NPFL. Niger Tornadoes were beaten 3-0 by Enyimba FC in Calabar. Talks of ineligibility by Niger Tornadoes have been shoved aside by the LMC siting lack of fair play. Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, one of the goal scorers for Enyimba, was not eligible to play due to accumulated yellow cards. The visitors knew but kept mum. Enyimba FC may have escaped but this emphasises the importance of record keeping in the NPFL.
Ikechukwu Ibenegbu (@mosky06) has now scored on the strike of HT in @EnyimbaFC's last 2 home matches - all from dead balls. Deadly #ENYTOR
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Gombe United defeated El-Kanemi Warriors 2-0, Abia Warriors were 2-0 winners over Nasarawa United while Wikki Tourists won Kano Pillars 2-0. Katsina United defeated Lobi Stars 2-1 in Katsina. FC IfeanyiUbah held Remo Stars to a 1-1 draw in Sagamu on Tuesday. The match was postponed due to food poisoning in the Remo Stars camp. The home team fell behind no thanks to a fumbling goalie but Victor Mbaoma responded almost immediately with a free kick to earn a point for Remo Stars. Relegation looks so sure for the Blue Angels.
2 - Victor Mbaoma has now scored more late equalizers (81+ mins) than any other player in the #NPFL this season.
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In the Nigerian El-Classico, Abu Azeez scored his first goal for Shooting Stars as they held hosts Rangers International FC to a 1-1 draw. His 80th minute equalizer cancelled out Godwin Aguda’s 29th opener. Rivers United were 1-0 winners over MFM FC on Wednesday. It was the 7th 1-0 win of the season, the highest by any team in the NPFL.
1 - @iamzeezaga has now scored his first goal for @Official3SC and his first in the league since May 2016. Equalizer. #RANSHO #NPFLLive
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50% of #NPFL matches involving @RiversUnitedFC have ended in the same scoreline {1-0} this season. Drab.
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With 10 matches to go, the league table is taking shape. There will be more movement on both sides of the table. It is all for Plateau United to lose and Remo Stars need to do the unthinkable to avoid joining Ikorodu United in the NNL. Have you seen the NNL table? Heartland and Kwara United are coming back.
Bonus: Rivers United lost 2-1 away to FUS Rabat and were knocked out of the CAF Confederation Cup. They finished bottom of their table.
@AmosCP
Photocredit: LMC Media
Statistics: @OptaNGR (Opta Nigeria)
