19-year-old Ibrahim Sunusi grabbed the spotlight on matchday 16 of the Nigeria Professional Football League with a brace in Nassarawa United’s 5-1 routing of Elkanemi Warriors in Lafia.
Sunusi was quick to assert his presence in the game in the first minute of the encounter as he latched on to a long ball to beat Goal Keeper Modou Gobe to score the fastest goal of matchday 16.
The winger didn’t hesitate to score his seventh goal of the season and close in on Akwa United’s Mfon Udoh who tops the NPFL goal scoring chart with eight goals when Ikhanna Okafor presented the ball to him on a platter of gold in the 30th minute.
He got his third at the stroke of halftime and would have been joint top scorer with Mfon Udoh in the 2019 NPFL goal scorers chart but for the flag of the assistant referee who ruled his overhead kick for an offside.
At the other end, Mfon Udoh failed to make an impact after his return from injury as Akwa United were embarrassingly walloped 3-0 by Plateau United at the Jos International Stadium on an afternoon where Ifeanyi Ubah equally lost to allow the Promise Keepers still top of Group B.
Despite the loss on matchday 16, Akwa United are currently the highest scoring side in the League having registered 24 goals in their bid to win their first domestic league title while Nassarawa United with their 5-1 thumping have recorded a total of 22 goals against their different opponents this season.
Enugu Rangers and El Kanemi Warriors have recorded eighteen goals apiece against different opponents, although, the Enugu based side still have two outstanding games to play and have been on a 13 match unbeatable streak.
Mfon Udoh will hope to maintain his dominance of the League’s goal-scoring chart when Akwa United host Nassarawa United at the Nest of Champions on Sunday.
It will be sweeter for Sunusi Ibrahim if he gets to trudge past Mfon Udoh on the scorers’ chart in front of Uyo fans.
NPFL Goal Scoring Chart after Matchday 16
8 Goals
Mfon Udoh – Akwa United
7 Goals
Phillip Auta – Yobe Desert Stars
Rabiu Ali – Kano Pillars
Sunusi Ibrahim – Nasarawa United
6 Goals
Yaya Kone – Lobi Stars
Abba Umar – Wikki Tourist
Ndifreke Effiong – Akwa United
5 Goals
Usman Musa – Gombe United
Abdulrahman Bashir – Enyimba
Tasiu Lawal – Katsina United
Godwin Aguda – Enugu Rangers
Ossy Martins – Rivers United
Pascal Seka – Enugu Rangers
Kabiru Sanusi – Delta Force
4 Goals
Adeniji Kabir – MFM FC
Martins Usule – Katsina United
Samson Obi – Abia Warriors
Segun Alebiosu – Kwara United
Chijioke Akuneto – MFM FC
Chibundu Amah – Sunshine
Uche Ihuarulam – FC Ifeanyi Ubah
Adeseun Adelani – Go Round