Former champions Rangers International and Kano Pillars were the surprise teams to lose at home on Match Day 3 of the 2019/20 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on a day Plateau United cruised to their third win in as many games.
Lagos based church side MFM FC and Lobi Stars were the teams to inflict 0-1 defeats on the two traditional sides to continue the trend of at least two away wins on each match day in the new season.
Midfielder Chuks Kennedium scored MFM’s only goal in the second half to silence home fans at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium and take the Tony Bolus led side to seven points from three games.
In Kano, midfielder Douglas Achiv scored midway through the second half for Gbenga Ogunbote’s Lobi to leave Pillars without their first win of the season after three matches. Ibrahim Musa Jugunu’s side are also yet to score this term.
Abdu Maikaba continued his swashbuckling start to a second season in charge of Plateau United when his side recorded a come-from-behind 2-1 win over his former side Wikki Tourists in Jos.
Jackson Daniel gave the visitors a shock lead in the 12th minute but United responded with strikes from Ibrahim Mustapha 33′ and former Wikki star Abba Umar 55′ to claim full marks.
Defending champions Enyimba defeated Akwa United 3-1 in Aba with all goals in the game coming in the first half. Enyimba raced through a three-goal lead before Mfon Udoh scored what turned out to be the consolatory goal against his former side.
Elsewhere, FC Ifeanyiubah continued their good start to the season with a 1-0 win over winless Rivers United while Delta state teams Delta Force and Warri Wolves won for the first time, beating newly promoted sides Jigawa Golden Stars and Adamawa United respectively.
Heartland FC, coached by Fidelis Ilechukwu once again failed to win at home, this time requiring a second half penalty by Samuel Nnoshiri to deny Akwa Starlets a win in Okigwe.
MATCH DAY 3 RESULTS AND SCORERS
Warri Wolves 2-0 Adamawa Utd
Efe Yarhere 70’, Sunday Williams 80’
Plateau Utd 2-1 Wikki Tourists
Mustapha Ibrahim 33’, Abba Umar 55’ – Daniel Jackson 12’
Katsina Utd 1-0 Nasarawa Utd
Tasiu Lawal 64’ (PEN)
Kano Pillars 0-1 Lobi Stars
Douglas Achiv 62’
FC Ifeanyiubah 1-0 Rivers Utd
Chigozie Chilekwu 7’
Rangers 0-1 MFM FC
Chuks Kenedinum 45’
Enyimba 3-1 Akwa Utd
Austin Oladapo 13’ (PEN), Stanley Dimgba 30’, Samson Obi 33’ – Mfon Udoh 39’
Heartland 1-1 Akwa Starlets
Samuel Nnoshiri 63’ (PEN) – Moses Effiong 39’
Abia Warriors 1-1 Sunshine Stars
Philip Auta 32’ – Fuad Ekelojuoti 19’
Delta Force 4-1 Jigawa Golden Stars
Mubarak Abdulsallam 37’, Isaac Oduro 49’, Otukhe Egbo 59’, Williams Nmesitionye 9’ – Ali Musa 62’
