Ranchers Bees midfielder Mohammed Rabiu Zulkifilu became the first player to score thrice in a single match in this season’s EUROMATCH Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Zulkifilu playing against Abia Warriors in a rearranged Matchday 2 fixture at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina scored his goals in the 41st, 45th and 62nd minute to help his side to a 4-0 triumph.
Jamilu Yusuf scored late in the match to make it 4-0.
The game was a one-way show as Ranchers dominated play for longer spells against a disjointed Abia Warriors.
Zulkifilu opened scoring when he headed home from Faisal Sani’s perfect cross to put the Bees one goal ahead.
On the stroke of halftime, the former Plateau United man fired in the second from way out as Ranchers took a two-goal lead into the break.
Zulkifilu got his treble just after the hour mark when expertly finished Jamilu Yusuf’s assist to make it three-nil against the poor Abia Warriors side.
Just before the referee ended the misery for the visiting side, Jamilu popped up with his goal to make it four and put the icing on the cake.
The win is the first for Ranchers Bees in 6,011 calendar days since a 3-1 win over Warri Wolves during the 2009/10 season when they finished bottom and got relegated to the second tier.