NPFL: MFM Shock Rangers, Lobi Stun Pillars, Enyimba Thrash Akwa United

Lagos side MFM and Lobi United recorded the results of the weekend with away wins at Rangers International and Kano Pillars respectively on Matchday 3 of the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football Season on Sunday.

On a day that featured a full complement of league matches for the first time this season, Tony Bolus’ MFM side showed an increasingly familiar ability to pick up away wins in the East with their second of the season in as many visits.

Just as they did on the opening day of the season when they beat Heartland FC in Okigwe, the Olukoya Boys beat 7-times league champions Rangers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium courtesy of Chuks Kenedinum goal on the stroke of halftime.

Gbenga Ogunbote’s Lobi Stars continued their resurgence after an opening day defeat to record a second straight win with a 1-0 victory over Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

Read Also: NPFL Round-Up: Enyimba, Rangers Win, Akwa United Falter

Douglas Achiv scored what proved to be the winner in the 62nd minute to ramp up the pressure on the Sai Masu Gida and gaffer Ibrahim Musa who continues the search for a first win in the league this season.

Early pacesetters Plateau United continued their impressive start to the season with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Wikki Tourists at the New Zaria Road Stadium, Jos.

Mustapha Ibrahim in the 33rd minute and Abba Umar’s 55th-minute strike cancelled out Daniel Jackson’s 12th-minute opener for the visitors as Abdu Maikaba’s wards maintained their place at the top of the log.

The heavyweight clash between league champions Enyimba and Akwa United ended in a straightforward win for the hosts as the Aba Elephants thrashed the Promise Keepers 3-1 at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba.

Austin Oladapo followed up his brace against Nasarawa United on Thursday with the opener from the spot after 13 minutes for his third goal of the season. Stanley Dimgba and Samson Obi then scored within minutes of each other to put Enyimba 3-0 up before former Enyimba captain Mfon Udoh pulled one back for the visitors with his second of the season six minutes before halftime.

The visitors shored up defensively in the second half but still succumbed to a first defeat of the season as their indifferent start to the season continued with no wins in three games.

Efe Yarhere broke the deadlock in the 70th minute and Sunday Williams added a second ten minutes later as Evans Ogenyi’s Warri Wolves defeated ten-man Adamawa United 2-0 at the Warri Township Stadium. Luran Javan was sent off for the visitors for a second bookable offence.

In the highest-scoring game of the day, Delta Force ran amok as they put four past Jigawa Golden Stars to push Rabiu Tata precipitously close to the edge.

Mubarak Abdulsallam 37th minute header opened the floodgates with Isaac Oduro and Otukhe Egbo putting Wolves 3-0 up before the 60th-minute mark. Ali Musa reduced the deficit for the visitors in the 62nd minute but Williams Nmesitionye popped up with Wolves’ fourth in the 90th to restore their three-goal lead.

Fidelis Ilechukwu’s search for a first win as Heartland manager continued as his side recorded a second successive draw with a hard-fought 1-1 stalemate at home to newcomers Akwa Starlets.

Heartland equalised from the spot through Samuel Nnoshiri in the 63rd minute after Joseph Onoja was fouled in the box to earn a share of the spoils following Femi Ajayi’s opener for Starlets six minutes before halftime.

It also ended 1-1 between Abia Warriors and Sunshine Stars in Umuahia with Philip Auta’s 32nd-minute leveller ensuring the points were split after Fuad Ekelojuoti gave the visitors a 19th-minute lead.

Stanley Eguma’s Rivers United are still winless in the league after they succumbed to a 1-0 loss at FC Ifeanyiubah in Nnewi courtesy of Chigozie Chilekwu 7th minute strike after good work by Jimoh Gbadamosi.

And at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, home side Katsina United required two penalties to beat Nasarawa United.

Striker Tasiu Lawal saw his first-half penalty saved by Danlami Umar in goal for Nasarawa but made no mistakes the second time around after Destiny Ashadi was upended in the box in the 63rd minute.  

2019/2020 NPFL MATCHDAY 3 RESULTS

Kano Pillars 0-1 Lobi

(Douglas Achiv 62’)

Katsina United 1-0 Nasarawa United

( Tasiu Lawal 64’ (PEN))

FC Ifeanyiubah 1-0 Rivers United 

(Chigozie Chilekwu 7’)

Rangers 0-1 MFM  

(Chuks Kenedinum 45’)

Abia Warriors 1-1 Sunshine Stars 

(Philip Auta 32’ – Fuad Ekelojuoti 19’)

Heartland 1-1 Akwa Starlets 

(Samuel Nnoshiri 63’ (PEN) – Moses Effiong 39’)

Enyimba 3-1 Akwa United

(Austin Oladapo 13’ (PEN), Stanley Dimgba 30’, Samson Obi 33’ – Mfon Udoh 39’)

Plateau United 2-1 Wikki 

(Mustapha Ibrahim 33’, Abba Umar 55’ – Daniel Jackson 12’)

Wolves 2-0 Adamawa United  

(Efe Yarhere 70’, Sunday Williams 80’)

Delta Force 4-1 Jigawa Golden Stars 

(Mubarak Abdulsallam 37’, Isaac Oduro 49’, Otukhe Egbo 59’, Williams Nmesitionye 9’ – Ali Musa 62’)

Heartland 1-1 Akwa Starlets

(Samuel Nnoshiri 63’ (PEN) –Femi Ajayi 39’)