NPFL: El-Kanemi thrash Akwa; Heartland end winless run

El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri on Sunday thrashed ten-man Akwa United 4-1 in a top of the table clash in Group B of this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) while Heartland FC ended a winless run of six matches with a 2-1 win over Kano Pillars in Okigwe.

El-Kanemi and Akwa United were joint top of the group before Sunday’s encounter but Mohammed BabaGanaru’s men completed a double against their opponents this season in an emphatic manner. Kabiru Balogun, Sani Abbani, Sunday Anthony and Bello Kofarmata scored the goals for El-Kanemi. Akwa United who had defender Wilson Elu sent off late on got their only goal through Godspower Aniefiok – his first goal since returning to the club.

In Okigwe, all goals were scored in an entertaining first half as Heartland FC ended a six-game winless run with a 2-1 win over Kano Pillars. Godwin Emmanuel gave the hosts the lead in the 12th minute before Rabiu Ali equalised with a sublime curler ten minutes later. Pillars goalkeeper inadvertently headed Chukwudi Nwaodu’s effort into his own net five minute before the interval as Heartland earned a win which lifts them out of the bottom four.

There were two away wins on Sunday, one in each group. Rivers United followed up their home loss last weekend with a 1-0 win at Remo Stars, Justice Charles scoring the only goal for Stanley Eguma’s men while in Group B, Abia Warriors lose for the second time at home this season, Nasarawa United edging them 1-0 through Ibrahim Sunusi’s strike.

All the results at a glance

Group A

Tornadoes 0-0 Rangers

Bendel Insurance 2-0 Wikki Tourists
Junior Osaghae 65’, Adimorama Eze 70’

Sunshine Stars 1-0 Kwara Utd
Michael Egbeta 60’

Katsina United 2-0 Lobi Stars
Tasiu Lawal 18’, Bashir Sherif 85’

MFM FC 1-1 Enyimba
Chijioke Akuneto 56’ – Abdulrahman Bashir 48’

Remo Stars 0-1 Rivers United
Justice Charles 70’

Group B

El-Kanemi 4-1 Akwa United
Kabir Balogun 32’, Sani Abbani 69’, Sunday Anthony 82’, Bello Kofarmata 90+7’ (PEN) – Godspower Aniefiok 78’

Abia Warriors 0-1 Nasarawa United
Sunusi Ibrahim 75’

Heartland 2-1 Kano Pillars
Godwin Okoko Emmanuel 12’, Ibrahim Idrissu 40’ (OG) – Rabiu Ali 22’