NPFL 2018 Matchday 6 & 7 Reviews: Akwa United on the run, Plateau United whitewash Sunshine Stars, Enyimba FC hold El-kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri, Heartland FC and Kwara United get first wins of the season and many more
Two games each per team last week provided no breathing space in the NPFL as Akwa United remained on top of the table with Plateau United hot on their heels.
The Promise Keepers visited Nnewi and earned a point against FC IfeanyiUbah on Matchday 6 before thrashing Wikki Tourists 4-0 at the Nest of Champions. Ubong Friday grabbed a goal and an assist in that victory over Wikki Tourists. Victor Mbaoma had his 4th goal of the season while Michael Ibe and Christian Pyagbara completed the rout. According to Opta Nigeria, Akwa United are on top of the NPFL table for the first time since April 2014. Will they remain their till the end?
The biggest news of Matchday 7 came from Jos. Plateau United eclipsed Sunshine Stars on Matchday 7 in a 5-0 rout as Tosin Omoyele proved to be a handful for the visitors. The visitors who had just 11 players in Jos for the tie went down 3-0 in the first 20 minutes with goals from Tosin Omoyele, Sunday Ingbede and Emeka Umeh. It was one-way traffic with Tosin Omoyele’s brace in the 76th minute and Mafem Pam’s goal in the 87th minute. The victory covered up for Plateau United’s 2-0 defeat to Kano Pillars on Matchday 6 where Junior Lokosa increased his goal tally to 6 after scoring a brace.
Junior Lokosa continued his scoring form when he converted a 52nd minute penalty in Kano Pillars’ 2-0 win over MFM FC to make it 7 goals in 7 matches. Is he the new Stephen Odey? Will he surpass Mfon Udoh’s 23 goals in a season? MFM FC defeated Wikki Tourists 2-1 in the previous game but will need to tighten their ship when they make their debut on the continent this weekend.
There were two Oriental Derbies within the last two matchdays. Enyimba FC defeated Abia Warriors 1-0 in Calabar with Stanley Dimgba’s 70th minute freekick while Rangers FC held Abia Warriors to a goalless draw to continue their upward journey on the table. Another Oriental Derby comes up this weekend in Nnewi: FC IfeanyiUbah vs Heartland.
Heartland FC finally got their first victory of the season with a 2-0 win over Kwara United. Biodun Thompson scored in the 10th minute before Nnamdi Egbujuo wrapped up the victory in the 79th minute. Kwara United got their first win on Matchday 6 – a 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars.
The first Rivers Derby since Sharks were relegated and Dolphins changed to Rivers United ended in victory for Rivers United in Port Harcourt. The home side needed an 81st minute penalty to see off Go Round FC. Oche Salefu converted from the sport.
There were also 1-0 wins for Yobe Desert Stars over Katsina United, Rangers over Rivers United and Sunshine Stars over Ek-kanemi Warriors on Matchday 6. Matchday 7 was brutal to the visiting teams as no of them scored a goal on the road.
In the rescheduled Matchday 6 game played yesterday, Niger Tornadoes lost 2-1 to Heartland FC in Lokoja. It was Heartland’s first away win after 38 attempts and they remain the only side yet to lose an away game this season. Niger Tornadoes have now lost 4 consecutive matches in the NPFL. Are they destined for relegation?
The NPFL continues this weekend with exceptions of matches involving Plateau United, MFM Fc and Akwa United. They would begin their continental campaign this weekend. The latest table can be found on the LMC website.
Matchday 6 Results
FC IfeanyiUbah 1-1 Akwa United
Kwara United 1-0 Lobi Stars
Yobe Desert Stars 1-0 Katsina United
Go Round FC 2-1 Nasarawa United
Rangers FC 1-0 Rivers United
Enyimba FC 1-0 Abia Warriors
Sunshine Stars 1-0 El-Kanemi Warriors
Kano Pillars 2-0 Plateau United
MFM FC 2-1 Wikki Tourists
Niger Tornadoes 1-2 Heartland FC
Matchday 7 Results
Akwa United 4-0 Wikki Tourists
Lobi Stars 1-0 FC IfeanyiUbah
Heartland FC 2-0 Kwara United
Katsina United 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
Nasarawa United 3-0 Yobe Desert Stars
Rivers United 1-0 Go Round FC
Abia Warriors 0-0 Rangers FC
El-Kanemi Warriors 0-0 Enyimba FC
Plateau United 5-0 Sunshine Stars
Kano Pillars 2-0 MFMF FC
Photo credit: LMC Media
Post was modified from “Eclipse of the Sun, Oriental Derbies and the Reign of Akwa United” posted on Kiniscore.com
SoccerGunz 