NPFL Matchday 5 Roundup: FC IfeanyiUbah, Remo Stars Continue Unbeaten Run

FC Ifeanyiubah maintained their unbeaten start to the season with an away win against Kada City at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna in one of two away victories recorded on Sunday, Matchday 5 of the 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

The Anambra Warriors who are yet to concede in five matches this season followed up their one-nil victory over Yobe Desert Stars at home on Matchday 4 with yet another lone goal victory over newly promoted Kada City for their first away win of the season. Chibuike Eze’s 62nd-minute effort proved enough to get the victory and consign Kada City to a second straight loss.

Sunshine Stars outshone Wikki Tourists to grab a one nil victory courtesy of Chibundu Amah’s 80th-minute effort at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe in the day’s other away victory.

Amah was fastest to react and struck in the rebound after Wikki goalkeeper Ibrahim Pius had saved Sunday Abe’s penalty kick. It is the second straight penalty Wikki would be conceding in as many matches, after they conceded one which was saved by Ibrahim in their loss away to Katsina United on Matchday 4. 

Lobi Stars were the biggest winners on Matchday 5 after they overwhelmed Kwara United with three unanswered first-half goals. Yaya Kone’s brace after Michael Stephen had opened the scoring put Lobi out of sight in the first half and the home team held on to record a three-nil victory in Makurdi.

Over at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, home side Rangers recovered from their loss away to MFM to come out tops in the Oriental derby against fierce rivals Enyimba.

Ibrahim Ajani struck the winner for Rangers in the 40th minute who also finished a second straight game with ten men after Bobby Clement was sent off in the 87th minute.

Rivers United ran out one-nil winners over MFM at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt after MFM captain, Austin Opara inadvertently turned the ball into his own net when trying to cut out Wasiu Jimoh’s cross. It is their first win of the season.

In Damaturu, Yobe Desert Stars also recorded their first league win of the season after substitute James Odeh scored three minutes after coming on to put an end to Heartland’s three game-winning run.

Playing at the Osogbo Township Stadium for the first where they have been banished following crowd trouble at their Sagamu home, Remo Stars recorded their first league win of the season in a two-nil defeat of Katsina United. Remo who are unbeaten in the league so far scored through Victor Mbaoma in the 3rd minute and Kingsley Akemini in the 78th minute.

Kano Pillars offered up a more solid defence in getting a goalless draw away to Plateau United at the Lafia Township Stadium. Pillars had suffered a two-nil loss away to Gombe United on matchday 4 in Ibrahim Musa’s first game back in charge of the Sai Masu Gida and they offered up a robust defensive action to frustrate Plateau fans of whom allegedly took out their frustrations at their team’s result by attacking match officials yet again.

Niger Tornadoes yet to win in three matches had Isah Azado sent off in their goalless draw with Insurance of Benin at the Bako Kontagora Stadium Minna and it also ended goalless between Abia Warriors and Gombe United in Umuahia.

Go Round FC take on El Kanemi Warriors while Nasarawa United play Akwa United in Lafia in the concluding part of Matchday 5 fixtures.

2018/2019 NPFL MATCH DAY 5 RESULTS

GROUP A

Rivers United 1-0 MFM

(Austin Opara 59’ og) 

Wikki Tourists 0 – 1 Sunshine Stars

(Chibundu Amah 80’)

Rangers 1-0 Enyimba

(Ajani Ibrahim 40’) 

Lobi Stars 3-0 Kwara United

(Michael Stephen 10’; Yaya Kone 29’, 34’) 

Remo Stars 2-0 Katsina United

(Victor Mbaoma 3’, Kingsley Akemini 78’) 

Tornadoes 0-0 Insurance

GROUP B

Yobe Desert Stars 1-0 Heartland

(James Odeh 65’)

Plateau United 0-0 Kano Pillars 

Abia Warriors 0-0 Gombe United

Kada Stars 0-1 FC Ifeanyiubah

(Chibuike Eze 62’)