NPFL Match day 10 Group A review

    NPFL Match day 10 Group A review

    On Wednesday, 20th February, teams across the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) played their round 10 matches. Here’s the review of Group A encounters.

    After earning four points from the last two games, Sunshine Stars travelled to the Agege Stadium to play MFM. They went into the match on the back of a three-game unbeaten run.

    The home side took the lead in the 42nd minute through Kabir Adeniji. Michael Ohanu secured the victory in the 67th minute. The Sunshine Stars remain in third on goal difference, still a game behind Enyimba. Now four-games unbeaten, MFM increase their lead at the top of Group A.

    Lobi Stars hosted the Remo stars looking to finally get off the bottom of the table in only their 4th match this season. Yaya Kone scored in the 14th minute to give Lobi Stars the lead. Less than ten minutes later, Sunday Williams equalized for the visitors.

    In a tightly contested second half, the home side had to wait until the first minute of stoppage time to score the winning goal. And it was Yaya Kone again, with his second goal of the game.

    Lobi Stars move to 11th, level on points with last-placed Niger Tornadoes but five games behind Remo Stars in 10th.

    Kwara United welcomed bottom of the table Niger Tornadoes in Ilorin. After a goalless first half, the hosts scored two goals in the second half to win the match. Nosiru Afees scored in the 68th while Lukman Binuyo added the second on in the 80th minute.

    With this win, Kwara United have three wins, three draws and three losses which is good enough for 4th in the table. Niger Tornadoes are three matches without a win and last in Group A.

    Enyimba FC (Twitter/Enyimba FC)

    Enyimba FC (Twitter/Enyimba FC)

    Resurgent Enyimba took on Katsina United at home in Aba. The game wasn’t pretty, as two Katsina United players were sent off, both in the first half. Five more of their players were booked.

    The home side took the lead after Ifeanyi Anaemena converted a penalty in the 34th minute. Enyimba sealed the win in the 60th minute through Abdulrahman Bashir.

    Katsina United stay in 6th place in the standings while Enyimba move to second, four points behind MFM.

    Enugu Rangers played their fourth match of the year against Wikki Tourists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. In another tight game, no one managed to score in the first hour of the encounter. Then, in the 60th minute, Michael Uchebo put the hosts 1:0 up. Eighteen minutes later, Godwin Aguda doubled their lead.

    The game didn’t finish there. Abba Umar scored for the visitors late in the game, what turned out to be just a consolation goal.

    Enugu Rangers jump from 11th to sixth place in the table and three games behind Rivers United. Wikki Tourists drop to eighth, now level on points with Katsina United and Enugu Rangers above them.

    Bendel Insurance and Rivers United played out the only draw of this round in Group A. The homes side took the lead in the 13th minute through Michael Ugwu. However, soon after the restart, Ossy Martins levelled the score. The result was 1:1 at the final whistle.

    Rivers United sit in fifth place, two matches behind Kwara United, while Bendel Insurance stay in ninth place.