None of the three Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) games played on Saturday recorded in home wins as former champions Rangers International and Enyimba FC as well as Katsina United earned creditable away results, www.aclsports.com reports.
Match Day 21 of the 2023/2024 NPFL season commenced on Saturday with an early kick-off in Gombe as Doma United welcomed Rangers to the Pantami Stadium while Bendel Insurance were the host of reigning Champions Enyimba at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City in the night game.
In Gombe, Fidelis Ilechukwu’s Rangers secured a crucial 0-1 win over Doma United, ending their hosts’ unbeaten record in Nigeria’s topflight ever since they got promoted to the league over a year ago. Midfielder Chinemerem Ugwueze fired home from just inside the box on the half hour mark after a cut back by Chidiebere Nwobodo.
Rangers’ win, their first away win of the campaign shot the Flying Antelopes into the fourth position on the league table while Doma United who had a memorable first half of the season slipped down to seventh place having now gone four matches without a win.
Just above Rangers in third position is Enyimba who held their hosts Insurance 0-0 in Benin in an away game played under floodlights on Saturday. It was Enyimba’s first game since the return of head coach Finidi George and captain Olorunleke Ojo from AFCON duties and they made it count.
Ojo made a couple of fine saves to deny the hosts as Enyimba secured yet another point on the road as they reinforce themselves as the team with the best results in away matches this season. They will return home to face Gombe United on Wednesday.
In Saturday’s other game, nine-man Katsina United pulled off a surprise 1-1 draw against Kwara United in Ilorin in a return home for Katsina coach Abubakar Bala. Kabiru Dogo’s Kwara United went in front on 44 minutes when Issa Gata’s left footed effort nestled into the net but the second half was not what they envisaged.
Katsina United had their former Kwara United centre back Sunday Akinmoladun sent off in the 80th minute for a professional foul but they actually levelled six minutes later when midfielder Michael Ibe Okoro had his corner kick diverted home by Kwara United goalkeeper Adeyinka Adewale.
There was still enough time for Katsina midfielder Emmanuel Okoko Junior to get his second yellow but it was not enough to deny Katsina a valuable away point as they extend their unbeaten league run to five matches.
After the away engagements of the likes of Rangers and Enyimba on Saturday, six more matches will hold on Sunday on Match Day 21 including Lobi Stars’ home tie against Heartland FC in Lafia. A win will take the Yes Father Boys three points clear at the summit of the table.
