Bendel Insurance top scorer Imade Osarenkhoe on the prowl.
Some of the matches for the first phase of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) were successfully concluded last weekend with Bendel Insurance FC of Benin in Group A maintaining their unbeaten run since the commencement of the 2022/2023 abridged league, while in Group B, Lobi Stars extended their lead at the summit to four points with a 2-0 home win over visiting Doma United.
In Group A top-of-the table clash between Bendel Insurance and Enyimba at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Sunday, February 19, lived up to its billing as Osarenkhoe Imade’s first-half strike sealed all three points for the home boys.
The star performer’s effort in the 23rd minute made the difference as the Benin Arsenals won their seventh game of the season to remain unbeaten in Group A of the ongoing abridged league format.
The red-hot 22-year-old dare-devil striker continued his superlative form in front of goal with six goals in nine games, just one behind Enyimba’s Chukwuemeka Obioma, who has scored seven goals.
The Monday Odigie-tutored side could have scored more goals in the first 45 minutes, but the People’s Elephants goalkeeper John Noble was on hand to deny Imade and his strike partner Ismael Sarki such scoring opportunities.
Thus with the victory, Bendel maintained their position at the top of Group A with 23 points, seven adrift of Enyimba in second.
Still in Group A, Shooting Stars and Akwa United cracker at the Lekan Salami Stadium ended in a four-goal thriller as both sides settled for a 2-2 draw.
Joshua Akpan scored the opener for the Oluyole Warriors in the 15th minute, but a brilliant solo goal from Uche Collins—his third in four games—drew Akwa United level after five minutes. Liman Ahmadu completed the turnaround by tucking home a rebound from Cyril Lisema’s free kick, but Ibrahim Ajani drew the home team level in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time. The draw was Shooting’s fourth this season, as they remain seventh in Group A with ten points from nine games, while Akwa United moved into third position with 15 points.
On February 22, visiting Kwara United beat El Kanemi Warriors to move out of relegation zone in a make or burst encounter. In fact, the Harmony boys went into the game with great expectation as they occupied 9th position on the table of the 10-team Group A of the NPFL abridged-league.
Nnaji David put the hosts to the lead with his goal in the 20th minute, while Jide Fatokun levelled scores for the Coach Kabiru Dogo’s side in the 61st minute of the match.
Kwara United’s new boy, Godwin Oshagbemi proved his worth as he netted the winning goal of the thrilling encounter in the 72nd minute to steer his side out of relegation waters. The victory also pushed the team up to 8th position on the log with just nine points from nine games.
The match marked the end of first round of the abridged season in Group A with teams going on three weeks general election break.
As noted earlier in Group B, Lobi Stars extended their lead at the zenith of the log to four points with a 2-0 convincing home win over Doma United. The two-time league champions got their sixth win of the season, thanks to two first-half goals; a penalty from Joseph Atule and a stunning strike from Abba Umar to seal victory for Lobi.
In another Group B tie, Sunshine Stars of Akure bounced back from their mid-week defeat to Dakkada FC by defeating Wikki Tourists by a lone goal at the Akure Stadium. Samson Olasupo got the only goal of the game as the Owena Waves got their fourth win in nine games.
Sunshine are currently second on the Group B standings, a point ahead of hard-fighting Rivers United, who have two games in hand.
Dakkada, on the other hand, were not lucky in their MatchDay 9 tie as they fell to the fire-power of Niger Tornadoes at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna following David Okoromi’s terrific strike that sank them.
In some recent concluded MatchDay9 matches, Nasarawa United humbled visiting Remo Stars 2-0 at the Jos International Stadium, while Gombe United recorded an emphatic 3-2 win over visiting Plateau United.
However, hostilities for the conclusion of the first stanza of the NPFL in Group B continued on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, where visiting Rivers United shared the spoils with Bayelsa United in their rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 7 clash.
The Port Harcourt outfit came into this game in pursuit of a crucial three points in an effort to bounce back from their recent defeat away from home against NPFL newcomers – Doma United.
The hosts Bayelsa also came into the contest hoping to earn their first three points after a dismal run of five games that included two losses and three draws.
Rivers United almost got the lead less than a minute into the match, as Ifeanyi Francis missed the target after Joseph Onoja crossed from a corner kick.
Both teams continued to battle it out for the first goal, with the home team nearly scoring twice, but shots from Mohammad Shiraz and Daniel Ekpo failed to test Rivers United goal tender Sochima Victor.
The Stanley Eguma-tutored side eventually made a swift recovery to score the opener in the 35th minute through Chiamaka Madu who masterfully completed a team-oriented effort with Joseph Onoja’s help.
The Pride of Rivers led 1-0 at the end of the first half and jumped right into the second with the same enthusiasm only to find the scoreline leveled.
In the 66th minute on the clock, Mark Gibson Theo and Malachi Ohawume teamed up superbly to hand Rivers United the lead yet again. The 22-year-old forward calmly completed the move he initiated to give the visiting team a 2-1 lead.
However, a late effort from Robert Mizo saw Bayelsa United settle for a 2-2 draw against their neighbours – Rivers United.
The 2-2 draw also enabled Bayelsa United to temporarily move away from relegation zone of Group B.
NPFL MatchDay 9 Results
Bendel Insurance 1-0 Enyimba FC
Shooting Stars 2-2 Akwa United
Bayelsa United 1-1 Rangers Int’l
Lobi Stars 2-0 Doma United
Sunshine Stars 1-0 Wikki Tourists
Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Dakkada FC
Gombe United 3-2 Plateau United
Nasarawa United 2-0 Remo Stars
El Kanemi Warriors 1-2 Kwara United
Bayelsa United 2-2 Rivers United.