NPFL: Wikki beat Rangers as Enyimba, Sunshine Stars get home wins
By Emmanuel Chinedu
Eight matches were played across Nigeria today as the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) 2022/23 season continued in Groups A and Group B.
In Bauchi, Abubakar Aliyu scored in the 45th minute as Wikki Tourists beat Rangers 1-0 to secure their first win of the season.
The Bauchi based club rose from their 2-0 defeat to Rivers United, in the midweek encounter, after coach Kabiru Dogo left the team. The victory, though, still leaves Wikki at the bottom in Group B standings, with three points.
Chukwuemeka Obioma brace helped Enyimba to grab a comfortable 2-0 home win over guests El-kanemi Warriors, at the Enyimba Stadium, in Aba. Obioma goals came in the 27th and 45th minutes as the Peoples Elephant bounced back to winning ways.
The victory should be a moral boost to the Finidi George side after their 1-0 loss to Remo Stars in midweek.
In Uyo, Akwa United returned to winning ways as they thrashed Remo Stars 3-1, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Former Enyimba forward Cyril Olisema put Akwa ahead, within five minutes from the penalty spot before Elijah Akanni leveled it 1-1 for Remo in the 24th minutes. Uche Collins restored the host lead to 2-1, from a cross outside the box, before Remo’s forward Andy Okpe was sent off for his second booking of the game.
Olalere Segun scored to put the game beyond the Sky Blue Boys, in the 60th minute with a thunderbolt strike from outside the box as the Ayodeji Ayeni side secured a vital 3-1 win.
Samuel Ayorinde half time brace helped Shooting Stars to secure a 2-0 win over struggling Nasarawa United, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan. Ayorinde’s goals came in the 20th and 38th minutes as the Coach Gbenga Ogunbote side returned to winning ways.
In Akure, Stephen Chukwude netted the only goal of the game, As Sunshine Stars picked a hard fought 1-0 win over Bayelea United while Doma United recorded the biggest win of the day, when they came from behind to defeat defending champions Rivers United 2-1, at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
Dennis Ndasi put Rivers ahead in the 25th minute, before Usman Musa scored a brace in the 34th and 66th minutes as the Akin Onigbinde side picked a vital 2-1 win.
NPFL Matchday 6 Results
Group A
On Saturday
Bendel Insurance 0-0 Gombe united
On Sunday
Enyimba int’l 2-0 El- Kanemi warriors
Akwa United 3-1 Remo stars
Shooting stars 2-0 Nasarawa united
Plateau united 1-0 Kwara united
Group B
On Saturday
Dakkada FC 2-4 Abia Warriors
On Sunday
Doma United 2-1 Rivers United
Wikki Tourists 1-0 Rangers Int’l
Niger Tornadoes 0-0 Lobi Stars
Sunshine Stars 1-0 Bayelsa United