This season’s Nigeria Premier League has cut the picture of possible titanic battle to the end. Although, only one away win has been recorded, the keenness is illustrated by the narrow margin separating the top 10 so far.
The keenness is also reflected in the race for the top scorer’s award. At the moment, Bayelsa United’s Robert Mizo, with five goals, leads. Sunshine Stars’ Michael Olulasi who has scored four follows. The duo of Sikiru Alimi of Remo Stars and Lukman Bello of Katsina United are next, with three goals each.
Only three points separate 10th placed Niger Tornadoes from Enugu Rangers at the top. Virtually every week, there has been changes at the top of the log.
As at Week 1, Bayelsa United went ahead. In the second week, the table changed. Last weekend, Remo Stars, the only club to have picked full points on the road shot ahead after a titanic battle in which they beat Sporting Lagos in Ikenne.
Though with an outstanding and potentially explosive away match at Enyimba, Remo Stars were temporarily dropped to second position on Saturday.
A comeback win by their Western allies, Shooting Stars over visiting Doma United has pulled Remo Stars to the third position. They now face three daunting fixtures against Enyimba in Aba, Shooting Stars in Ikenne and their perennial adversaries, Bendel Insurance in their Benin fortress.
With the closeness of points among the top half of the teams, predictability is a difficult task.
Enugu Rangers are currently at the top, great thanks to their massive 4-1 win over difficult sides, Kano Pillars. It gave them a two goal difference that have separated them from their eternal rivals, Shooting Stars at the top of the log.
So far, any of the top 10 teams can still navigate to the top in the next three fixtures of the teams.
Shooting Stars came from a goal down to win 3-1 against Doma United in Ibadan. Nellson Abiam shot the visitors ahead in the 8th minute before Gbolagade Adelowo achieved parity for the home side when he converted a 44th minute penalty kick.
Kareem Ademola got the home boys the lead in the 60th minute before that was doubled in the third minute of the added time by Gideon Monday.
In an Eastern derby, Abia Warriors beat visiting Heartland 1-0 through Meme Okike’s 8th minute goal. Bayelsa United, the only team so far to have lost at home, made up with a 2-1 defeat of Kwara United. Great thanks to the brace by Robert Mizo in the 10th and 32nd minutes. Samuel Ayorinde scored the only goal for Kwara United.
In Katsina, home side, Katsina United came twice from behind to beat Sunshine Stars 3-2. Michael Olalusi shot the visitors ahead in the 23rd minute before Michael Ibe levelled in the 45th minute.
The celebration that greeted the equaliser had hardly died down when Olalusi again shot the visitors ahead in the third minute of the added time.
Bello Lukman then put the the home team at par again in the 49th minute before scoring the winner in the 62nd minute. In Port Harcourt, Rivers were spared of a home draw courtesy of the solitary goal by Alex Oyowah in the 42nd minute.
The last match of the weekend saw Sporting Lagos beat Niger Tornadoes 2-1. Jonathan Alukwu opened scoring for lagos in the 28th minute. It was doubled by Junior Lokosa in the 45th minute before Niger Tornadoes pulled one back in the 68th minute thorough Bala Yahuza.
Matchday 5 Results
28-10-2023
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29-10-2023
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29-11-2023
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SOURCE: SPORTSVILLAGESQUARE