NPFL Matchday 1 Round-up: Bayelsa United Pip Akwa United, Abia Warriors Defeat Niger Tornadoes

The first round of games in the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season produced 21 goals, with two games postponed – while Sporting Lagos will welcome Gombe United on Monday at Onikan Stadium.

At the Samson Siasia Stadium on Saturday, Bayelsa United pipped Akwa United in a eight-goal thriller (5-3). Akwa United opened the scoring through Hadi Mohammed in the 20th minute – who beat opposition defenders to slot the ball in the back of the net. Seven minutes later, Jerry Alex restored parity for the host. Oguntayo Seyi put the visitors in front yet again in the 38th minute – and Mizo Robert responded for the host to level terms in the 45th minute. Seyi grabbed his second and his side’s third as they took a 3-2 lead in the 75th minute. From then on, the home team took charge of the game. Robert registered his second of the game in the 81st minute to make it 3-3. In the 81st minute, he completed his hat-trick with a header and Emmanuel scored at the death of the minute as they rallied back to win 5-3.

In the game between Abia Warriors and Niger Tornadoes, both teams kept it tight at the back for most part of the game – until a goal was recorded in the latter stages of the contest. Thus, John Peter’s goal in the 80th minute was enough to amass the maximum points for Abia Warriors over Ikon Allah Boys at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

Fidelis Ilechukwu’s Enugu Rangers played host to Doma United of Gombe at the Awka City Stadium. Kalu Nweke gave Rangers the lead with a well taken shot 28 minutes into the game, and Austin Onyemaechi made it a two-goal cushion four minutes later. Meanwhile, Bidemi Owuko – who made something useful out of Hilary Ekawu’s pass reduced the deficit in the 73rd minute as Rangers won 2-1 after full-time whistle.

Champions of the Nigerian National League (NNL) in the 2022/2023 season and Christian Obi’s Heartland also trade tackle with Lobi Stars of Makurdi at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri. Waheed Adebayo gave the Makurdi side the lead in the 16th minute and Odinaka Francis increased the lead in the 38th minute. The host left it late to get back into the game, hence Patrick Nwogbaga with an assist from Divine Ukadike pulled one back in the 81st minute, while Ezekiel Bassey levelled scores with two minutes left on the clock – and both teams eventually shared the spoils in a two-all affair.

Similarly, Kwara United travelled to face Katsina United at Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina. The away side – the likes of Samson Paul, Sadeeq Yusuf and Samuel Ayanrinde had chances to make it count but they fluffed their lines. However, Lukman B. was able to register a goal for the host in the 74th minute – thus Katsina United came out victorious in a 1-0 scoreline.

In a related development at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, Gbenga Ogunbote’s Shooting Stars Sports Club played against Plateau United (the Peace Boys). The Ibadan outfit (Oluyole Warriors) nicked it in a 2-1 success. Ayobami A. scored the first goal of the encounter in the 37th minute to put the Oluyole Warriors in front – and Ogbonna made it two in the 76th minute. However, Uche O. reduced the deficit in the 78th minute, thus Shooting Stars claimed the three points.

The seventh game of the weekend saw Sunshine Stars and Kano Pillars slug it out in Akure. A tie that looked like one that will produce many goals, considering when we witnessed a goal in the game but it wasn’t to be. The Akure Gunners (Sunshine Stars) were able to maintain Oge Emmanuel’s goal in the 9th minute to edge the Sai Musa Kida (Kano Pillars) in a 1-0 triumph.

Meanwhile, the games between Finidi George’s Enyimba and Monday Odigie’s Bendel Insurance & Rivers United versus Daniel Ogunmodede’s Remo Stars were postponed due to Insurance’s and Rivers United’s involvement on the continent (second leg of CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round).

Bendel Insurance lost 1-0 to RS Berkane of Morocco on the road courtesy Lamlioui’s goal two minutes before half-time break – and they were knocked out of the CAF Confederation Cup having played out a 2-2 draw in Benin (first leg). Consequently, RS Berkane qualified with a 3-2 result on aggregate.

Unlike the Benin Arsenal, Rivers United put two unreplied goals past 10-man Etoile Filante de Quagadougou of Burkina Faso. Alex Oyowah scored from close range to break the deadlock in the 89th minute, thereby giving the Nigerian side the lead – and registered another (a brace for him) – a last-gasp goal to ensure the Pride of Rivers book a place in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. Rivers United had earlier held Etoile Filante to scoreless draw in the first leg, thus 2-0 on aggregate.

However, like already stated in the ‘intro/lead’, Paul Offor’s Sporting Lagos will lock horns with Gombe United by 4pm on Monday (today) for the other matchday one fixture of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League season.