The People’s Elephant temporarily halted the bid of
the Solid Miners to reach the continental slot with a 3-1 win in Week 33
ties filled with home wins and crowd trouble in Jos
FC TARABA 4-1 AKWA UNITED
The Jalingo Boys secured a second consecutive home win against the
Promise Keepers to move up the ladder and put their bid to escape
relegation at the end of the season firmly under their control after a
2-1 win at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo on Thursday. They had beaten
Dolphins 3-1 on Sunday at the same turf.
Two first half goals from Olusola Ajala and Usman Mohammed put the
home team in the driver’s seat but Akwa United replied in the second
half through Ubong Kefre’s strike in the 61st minute. FC Taraba had the
last laugh with two further goals to end the tie 4-1.
FC Taraba thus moved to 43 points from 33 games as against Akwa
United who are only two points clear of the Jalingo Boys with 45 points
from as many games.
ABIA WARRIORS 2-0 BAYELSA UNITED
Despite a good start to the season, Bayelsa United must do something
special in the remaining matches of the season if they do not want to
end their two season romance in the elite division. They were beaten
predictably by Abia Warriors who are fighting for a slot on the
continent on Thursday to add salt to injury for them.
Peter Onyekachi was perfect from the penalty spot when he put the
home side in the ascendancy in the 35th minute after Ifeanyi Onyeali was
adjudged to have been felled in the vital area while Bishop Onyeudo
scored the insurance second goal in the 87th minute.
Abia Warriors are fourth with 51 points from 33 matches while Bayelsa United are on 39 points from same number of matches too.
WARRI WOLVES 3-0 LOBI STARS
The free fall of the Suswam Boys away from home continued unabated at
the Warri Township Stadium after they were walloped 3-0 by the
Seasiders who are looking at way of toppling the current league leaders,
Kano Pillars before the end of the season.
Abu Azeez who was a replacement for the suspended Oghenekaro Etebo
grabbed two goals in the 52nd and 54th minutes before Joseph Osadaiye
got the third in the 68th minute. The report reaching Goal indicated
that Lobi Stars would have conceded more goals if not for the sharp
reflexes of goalkeeper, Terkaa Melai who made several eye catching saves
to the angst of the home fans to ensure that the game ended in a
respectable scoreline.
Warri Wolves are still second with 55 points- four points clear of
third placed Enyimba who are on 51 points with 33 matches already
decided in the league this season. The Seasiders are only a point lower
than Kano Pillars who are aiming to win the league for a third
consecutive season.
ENUGU RANGERS 1-0 HEARTLAND
It was meant to be an explosive encounter because of the fine form of
both teams but besides the good display of the Naze Millionaires in the
first half nothing much was seen of the away side immediately the home
team netted the opening goal in the 38th minute through Ighodalor
Osaguona who bagged his 15th goal of the season.
The whole of the second half belonged to the Flying Antelopes as
Heartland would rue their inability to convert few chanced that came
their way in the first half especially the one had by in-form striker,
Bobby Clement which he fluffed with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Rangers have moved to 48 points from 33 matches and they could spring
a surprise in the run-in to the end of the league if they are able to
secure maximum points from all their away games coupled with the few
they have at home.
Heartland with 47 points from 33 games would be content with another
barren run in the domestic league this season but they are away from
relegation worries if they maintain their current season till the end of
the season.
SUNSHINE STARS 2-0 CROWN FC
The Akure Gunners returned to winning ways at home to Crown after a
2-0 victory. It was fitting reply to their disastrous away result at
Heartland where they were walloped 3-0 at Owerri last Sunday.
Tunde Adeniji opened the scoring in the 45th minute while Kingsley
Eduwo added the second five minutes later to the joy of the Akure fans.
The Erasmus Onuh boys put every foot right at the Akure Township
Stadium as they added to the misery of the Ajilete Boys with the victory
Sunshine moved to 48 points from 33 games while Crown’s return to the
lower league is almost guaranteed with only 36 points from 33 matches.
GIWA FC 0-0 SHARKS FC (INCONCLUSIVE DUE TO CROWD VIOLENCE)
It was abandoned at the instance of the home fans who allegedly
rushed to the pitch to remonstrate with the centre referee whom they
claimed was against their wish to grab all home points.
The referee had to call off the match sometime in the second half
when the crowd violence became uncontrollable. It is left for the League
Management Company (LMC) to take a decision on the match based on the
reports of the match officials which would be submitted later this week.
KANO PILLARS 2-0 GOMBE UNITED
The Sai Masu Gida are seemed destined to win the league again if
their current form is to be taken into cognizance. They have been
winning all their home games in recent times after they dropped points
at home to Sunshine Stars and Heartland at the beginning of the season.
They have seen got all the lost points in their away games.
They made it a double over the Desert Scorpions at the Kano Pillars
Stadium on Thursday through the goals of Theophilus Afelokhai from the
penalty spot and Ubong Ekpai as they run away two 2-0 winners. The two
goals were scored in the 26th and 50th minutes
They are first with 56 points although Warri Wolves are breathing
down through their neck with a point behind with 33 games gone.
ENYIMBA FC 3-0 NASARAWA UNITED
The People’s Elephant thrashed the Solid Miners 3-0 to maintain their third position on the log with 51 points from 33 games.
Mfon Udoh’s for his 17th goal of the season and Emeka Nwanna’s third
sealed famous victory over the Lafia side who are one of the Aba side’s
direct opponents for a place in Africa.
The home win also ensured that Enyimba continued their quest to wrest
the league title from Pillars who are five points above the Aba
Millionaires
Nasarawa United are on 50 points from 33 games but they have slacked a
bit in the race for the league title as they are out of the top five
presently. They are sixth. They will have their biggest test to their
title aspiration when they host Kano Pillars at mid week in Lafia.
NEMBE CITY 4-0 KADUNA UNITED
Though Nembe City players know that they as good as relegated from
the elite division because of their precarious position on the log they
are still enjoying themselves and ensuring that they only take the game
one after the other. It was no difference at the Krisdera Hotel Stadium,
Omoku on Thursday after the team handed another heavy defeat to one of
the basement teams, Kaduna United in a Week 33 tie.
Okiki Musampa was the easy peak of the pack after he netted a hat
track in the 22nd, 63rd and 79th minutes but a certain Chinze Ugwu got
his own goal in the 61st minute to ensure that the Crocodile Boys do not
only head back to Kaduna with worry over their unpaid salaries but also
with their away free fall too.
Nembe have 28 points from 31 games but they are still a far cry from
19th placed Crown who have 36 points while the defeated Kaduna United
are on 37 points from as many games.
DOLPHINS 1-0 EL KANEMI WARRIORS
The Borno Army were almost home and dry before they lowered their
guard and allowed the Pride of Port Harcourt to strike nine minutes from
time to the admiration of their fans who thronged the Liberation
Stadium, Port Harcourt to lend their support.
The back breaker was scored by Omoh Johnson in the 81st minute and
Dolphins would be thanking their stars for getting the maximum points in
spite of the strong resistance of the away team to ensure that they go
back to Kano with at least a point.
The three points aided Dolphins’ position on the log as they are
fifth with 51 points from 33 games while El Kanemi Warriors are on 45
points from 33 matches
