NPFL title race down to three

Posted by admin | 9 years ago | 2,530 times



The battle for the title in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is now looking like a three-horse race.

Champions, Kano Pillars as well as Enyimba and Warri Wolves are certain to take this season's campaign down to the wires following their results in the premier division on SUnday.

Wolves were the first to score on match day through Ikechukwu Ibenegbu in the 14th minute of their game at Sharks, and temporarily led the standings by two points.

In Kano, the champions went ahead against El-Kanemi through Ubong Ekpai in the 25th minute but Ifeanyi Matthew ensured it was level-pegging again two minutes later as scored stood at 1-1.

Adamu Hassan restored the lead of Kano Pillars on the half hour mark as they returned to the top of the pile again by a point lead.

But the story was different for six-time champions, Enyimba, as they fell 0-1 at relegated Nembe City who got their lead on the stroke of half time through Okiki Musampa Onomuefe.

Things stood that way for the top-three in terms of the scorelines with Mfon Udoh missing a spot kick that should have given Enyimba a lifeline just past the hour mark.

But Udoh made amends in the 78th minute when he levelled score for Enyimba at City, but the People's Elephant were still in second spot.

Kano Pillars, however, put the daylight between themselves and El-Kanemi when Adamu Murtala tucked away their third goal to give them a 3-1 win with nine minutes left.

Coincidentally, when Udoh got his second of the day and Enyimba's winner at Nembe City in the 88th minute, Wolves conceded two minutes to the end of their game at Sharks when substitute Fortune Omoniwari levelled things in the Garden City.

The results of the top-three ended with Kano Pillars and Enyimba claiming away wins and Wolves dropping two points at Sharks.

Kano Pillars now lead the NPFL standings by two points, with Enyimba in second place on 60 points and Wolves dropping into third on 59 points.

Nasarawa United move into fourth position after a 2-1 win over Sunshine Stars. Esosa Igbinoba and Ugochukwu Leonard scored for Nasarawa United while Solomon Kwambe's goal for Sunshine Stars came in between of those Nasarawa United goals.

Crown FC are just a game away from being confirmed relegated following their 0-1 loss at home to Abia Warriors. Arinze Okorie's goal proved just enough for the southeast club.

Lobi Stars goalkeeper, Terkaa Melai, scored from the spot in the second half to edge a gritty Akwa united team while Rangers also fell 0-1 at Gombe United through Cyril 'Obodo' Olisemah's penalty goal.

The battle for survival looks bleak for Kaduna United as they could only force new boys, Giwa FC, to a 1-1 draw. Ocheme Edoh scored for Giwa FC in the first half before Peter Onoja equalised late in the game.

Peter Ebimobowei, Jafar Buhari and Ebitimi Agogu scored for Bayelsa United as they defeated Dolphins 3-1. Emem Eduok scored for Dolphins and took his goals for the season to 20. He is now tied on same goals with Enyimba's Mfon Udoh as both men have now equalled Jude Aneke's record of 20 goals in a single season.

The game between Heartland and FC Taraba was the only contest that produced no goal on match day 36.

 

Glo Nigeria Premier League 2014 | LOGS 

 

 

Pos

Team

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

Pts

1

Kano Pillars

36

18

8

10

52

38

14

62

2

Enyimba

36

17

9

10

46

25

21

60

3

Warri Wolves

36

18

5

13

46

35

11

59

4

Nasarawa United

35

17

5

13

41

35

6

56

5

Abia Warriors

36

16

7

13

47

36

11

55

6

Dolphins

36

15

9

12

44

32

12

54

7

Rangers

36

16

6

14

43

36

7

54

8

Lobi Stars

35

17

2

16

35

41

-6

53

9

Heartland

36

13

13

10

34

25

9

52

10

Sharks

35

14

10

11

41

33

8

52

11

Sunshine Stars

36

13

12

11

46

43

3

51

12

Akwa United

36

14

9

13

27

30

-3

51

13

Giwa FC

34

14

8

12

34

31

3

50

14

El-Kanemi Warriors

36

13

9

14

37

31

6

48

15

FC Taraba

35

14

5

16

30

38

-8

47

16

Gombe United

36

13

7

16

37

39

-2

46

17

Bayelsa United

36

14

3

19

44

52

-8

45

18

Kaduna United

36

11

5

20

33

49

-16

38

19

Crown FC

36

10

6

20

27

53

-26

36

20

Nembe City

36

6

10

20

23

65

-42

28


Source: Super Sports

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