Akwa United recovered from a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of El Kanemi Warriors last time out to beat Gombe United and assume leadership of Group B while Enugu Rangers vaulted over Enyimba International into second position and reduced the lead of Group A leaders MFM to two points after both Enyimba and MFM FC dropped points on Match Day 14 of the 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Sunday.
The final result may have read 2-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, in favour of home side Akwa United, but it was far from a comfortable victory for the Promise Keepers as Gombe United put up a stern fight throughout. Emmanuel Daniel was particularly impressive in goal for the visitors and with the game still goalless in the second half, pulled off two fantastic saves from Ndifreke Effiong and Emmanuel Charles to keep his team in the tie.
Cyril Olisema, however, broke the deadlock in the 74th minute when he dusted himself up to score from the spot after he had been fouled in the box by Adamu Mohammed. Second half substitute Wisdom Fernando put a gloss on the score-line when he added a second two minutes into added time.
Deposed Group B leaders El Kanemi Warriors fell 2-1 to Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano. Goals from Gambo Mohammed and David Ibuka put the Sai Masu Gida ahead with Bello Kofarmata reducing the deficit from the spot for the visitors.
Adeshina Thomas scored in the 60th minute to hand Nasarawa United a 1-0 victory over FC Ifeanyiubah at the Lafia Township Stadium, a result that was replicated in Omoku where Chidubem Nwogbaga scored for Go Round FC as they saw off Abia Warriors who have now won just once in their last five matches and find themselves tenth on the log and five points from safety.
Bernard Ovoke hit the crossbar for Plateau United in their goalless draw against Heartland in Jos while Yobe Desert Stars without a victory in four games remain rooted to the bottom of Group B after they could only manage a goalless draw at home to Delta Force.
In Group A, Pascal Seka scored against Katsina United for the second consecutive game to hand Enugu Rangers a one-nil victory over the visitors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu. Rangers, unbeaten in nine and yet to taste defeat since a one-nil loss at MFM in their first league fixture of the season have now climbed to second place in the group with 21 points, above Enyimba on goals difference and two points behind leaders MFM with four games in hand.
Enyimba failed to make the most of home advantage as they could only play out a goalless draw with Bendel Insurance in Aba while MFM fell to a 1-0 defeat to Kwara United in Ilorin courtesy of Shamsudeen Hashim’s 54th-minute strike.
Captain Abdullahi Musa scored a late winner for Wikki Tourists to pile more pressure on Kennedy Boboye and Remo Stars who are now five points from safety. Isa Gata had opened the scoring for the hosts in the 42nd minute but Victor Chidume scored to restore parity, however, Musa came up with a Captain’s effort in the 89th minute to deny Remo a share of the spoils.
In the group’s final match on Sunday, Wasiu Jimoh’s 31st-minute free-kick was enough to secure all three points for Rivers United over Niger Tornadoes at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.
Lobi Stars and Sunshine Stars round off Match Day 14 round of fixtures at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi today.
2018/2019 NPFL MATCH DAY 14 RESULTS
GROUP A
WIKKI TOURISTS 2-1 REMO STARS
(Isa Gata 42′, Abdullahi Musa 89′ – Victor Chidume 62′)
RIVERS UNITED 1-0 NIGER TORNADOES
(Wasiu Jimoh 31′)
RANGERS INTERNATIONAL 1-0 KATSINA UNITED
(Seka Pascal 17′)
KWARA UNITED 1-0 MFM FC
(Shamsudeen Hashim 54′)
ENYIMBA FC 0-0 BENDEL INSURANCE
GROUP B
AKWA UNITED 2-0 GOMBE UNITED
(Cyril Olisema 74′ PEN, Wisdom Fernando 90+2′)
YOBE DESERT STARS 0-0 DELTA FORCE
GO ROUND FC 1-0 ABIA WARRIORS
(Chidubem Nwogbaga 78′)
NASARAWA UNITED 1-0 FC IFEANYIUBAH
(Adeshina Thomas 60′)
PLATEAU UNITED 0-0 HEARTLAND FC
KANO PILLARS 2-1 EL-KANEMI WARRIORS
(Gambo Muhammad 8′, David Ebuka 61′ – Bello Kofarmata 66′ PEN)
