Match Day two action was decided in the NNL Super Eight playoffs at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba on Monday with three teams; Gombe United, Kada City and Insurance putting themselves on the verge of promotion after securing important victories.
Gombe United opened the day’s action with a last gasp win over Real Stars in the morning. The privately owned Real Stars thought they had done enough to escape with a point but veteran forward Adamu Mohammed ghosted behind the defence line to head home Alhassan Yusuf’s cross in stoppage time.
The win was enough to take Ladan Bosso’s men to top spot in the Northern Zone until the second game when Kada City produced a second half blitz to spank Kogi United 3-0. Nura Mohammed and Umar Mohammed scored within three second half minutes to set them en route to victory. Kabiru Sanusi then added a penalty (the first to be awarded in the tournament) in the 65th minute to send the Kaduna based side to the summit of the Northern Zone.
The afternoon session began with the ‘Losers Battle’ at noon involving Delta Force and Shooting Stars, two teams that lost their opening games. After a goalless and cagey opening half, the game opened up in the second with chances at both ends.
Edith Agoye’s Stars got their noses in front in the 56th minute when captain Ayobami Junior was well placed to receive full back Muritala Taye’s cut back from the byline. The diminutive midfielder controlled and shot on the turn which fortunately went in off the inside of the bottom post.
Delta Force stepped up their efforts to restore parity but it left them with holes at the back which Shooting Stars eventually exploited after missing a couple of gilt edge chances. Winger Opeoluwa Olufemi scored, rounding off a move he started, in stoppage time to bring some smiles back to the frustrated long faces from Ibadan.
In the day’s biggest clash, Bendel Insurance produced a disciplined display to beat Remo Stars 1-0 and put themselves within touching distance of a return among the elites of Nigerian football.
Forward Junior Osaghae persevered to score the game’s only goal in the 69th minute. His initial attempt was harried from by a Remo defender but he followed up immediately to unleash an unstoppable drive from just inside the box to give the Monday Odigie coached side the victory.
Tuesday will be observed as rest day in the Super Eight playoffs while the final round of group stage games will hold on Wednesday at the same venue; Enyimba Stadium. The finals will hold on Thursday.
Monday’s results
Northern Zone
Real Stars 0-1 Gombe United
Kogi United 0-3 Kada City
Southern Zone
Delta Force 0-2 Shooting Stars
Insurance 1-0 Remo Stars
Group Standings
Northern Zone
Kada City – 4 points, +3 GD
Gombe United – 4 points, +1 GD
Real Stars – 1 point, -1 GD
Kogi United – 1 point, -3 GD
Southern Zone
Insurance – 6 points, +4 GD
Remo Stars – 3 points, +2 GD
Shooting Stars – 3 points, -1 GD
Delta Force – 0 point, -5 GD
