Kano Pillars and Abia Warriors football clubs on Wednesday recorded crucial away wins in rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) games while Lobi Stars enjoyed a largely comfortable home win over Rivers United in Makurdi.
Kano Pillars recorded their first away win of the season with an emphatic 2-0 win over Kada City in a North-West Derby decided at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. Striker Adamu Hassan, starting for the first time in four games gave the visitors the lead in the 11th minute before Nyima Nwagua sealed the victory in the second half.
In the North East, Ngozi Elechi’s Yobe Desert Stars plunged further into deeper troubles when they lost 1-3 at home to Abia Warriors. Forward Samson Obi (pictured with teammate Ubong Williams) fired home Sunday Adetunji’s knock-down nine minutes to the half time break in the latter’s season debut to give Warriors the lead.
The hosts equalised from the penalty spot just before the hour mark through in-form Phillip Auta but they soon trailed again three minutes later after defender Daniel Uduak put through his own net. Samson Obi then sealed his brace fifteen minutes from time to make the game safe for Henry Makinwa’s wards.
Abia Warriors, by the virtue of Wednesday’s win moved out of the relegation zone with Yobe staying rooted at the bottom of the Group B log. Kano Pillars also move to 4th, leapfrogging Kada City .
In Group A, MFM FC claimed another priceless point away from home when they were held 1-1 by Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium. Destiny Ashadi missed a penalty for the second game in a row, this time MFM goalkeeper Folarin Abayomi saving his 17th minute spot kick.
The visitors then took a shock lead in the 44th minute courtesy of a long range effort by Chijioke Akuneto, his third goal in three consecutive games. Striker Martins Usule cancelled out the lead in 70th minute but MFM held on to extend their lead on top of the group to six points.
Lobi Stars moved from eighth to third on the Group B log after a routine 2-1 win over Rivers United at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi. Striker Sikiru Alimi netted Kelly Kester‘s pass in first half stoppage time to give Solomon Ogbeide‘s men the lead before Michael Stephen made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute.
Playmaker Cletus Emotan however curled home a brilliant free kick thirteen minutes from time to hand Stanley Eguma‘s men a life-line but that was all they could muster in back to back away trips. Lobi are now 3rd with fourteen points while Rivers United slip down to fifth.
