Ikorodu City are now top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) standings after their 2-1 win over Plateau United in one of Sunday’s fixtures but the result of the matchweek was Wikki Tourists edging Enyimba 1-0 in Aba.
City began the matchweek as the club with the best form guide with seven games undefeated and 515 matches without conceding, more than five straight clean sheets.
As expected the Oga Boys got their noses in front through Joseph Arumala’s header off Folarin Temitope’s cross from a free kick on 47 minutes.
Arumala’s goal set the tone for the in-form side and within six minute substitute Alade Balogun doubled the after benefiting off a defensive mix-up by Plateau United to score his first of the campaign for Ikorodu City.
However, Ikorodu City lost their clean sheet streak when Wisdom Ndon headed in Tarabina Biweribo’s long throw-in past goalkeeper Michael Atata, whose run without conceding ended at 587 minutes – over six league games.
The win lifted Ikorodu City to the top of the pile ahead of Nasarawa United who dropped to second due to inferior goals. Ikorodu City and Nasarawa United have 24 points apiece.
Anas Yusuf handed Nasarawa United an early lead at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri against Kun Khalifat FC and it looked like the Solid Miners were en route to staying top for another matchday until Stanley Otu popped to level the score for the new boys on 65 minutes.
SHOCK RESULT OF MATCHWEEK
Despite a run of poor results in their last seven league matches (W1 D3 L3) prior to Sunday’s match, Enyimba were favourites to win against Wikki whom they are undefeated against in their last six NPFL head-to-head (W4 D2).
It was Abubakar Aliyu’s goal from almost the centre of the pitch on 33 minutes that settled the contest at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba leaving eggs on the face of goalkeeper Kelvin Ogunga who was caught off the line by the Wikki youngster.
The 1-0 win ensured Wikki claimed their first league win over Enyimba in six years.
SATURDAY THRILLER IN BENIN CITY & COMEBACKS
The matchweek began in Benin City, home of Bendel Insurance who had to dig deep to see off Kano Pillars. Both clubs started the gameweek as the bottom-two and with miserable form guides.
Insurance got themselves well on the way through Kayode Oke’s 17th-minute goal before Rabiu Ali equalized for Kano Pillars on 34 minutes and then Chiedozie Okorie produced a sumptuous finish four minutes later for the Kano ensuring they led 2-1 at the break.
Kennedy Boboye, like his Kano Pillars counterpart, Mohammed Baba Ganaru, still seeking their first win since taking charge of their sides in October, galvanized his men to a 3-2 comeback win. Emmanuel Dung levelled the score to 2-2 on 75 minutes before Emmanuel Akpan’s cross-cum-shot was turned in for an own goal to give Boboye a relief.
Talk of comebacks, Rivers United turned things around at their Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium ground after Adebambo Ademola gave Warri Wolves the lead on 25 minutes. Five minutes later, Emmanuel drew them level and 13 minutes into the second half, Samson Obi’s goal sealed the points for Finidi George’s men who are now third on the table with an outstanding game.
NEW BOYS BARAU FC LEAP OUT OF DANGER
Newcomers Barau FC, on Monday, stunned Rangers International 2-0 in a closed door game at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano. A goal in each half from Muhammed Umar and substitute Joseph Kemin ensured that the Maliya Boys move out of the bottom-four for the first time in weeks.
El-Kanemi Warriors and Niger Tornadoes posted 2-0 wins over Kwara United and Katsina United. Mukhtar Ismail and Daddy Abdulrahman scored for El-Kanemi while Ismail Sarki and Abdulrasheed Dabai got the goals for Tornadoes.
Bayelsa United won back-to-back home matches for the first time this season when they defeated Abia Warriors 2-1. Chinedu Sunday and Chinedu Emmanuel’s goals were sandwiched by Sunday Megwo’s strike for Warriors at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.
The NPFL continues this midweek with outstanding matches.