NPFL Matchday 2 Round-up: Insurance Put Two Past Shooting in Benin, Gombe United Beat Enyimba

We could only witness eight games in the matchday one of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season owing to the involvement of Bendel Insurance and Rivers United on the continent.

However, all ten (10) games of the matchday two went down in different centres across the country over the weekend.

At the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Bendel Insurance put two unreplied goals past Shooting Stars of Ibadan. It started with Gali Falke scoring in his own net eight minutes into the tie and Evans Ogbonda fired in the second in the 78th minute to give Monday Odigie’s side the maximum points. Recall that the Benin Arsenal were involved in CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round (second leg) with RS Berkane of Morocco last weekend, where they lost 1-0, having played a 2-2 draw in the first league – hence they were eliminated, losing out 3-2 on aggregate, while Gbenga Ogunbote’s men defeated Plateau United 2-1 in their opening game of the season.

Having lost to Sporting Lagos 2-0 at the Onikan Stadium last Monday, Gombe United returned to winning ways, earning a 2-0 victory over Finidi George’s Enyimba at the Pantami Stadium. Chijioke Alaekwe opened the scoring for the Savannah Scorpions in the 43rd minute and Ahmed Jimoh swung in a sumptuous free-kick in the latter stages of the game to seal it for Mohammed Babaganaru’s tutored side. Enyimba’s first league game of the season ended in defeat (they didn’t get to play last week as their opposition, Bendel Insurance were occupied with Continental game).

In a five-goal thriller at the Aper Aku Stadium, Lobi Stars of Makurdi edged Sunshine Stars of Akure in a 3-2 result. Tiza Samuel netted twice for Lobi; registered his first goal of the game in the 53rd minute and put in another 20 minutes later, while Ajibola Adeleke scored the third five minutes before stoppage time. Meanwhile, the Akure Gunners goals came in the 79th and 88th minute, with Taiwo Rafiu Abdul registering a brace. Eugene Agagbe’s Lobi played a two-all draw with Heartland in their first game and Edith Agoye’s Sunshine brush aside Kano Pillars one nil in Akure.

Gombe outfit, Doma United defeated Bayelsa United 2-0 at the Pantami Stadium. Andrew Majalisa put Akinade Onigbinde’s team in front after twenty-one minutes and Charles Terwar extends it to a two-goal cushion two minutes before the hour mark, thereby making it insurmountable for the Restoration Boys – thus they couldn’t build on their impressive win against Akwa United (5-3) last week and it was the Savannah Tigers’ first triumph after falling behind to Enugu Rangers in a 2-1 scoreline in their last action.

While fans were filled to the brim at Sani Abacha stadium in the Northern Derby clash between Kano Pillars and Katsina United, Mustapha Yuga’s goal in the 27th minute was enough to see Pillars get the better of the Chanji Boys. Katsina United had defeated Kwara United 1-0 in their first battle of the season, while Pillars were outclassed by Sunshine Stars, 1-0 in Akure.

Daniel Ogunmodede’s Remo Stars conquered Fidelis Ilechukwu’s Enugu Rangers 2-1 in Ikenne. Kazeem Ogunleye broke the deadlock to give Rangers the advantage in the 7th minute but Seun Ogunribide levelled scores in the 35th minute – and Sikiru Alimi put the ball in the back of the net in the 52nd minute as the game went in favour of the Sky Blues Stars.

Kwara United were able to amass all three points versus Abia Warriors at the Main Bowl of Kwara Sports Complex, thanks to Ejeh Isaiah’s goal in the 45th minute. A victory of turnaround for the Harmony Boys, considering they lost to Katsina 1-0 in their opening fixture. However. Erasmus Onu’s Abia Warriors clinched three points in their first outing – defeating Niger Tornadoes 1-0.

At the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, Niger Tornadoes got a slim 1-0 success at the expense of Stanley Eguma’s Rivers United, with the goal scored by Bashir Usman through a spot-kick as early as the seventh minute. The win meant Tornadoes secured their first win against the Pride of Rivers in four years.

Mundi Bernard’s goal in the 11th minute was the difference between Plateau United and Heartland at the New Jos Stadium. Consequently, Plateau United announced themselves with a win, leaving behind last week’s defeat in the hands of Shooting Stars.

Paul Offor added a point to his side’s tally – totalling four points, having registered a win in their first game, thus Sporting Lagos held Fatai Osho’s Akwa United to a stalemate at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. Similarly, the Noisy Lagosians are yet to concede a goal in two league games.

Ultimately, the second round of games in the NPFL had nine (9) wins and a draw – with a total of 18 goals.