NPFL: Plateau Back On Top
Plateau United have returned to the summit of the Nigeria Professional Football League table after a hard-fought 1-0 win against visiting Wikki Tourists in a match day 17 encounter on Sunday.
Plateau’s goal was scored by Reuben Bala from the penalty spot on 57 minutes following a handball inside the penalty box. The wins means Plateau are now on 31 points. Former leaders MFM FC were thrashed 4-0 away to Nasarawa United. Goals from Adamu Hassan, Yinka Onaolapo (61st minute), Anthonin Oussou (83rd minute) and Abdulrahman Bashir (86th minute) secured the emphatic win for Nasarawa.
MFM drop to third in the league table following their heavy loss to Nasarawa. Former NPFL champions Kano Pillars lost 1-0 to El-Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri. The only goal of the game was scored by Mathias Samuel on 53 minutes.El-Kanemi have now gone up to second position on 30 points.
In the Oriental derby at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Enyimba came from a goal down to beat champions Rangers 2-1.Daniel Etor gave Rangers the perfect start with a seventh minute goal.
Enyimba hit back through substitute Samuel Chukwude in the 55th minute. And in the 88th minute, Enyimba completed the comeback with Mfon Udoh scoring the winner.
In Uyo, Akwa United defeated Shooting Stars 4-2.Friday Ubong opened the scoring on 11 minutes before a hat-trick from Alhassan Ibrahim in the 28th, 36th and 44th minute, gave Akwa a 4-0 half-time lead. Ibrahim now has nine league goals. Shooting Stars pulled a goal back through Moses James on 58 minutes. Taiwo Shittu made it 4-2 on 90 minutes but it was too little too late as Akwa held on.
In other results, Niger Tornadoes playing at home beat Lobi Stars 2-1, Sunshine Stars lost 2-1 away to Ifeanyi Ubah, hosts Abia Warriors beat ABS 2-0, Gombe piped visiting Rivers United 1-0 and Remo edged Katsina United 1-0.
Report by Miyen Akiri