Enyimba and Remo Stars – last season’s top two teams in the Nigeria Premier Football League – claimed valuable wins as match day three of the 2023/24 season continued on Sunday, www.aclsports.com reports.
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Defending champions Enyimba lost 2-0 to Gombe United in their first game of the season last weekend, while Remo Stars lost 2-0 to Rivers United in their rescheduled match day one game on Thursday. However, Enyimba and Remo Stars both bounced back to secure wins over Akwa United and Bayelsa United respectively.
In the absence of Coach Finidi George who is currently on national team duty with the Super Eagles in Portugal, Enyimba raced to a two-goal lead after Innocent Gabriel and Chijioke Mbaoma scored 120 seconds apart before Kufre Ebong pulled one back for the Promise Keepers on the stroke of half time.
After the break, Akwa United got themselves level via a freekick from Phillip David in the 64th minute but captain Somiari Alalibo fired home from his own freekick moments later to secure the first three points of the season for the People’s Elephants.
In Yenagoa, Remo Stars defeated Bayelsa United 2-1 to produce the first away win of the season. Adams Olamilekan and substitute Sikiru Alimi gave the visitors a two-goal cushion before Ekeson Okorie scored a consolation for the home side who played over an hour with 10 men.
Captain Malomo Taofeek scored twice in the second half to lead Shooting Stars to a comeback 2-1 win over Gombe United at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. Aliko Bala scored for the visitors.
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In Lagos, Doma United held Sporting Lagos to a goalless draw at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena. It was a disciplined performance from the away side who could have taken all three points if not for some dogged defending coupled with fine goalkeeping from Aliu Salawudeen and Christian Nwoke respectively.
Similarly, 2021 champions Rivers United also shared the spoils with Kwara United in Port-Harcourt. The game between Katsina United and Lobi Stars also finished goalless in Katsina on Saturday. Meanwhile, Sunday Megwo scored the game’s only goal to help Abia Warriors beat Kano Pillars in Umuahia.
Rangers also made it back-to-back home wins after recording a 2-1 success over Niger Tornadoes in Awka. Joel Odoh and Joshua Obaje scored for the flying antelopes while Bashir Usman scored for the Minna side.
On Saturday, Benjamin Tanimu’s first-half penalty was all Bendel Insurance needed to beat Plateau United at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.
Results in full:
- Enyimba 3-2 Akwa United
- Bayelsa United 1-2 Remo Stars
- Abia Warriors 1-0 Kano Pillars
- Rangers 2-1 Niger Tornadoes
- Rivers United 0-0 Kwara United
- Katsina United 0-0 Lobi Stars
- Sunshine Stars 1-1 Heartland
- Shooting Stars 2-1 Gombe United
- Bendel Insurance 1-0 Plateau United
- Sporting Lagos 0-0 Doma United
