Four-time champions Shooting Stars were one of the major casualties in the first round of the 2018 Aiteo Cup, losing 5-4 on penalties to third tier Supreme Court in Benin in the round of 64.
The game ended goalless in regulation time, and the Ol…
Lobi Stars moved five points clear at the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League table on Sunday thanks to a 1-0 home win against Sunshine Stars.
The game in Makurdi was decided by Kehinde Abayomi’s 73rd-minute own goal, a result which piles further pressure on Sunshine, who are struggling in the relegation zone.
Nyima Nwagua salvaged an away point for Kano Pillars at Heartland in a 1-1 draw in Owerri on Sunday. The bottom club stunned their more illustrious opponents in the 28th minute…
Ayo Saka struck a late winner to extend Lobi Stars’ lead to six points, while the ninth Oriental Derby of the season failed to ignite and ended in a goalless affair.
Saka was the match-winner for Stars; the veteran midfielder’s 81st-minute effort earning the leaders a 1-0 victory against 10-men Kano Pillars.
Chris Madaki was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence and, within a minute, his dismissal had dire consequences as Saka headed home Ebube Duru’s cross.
It was fourth time…
Title favourites Akwa United, Plateau United and Kano Pillars maintained their early season lead by scoring a combined 11 goals in a frantic match-day seven in the Nigeria Professional Football League.
Akwa United 4-0 Wikki Tourists
Akwa easily …
Plateau United failed to capitalise on MFM’s slip up, while Enugu Rangers made it three wins on the trot.
Akwa United 2 Lobi Stars 1
First half goals from Musa Newman and Gabriel Okechukwu secured third-place Akwa a win against Stars on Friday, a triumph which only just keeps them ahead of Enyimba. Ifeanyi’s corner was met by the head of Newman in the 20th minute, before Newman turned provider for Okechukwu, who rounded goalkeeper Okiemute Odah to net just before the break. Kingsley Eduwo pulled…
Enyimba
Plateau United and MFM maintained their fight for Nigerian Professional Football League honours on Sunday, but Akwa United’s hopes were dealt a hammer blow.
Plateau United 2 Shooting Stars 0
Plateau maintained their three-point lead at the top of the table thanks to a comfortable home win against Shooting Stars on a rainy day in Jos. Emmanuel Odafe and Ibeh Johnson scored in either half against a Stars side that now drop to 16th spot, level on points with ABS FC in the last relegation place.
Enyimba…
Nasarawa United sealed an important win over Rivers.
With most of the clubs in Nigeria’s domestic league still on mid-season break, action was restricted to just two games this weekend.
Both involved the teams who had missed games as a result of their continental exertions. Champions Rangers and runners-up Rivers United have been playing catch up, with varying degrees of success. This was one weekend where the effect of those heavy legs took their toll.
Here are three highlights from the past weekend
1. Eguavoen opens with win
Former Nigeria coach…
Stephen Odey, in purple, was joined by Plateau United’s Reuben Bala in the Nigeria Premier League’s hat trick club.
After just one matchday of staring up at MFM FC, Plateau United returned to the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League table in emphatic style this week, handing ABS FC their heaviest defeat in a 4-1 thrashing.
MFM, who had dislodged Plateau from top spot following a 2-1 home victory over the then-league leaders, put up a horrendously poor performance as they went down 1-0 to Gombe United. The only surprise in that game was that MFM only lost by a single goal.
Here are five takeaways from…