By George Akpayen
Another matchweek has gone by in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and it has so much talking points from the two big games in Ikenne and Port Harcourt to the two away wins on Saturday.
NEW BOYS IKORODU CITY FINDING LIFE HARD
The Oga Boys have found life tough in the top-flight in their opening four matches in which they have managed just one point. Last weekend, they fell at home to Nasarawa United 2-1. It was their second straight loss at home this season. However, the only positive from last Saturday’s defeat was that they finally got off the mark by scoring their first-ever goal in the NPFL, thanks to ThankGod Chilaka to cancel out Anas Yusuf’s goal before Kabir Balogun curled in a free kick to win it for Nasarawa United. Next game for Ikorodu City is Plateau United in Jos; quite a tough fixture for the newcomers.
ANAS YUSUF IS HOT PROPERTY NOW
It is now five goals in four matches for Nasarawa United captain, Anas Yusuf. He sits top of the scorers sheet so far this season. He is a midfielder who plays in a box-to-box and central role and at times deployed to play behind the strikers. He continued his redhot form over the weekend scoring against Ikorodu City in their 2-1 win. Nasarawa United next face Bayelsa United at their Lafia City Stadium ground and the odds on him to score will be good.
AKWA UTD HAUNTED BY EX FACTOR
Two ex-Akwa United men masterminded the club’s first defeat of the season and they did it on their old stomping ground – the Nest of Champions, or Godswill Akpabio Stadium, in Uyo, whichever you wish to call it. Sunshine Stars head coach, Kennedy Boboye, who managed Akwa United between 2019 and 2022, pulled the strings on the sideline while Seth Mayi, who played for them under Boboye when they won the NPFL title in 2021, influenced things on the pitch. Mayi created Sunshine Stars’ opening goal, then got on the scoresheet to render Wisdom Ndon’s late goal irrelevant as the Owena Whales earned full points in Uyo via a 2-1 win last Saturday.
ENYIMBA HAVE A BOGEY TEAM
Nine-time champions Enyimba now have a team that have transformed to become difficult to beat or get a result against. Since the formation of Rivers United in 2016 from defunct Dolphins FC and Sharks FC, Enyimba are yet to win an NPFL match in Port Harcourt in nine attempts (D1 L8). They have also not scored an NPFL in the Garden City since Stanley Dimgba’s goal in a 1-1 draw on January 28, 2018, which is more than 80 months, spanning 585 minutes of football (six-and-a-half matches).
On Sunday, Enyimba’s poor run continued in Port Harcourt. They lost 2-0 in the ‘Battle of Master and Apprentice’ involving Rivers United head coach, Finidi George and his counterpart, Yemi Olanrewaju popularly called Yema. A goal in each half from Ubong Friday and Seiyefa Jackson sealed the win for Rivers United.
FORMER NPFL YOUTH LEAGUE STARS SHINE
Three graduates from last edition of the NPFL Youth League were among the talking points of Matchday 4. Rivers United had the duo of Seiyefa and Benjamin David combining for their second goal against Enyimba with the latter showing he has got the legs to run at any defence and even strength to shrug any defence no matter the size. Both of them came off the bench anyway to impact the game. Sunshine Stars young striker Chnedu Nwosu, fondly called Nedu, also got on the score sheet with his coach Boboye beginning to trust him to deliver despite a teenager. The NPFL Youth League gradually churning out new talents for the senior teams.
OYOWAH LOVES TO PLAY AGAINST RANGERS
The big game over the weekend surely had much to talk about. A goalless first half and then followed by three second half goals in the space of 12 minutes saw Remo Stars edge past Rangers 2-1. However, Alex Oyowah seems to love playing against Rangers nowadays. He scored Remo Stars opening goal last Sunday en route their win and previously while at Rivers United he was among the goals when he scored the first goal in their 2-0 win last season. So whenever Oyowah scores against the champions, it is a good omen that his team would win.
AMUNEKE STILL WAITING FOR A FIRST WIN
Talking of winning matches, that is something Heartland FC have been unable to do since former Nigeria international, Emmanuel Amuneke, took charge as head coach. The Naze Millionaire appear to have continued from where they stopped after they got a ‘wild card’ to take part in the NPFL this season via Beyond Limit Academy’s slot after being relegated last term. Four games played, no wins and just a miserly one point to show for their exertion. On Sunday evening, they lost at Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) by a goal from Samuel Ayanrinde which leaves them third from bottom in this early moment of the campaign.