Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) top scorer Mfon Udoh scored his eight goal of the campaign on Sunday, a winner in his side Akwa United’s 1-2 away win to Heartland to propel them to second on the Group B log.
Udoh netted what turned out to be the winner at the Okigwe Stadium midway through the second half after Heartland’s Chidiebere Ajoku had cancelled out Ndifreke Effiong’s 4th minute goal. The Promise Keepers, coached by Brazilian Rafael Everton edged the ‘Oyibo Derby’ against a Heartland side coached by Turkish Mehmet Tayfun to move within two points of group leaders FC Ifeanyiubah.
FC Ifeanyiubah enjoyed a 1-0 home win over Kano Pillars at the Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium in Nnewi also on Sunday afternoon. Striker Uche Ihuarulam on his home debut for the Anambra Warriors poked home a rebound in the 66th minute.
Still in South East Nigeria, Abia Warriors were held to a 1-1 draw by Plateau United at the Umuahia Township Stadium. The visitors took a shock lead in the 51st minute through playmaker Salefu Ochowechi but substitute Paul Samson rescued a point for Henry Makinwa’s side with a 67th minute equaliser.
Kada City left it late to complete a come-from-behind win over Nasarawa United in Kaduna. United took the lead on the hour mark through Maigishiri Mohammed but Nura Mohammed pulled the hosts level ten minutes later before old warhorse Kabiru Sanusi sealed the points with a 95th minute penalty to give the hosts a 2-1 win.
In Damaturu, Yobe Desert Stars ended a run of six games without a win with a 2-0 victory over coach Ngozi Elechi’s former side Go Round. Experience midfielder Phillip Auta scored both goals for Stars, the first from the penalty spot in the 8th minute and the second in the 57th minute.
In Group B’s other game decided on Sunday, ten-man Gombe United held El-Kanemi Warriors to a 0-0 draw in Maiduguri. Defender Peter Ambrose was sent off in the first half for United but Ladan Bosso’s men held on for over 50 minutes to live up to their ‘draws specialist’ tag. They have now drawn five of their eleven games this term.
The next round of matches which will be the reverse of Sunday’s games will hold next Sunday.
Group A results
Wikki 2-0 Rivers Utd
Katsina Utd 1-0 Kwara Utd
Sunshine Stars 0-0 Enyimba
MFM 2-0 Insurance
Group B results
Yobe Stars 2-0 Go Round
Kada City 2-1 Nasarawa Utd
Abia Warriors 1-1 Plateau Utd
FCIU 1-0 Kano Pillars
Heartland 1-2 Akwa Utd
El-Kanemi 0-0 Gombe Utd
