NPFL Match Day 15 Group A review

    NPFL Match Day 15 Group A review

    On Sunday, April 14, teams from Group A contested in the round 15 of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    Sunshine Stars beat Lobi Stars 3:0 during the week in an outstanding game from round seven. In this round, they hosted Enugu Rangers at the Town Stadium in Akure. Pascal Seka put the visitors a goal up in the 29th minute which was quickly cancelled a minute later by Anthony Omaka.

    Before the end of the first half, Seka restored the lead with a goal in the 42nd minute, his third in two games. The home side did get a chance to earn at least a point when the referee awarded them a penalty in the 76th minute. However, Franklin Sasere couldn’t convert it.

    The win gives Enugu Rangers some breathing space on top of Group A with three games in hand over second-placed Enyimba. They also continued their unbeaten run which now stands at six matches. Sunshine Stars drop to sixth in the table.

    Ending a seven-game winless run, Niger Tornadoes finally win and move off the bottom of the table in Group A. They beat Wikki Tourists at the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja. Ahmad Liman scored twice, once in the first and then in the second half to give them a much-needed victory. Wikki Tourists move down to eighth place in the standings.

    Niger Tornados (npfl.ng)

    Niger Tornados (npfl.ng)

    Bendel Insurance played out a goalless draw with Remo Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. The hosts stay 10th in the table, a point and a game behind Kwara United. Remo Stars replace Niger Tornadoes at the bottom of the table on goal difference.

    Lobi Stars lost big against Sunshine Stars during the week and couldn’t recover against MFM away. However, they did manage to hold the hosts to a goalless draw at the Agege Stadium in Lagos. MFM move down to third in the table, now five games without a win, while Lobi Stars stay fourth on goal difference, after just one win in five games.

    Rivers United travelled to Katsina to play the home team at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium. And they were a goal down after 18 minutes of play when Tasiu Lawal scored from the penalty spot to bring his tally up to five goals this year.

    Katsina United doubled the lead in the 51st minute after Usman Barau put the goal in the net. Emotan Cletus managed to pull one back for the visitors in the 68th minute but it was only a consolation goal. The hosts move up to fifth in the table while the visitors drop to seventh.

    Unbeaten in eight matches, Enyimba were looking to continue that run against Kwara United at the International Stadium in Aba. And they were off to a great start, scoring just a couple of minutes after kick-off through Stanley Dimgba. That was his second goal this season.

    Four minutes after the restart, Sunday Akinmoladun was booked for the second time leaving Kwara with only ten men on the pitch. Dimgba took advantage and got his second goal of the day in the 73rd minute sealing the triumph for his team.

    Enyimba are now second in the table, three points behind the leaders Enugu Rangers. Kwara United move down to ninth in the table.