NPFL MD37 Review: Top and Bottom Two Confirmed as Penalty Kicks Dominate

Matchday 37 turned out to be a unique Matchday as there was an upsurge of penalty kicks in the league. Of the 22 goals scored, 10 of them were from the penalty spot. 13 penalty kicks were awarded – the highest in years. Every centre except Agege and Ilorin had at least a penalty kick to talk about.

Plateau United and MFM FC will finish the season as the top two teams and thus will represent Nigeria in the 2017/18 CAF Champions League. Plateau United lost 1-0 to Wikki Tourists but are 5 points above third place Enyimba who were denied three points at the Cathedral – no thanks to a questionable penalty awarded to Rangers International towards the end of the game. Ikechukwu Ibenegbu had converted from the spot in the first half before Chiamaka Madu drew Rangers level three minutes from time.

@OptaNGR: 2000 - @plateauutdfc return to the continent for 1st time since they featured in the 2000 CAF Cup Winners Cup. Uplift. #NPFL https://twitter.com/OptaNGR/status/904453374602616833

The stalemate in Enugu was good news for MFM FC who avenged their round one AITEO Cup defeat to Nasarawa United. Stanley Okorom scored and provided for Tchato Giscard as MFM FC won 2-0. Both MFM FC and Plateau United got promoted to the NPFL last season and will represent Nigeria next season in the CAF Champions League.

@OptaNGR: 2004 - MFM FC will become the first Lagos based team to feature on the continent since Julius Berger in March 2004. Ascension. #NPFL https://twitter.com/OptaNGR/status/904452541718638593

Akwa United slipped away from 4th after conceding a late penalty in Ibadan. Seun Akinyemi scored in the 81st minute for Shooting Stars. Anthony Okoptu equalled Stephen Odey’s 18 goals tally this season as Lobi Stars defeated Niger Tornadoes 1-0. His goal was also from the spot.

The penalty galore started in Ijebu-Ode in the 9th minute as FC IfeanyiUbah’s Sory Traore brought down Otegbeye. The striker missed but got another opportunity in the 18th minute after Traore brought him down again. Otegbeye didn’t miss and Sunshine went on to win 4-0 with goals from Kingsley Ogoh (brace) and Tope Orelope. It was not the present the Anambra Warriors would have loved to give to Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah as a birthday present. They were involved in an accident on their way to Ijebu-ode.

There were no penalties in Ilorin as ABS FC came from behind to defeat Abia Warriors. Moses Omoduemuke gave Abia Warriors the lead in the 4th minute but a second half brace from Adeshina Gata moved ABS to within a point of safety. Kano Pillars were 2-0 winners over El-Kanemi Warriors. They even had the luxury of missing a penalty.

In Katsina, Chinedu Udechukwu scored twice from the spot and missed one as Katsina United defeated relegated Remo Stars 3-0. Frank Asade grabbed the third goal in the 87th minute. Rivers United were not left out of the penalty largesse as they condemned Gombe United to a 3-0 defeat and relegation to the NNL. The desert scorpion got promoted this season and will ply their trade in the NNL next season. Bernard Ovoke scored twice from the spot before Bolaji Sakin made it 3-0 for the Port Harcourt based side.

@OptaNGR:12 - Twelve penalty kicks have been awarded to @fckatsinaunited in the 2016/17 #NPFL - joint highest with @FCIfeanyiUbah and @NigerTornadoes https://twitter.com/OptaNGR/status/904463432044482567

With 43 points, the Desert Scorpions are 5 points away from safety with only a game left. Two teams would join Gombe United and Remo Stars as relegated teams. The top ten teams are safe but teams below the 10th position have a mathematical chance of being relegated.

The final day would be wonderful but would we have such amount of penalties? The amount of penalties recorded would surely raise eyebrows. Is it a case of jittery defences or poor officiating? The live game on TV was a case of poor officiating as Rangers goal is yet understood.

Bonus: The Super Eagles were 4-0 winners over reigning AFCON champions Cameroon in Uyo. Odion Igbalo, Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Kelechi Iheanacho scored for Nigeria. The return leg holds today in Yaounde.

AmosCP