Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)’s remaining representatives on the continent Enyimba and Rangers recorded their first wins of the new league season in their respective rescheduled games on Thursday evening but Akwa United were left looking for their first win after two games.
Playing at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, defending champions Enyimba hammered Nasarawa United 3-1 in their rescheduled Match Day One encounter.
Midfielder Austine Oladapo scored twice for Enyimba – the first from the penalty spot and the second to seal the win in the 82nd minute after Chukwuka Onuwa’s exquisite pass. Samson Obi scored Enyimba’s second in first half stoppage time but Hamzat Owolabi had halved the deficit in the 58th minute before Oladapo’s second.
In Enugu, Sunshine Stars produced a dogged display but still succumbed to a 0-1 defeat to Rangers International who like Enyimba drew their first league game away from home on Sunday.
In-form forward Nnamdi Egbujuo scored the game’s only goal in the 55th minute with Ghanaian goalkeeper Seidu Mutawakilu denying the visitors a number of scoring opportunities.
The other rescheduled game on Thursday, a Week 2 encounter ended 0-0 between Akwa United and Abia Warriors at the Nest of Champions in Uyo.
Akwa United were looking to build on their opening day draw at Warri Wolves but met stiff resistance from their bogey side Abia Warriors.
Akwa will next face Enyimba in Aba on Sunday while Sunshine Stars will be the guests of Abia Warriors in Umuahia.