NPFL Match Day 7 review – Group B
After the last round Heartland were at the top of Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) Group B. Would they still be the leaders after round seven?
Abia Warriors hosted the group leaders this time around. And one goal was enough for the hosts to get their second big scalp in just a few days. Samson Bossa Obi was the scorer of the deciding goal in the 25th minute of the game.
Heartland move down to second with their 3rd defeat of the year. The Warriors move up to fifth, still a game behind Go Round in fourth.
Newly promoted Kada City welcomed the El-Kanemi Warriors at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. It was the visitors who scored first early in the game. Abubakar Umar was the scorer in the 16th minute.
Ten minutes into the second half Sanisu Kabiru came off the bench for the home side. And it was a great move by the manager. Kabiru scored two goals to turn this game around, first one in the 69th minute and the second one on 90 minutes.
With this great comeback, Kada City move from bottom place to ninth in the table. They are also a game behind Kano Pillars in eighth. El-Kanemi Warriors drop to third still level on points with second-placed Heartland who also lost.
Kada City (npfl.ng)
Go Round suffered a tough defeat in round 6, conceding three goals against Akwa United. On the other hand, Kano Pillars beat Nasarawa United 3:0. In this round, the Pillars travelled to Omoku to face Go Round at home.
The home side scored in the 33rd minute through Akaba Otega. The referee extended the first half by five extra minutes. That gave enough time to the visitors to get an equalizer before halftime. The experienced Rabiu Ali was the scorer.
Six minutes into the second half Go Round took the lead again but this time they held on to it. Adeseun Adelani scored the winner to move his team to 4th in Group B. Kano Pillars remain in eighth.
The Nnewi team FC Ifeanyi Ubah bounced back after their first loss of the season to beat Gombe United 2:0. The first half finished goalless. The home manager introduced two substitutions in the second half, Uche Onuoha in the 52nd minute and Nonso Nzediegwu in the 63rd minute.
It turned out to be a great move as the two players won him the game. Uche Onuoha scored the first goal in the 73rd minute. Nonso Nzediegwu confirmed the victory in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
With this win, FC Ifeanyi Ubah go back to the top of Group B while Gombe United stay in the last place.
Straight after a close defeat in the last round, Yobe Stars took on Akwa United at the August 27 Stadium. Mfon Udoh turned out to be the deciding factor in this game. He scored a minute before the half-hour mark to give the home side a win.
With two wins in a row, Akwa United sit in seventh place a game behind Nasarawa United in sixth. Yobe stars stay second to last with two games in hand over Plateau United in tenth.
Nasarawa United played hosts to Plateau United at the Lafia Town Stadium. The home side won 2:1 with a goal in each half. Sanusi Ibrahim scored in the 8th minute of the game while Adeshola Johnson added the second in the 54th minute.
The visitors tried to get back into the match but only managed a consolation goal. Jesse Akila scored it in the second minute of time added on.
Nasarawa United move up to sixth while Plateau United are in tenth spot in Group B.