Reigning Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champion, Rivers United, were beaten for the first time in 2023 on Sunday while Akwa United and Enyimba took advantage of a rare slip by Group A’s top two sides to reduce a widening gap.
The result of the day had to be from the Pantami Stadium in Gombe where newly promoted, privately owned club Doma United came from behind to beat Rivers United 2-1 and extend their unbeaten run to four matches in Group B.
A brace by Usman Musa (34 and 66′) cancelled out Denis Ndasi’s 25th-minute opener for the visitors who also relinquished top spot in the group to Lobi Stars who held Niger Tornadoes 0-0 in Kaduna. Tornadoes are now winless in their last four games after winning their first two matches of the season.
Wikki Tourists recorded their first win of the season to snap a half-hearted resurgence by Rangers, inflicting a 1-0 defeat on the 2016 champions in Bauchi. Former youth international Abubakar Aliyu with the only goal of the game in first-half stoppage time.
Sunshine Stars made it consecutive home wins after another 1-0 victory in Akure, this time against Bayelsa United courtesy of Stephen Chukwude’s 4th-minute strike. The result left Bayelsa United bottom of the group with two points.
Group A
Former champions Akwa United and Enyimba enjoyed routine home wins on Sunday to move closer to high fliers Bendel Insurance and Remo Stars. It was the latter that was at the receiving end of a 1-3 defeat to United in Uyo.
A Cyril Olisema penalty, Uche Collins strike and an own goal by Segun Olalere meant Qudus Akanni’s goal for Remo was meaningless for the team who had striker Andy Okpe sent off in the second half. Enyimba meanwhile beat El-Kanemi Warriors 2-0 in Aba courtesy of two first-half goals by Chukwuemeka Obioma who took his tally for the season to four goals.
Shooting Stars recorded another home win in Ibadan after two first-half goals by Samuel Ayanrinde gave them a 2-0 win over bottom-placed Nasarawa United. Plateau United also continued their resurgence with a 1-0 win at home to on-and-off Kwara United.
Two games were decided on Saturday as both home teams Bendel Insurance and Dakkada FC failed to get maximum points. Check how they fared here.
A minute silence was observed at the matches in honour of the late Kingsley Nnaemeka, the referee that lost his life in a fatal accident while returning home after officiating in Match Day 5.
Match Day 6 Results
Group A
Enyimba 2-0 El-Kanemi W.
Akwa united 3-1 Remo Stars
Shooting Stars 2-0 Nassarawa United
Plateau United 1-0 Kwara united
Bendel Insurance 0-0 Gombe United
Group B
Niger Tornadoes 0-0 Lobi stars
Doma United 2-1 Rivers United
Wikki Tourists 1-0 Rangers Int’l
Sunshine Stars 1-0 Bayelsa United
Dakkada FC 2-4 Abia Warriors
Picture credit: Doma United Media.
