NPFL Match day 10 Group B review

    NPFL Match day 10 Group B review

    Clubs from groups A and B of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) contested their round 10 matches on February 20th. Here’s a review of Group B encounters.

    Kada City went to New Jos Road Stadium to take on Plateau United, hoping to get their first ever away win in the NPFL. And one goal was enough to get them the win. After a goalless first half, Kada City got their winner in the 81st minute through Sadiq Suleiman. They finished the match with ten men after Collins Shola was shown red after two yellow cards.

    Plateau United now sit in 9th place while Kada City move up to 10th place, with two games in hand over them.

    After a couple of tough games away from home without getting a win, Nasarawa United took on Yobe Stars at home in Lafia. The visitors played aggressive defence, earning four yellow cards in the space of 15 minutes. But the home side still managed to score just before the break. Isah Ndala got the goal in the 43rd minute.

    This first-half goal was enough to get Nasarawa a win taking them to 7th in the table. Yobe Stars stay last, with a game in hand over Gombe United in 11th place.

    Kano Pillars, who missed the last round of the NPFL, took on Abia Warriors in this round. The teams were level on points before kick-off. The first half ended goalless.

    The home side got their first goal in the 71st minute with Gambo Mohammed the scorer. Fifteen minutes later, the referee awarded the home side a penalty which Rabiu Ali successfully converted to make the final score 2:0 for the Pillars.

    Kano Pillars FC (kanopillars.com)

    Kano Pillars FC (kanopillars.com)

    Abia Warriors stay in the bottom half of the table while Kano Pillars move to fifth, a game behind Go Round.

    Both Gombe United and Go Round drew their matches in the last round. They play each other in this round, at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe. A single goal was enough to decide the winner. And it was scored by the visitors in the 7th minute of the game. Henry Ochuba was the scorer.

    With their fourth defeat this year, Gombe are second to last in the table. Go Round move up to fourth place, level on points with Akwa United in third.

    Without a win in three games, Heartland needed a win to get back up the table. In this round, they were up against the El-Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri. Nothing of note happened in the first half. The hosts settled the game in the second half with goals from Ba’akaka Kolo and Innocent Gabriel.

    Interestingly, this was the only match in round 10 of the NPFL where the referee didn’t book anyone. Now, four matches without a win, Heartland sit in sixth place, level on points with fifth-placed Kano Pillars. El-Kanemi Warriors are now second but only because of goal difference.

    Akwa United welcomed the group B leaders FC Ifeanyi Ubah in Uyo. Mfon Udoh scored in the 40th minute to give Akwa the lead and the win.

    Even though they lost, FC Ifeanyi Ubah stay in first place but only on superior goal difference. Akwa United record their fourth win this year to go third and a game behind the leaders.