NPFL: Kwara United end MFM’s six-game unbeaten run with 1-0 win in Ilorin + other results

Kwara United FC of Ilorin, on Sunday, defeated Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry (MFM) FC 1-0 to end the Lagos-based Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side’s six-game unbeaten run.
The 2020/2021 NPFL match Day 27 encounter was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
The game had more drama but Kwara United had most of the finest opportunities especially in the early part of the proceedings.
MFM goalkeeper, Bamidele Adeniyi, responded perfectly to Stephen Jude’s free kick in the 18th minute to deny the host from taking the lead.
Olawale Farayola ghost pass his markers and found Michael Ohanu in the process but the striker missed a glorious opportunity at close range in the 43rd minute.
With seconds left before the break, Adeniyi again made another vital save at close range to deny the host at the near post.
Michael Ohanu called MFM FC’s Adeniyi into action when the goalkeeper struggled with the initial effort but Adeniyi parried away to concede a corner in the 64th minute.
Kwara United’s Joshua Agboola was adjudged to have been fouled by one of the visitors’ defenders in the box in the 70th minute and the centre referee pointed straight into the spot for a penalty.
Kwara United’s captain, Christopher Nwaeze, who took the penalty, sent Adeniyi to the wrong side to score the only goal of the match in 77th minute of play after some drama.
Speaking after the match, MFM Coach, Olalekan Gabriel, said his team played a better side which put them through a lot of pressure which they tried to curtail.
He explained they came to Ilorin to give all it takes to win but they met a good team which deny them space to express themselves.
Gabriel said he will assess the lapses in the game and get the team restarted again to continue another unbeaten run.
His Kwara United counterpart, Abdullahi Biffo, said the match was more of a local derby.
Biffo said MFM fought very well to deny them opportunities to operate the way they wanted to.
“What matters most is the three points, which we already got. I was expecting a game like this, just like when we played them in Lagos,” Biffo said.
Kwara United will now travel to Makurdi to engage Lobi Stars on match Day 28.
Adamawa United Football Club of Yola secured their second full points in 13 matches on Sunday by defeating Rivers United of Port Harcourt 2-0 at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe.
The Match Day 27 fixture in the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) did not go without any drama.
This was when the decision by the match officials to disallow a goal scored by Anayo Ogbonna held up the game for about nine minutes.
The hosts took the lead in the 13th minute of the game through Surajo Hassan.
Ogbonna’s goal in the 28th minute and his teammates and team officials went on celebrating only to discover that the goal had been disallowed.
Adamawa United officials quickly crowded the match commissioner to protest the referee’s decision to disallow the goal.
The action halted the match for nine minutes and it took the intervention of security operatives to put under control the almost violent situation for the match to resume.
Two minutes after the game restarted, an own goal by Rivers United’s defender, Fabian Maduabuchi, ensures the hosts extended their lead in the 39th minute.
Speaking later at the post-match conference, Adamawa United’s Head Coach, Justin Madugu, said he was not aware of the reason the referee disallowed the goal scored by Ogbonna.
“One could see the beauty of that goal and there was a build-up before the goal.
“The player who scored that goal was right around the penalty kick spot.
“It’s only the assistant referee that can explain why the goal was cancelled. The centre referee said it was not his fault but I believe he had the right to say it was a goal,” Madugu said.
He, however, pointed out that the 2-0 win meant a lot to his team, adding “every point at this stage of the competition counts”.
“The boys have been playing well recently. So, I am happy for them today that they can smile home.”
On his part, Rivers United coach, Stanley Eguma, said the match was good but the result was a setback for his team.
Eguma stated that the team would keep working hard and “it is not over until it is over”.
“It is unfortunate that we lost. This is the first time we are losing in our last eight games,” Eguma said.
Meanwhile, a resilient Nasarawa United Football Club fought off a resolute Plateau United FC on Sunday to claim a vital 2-0 win in a 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture.
The cagey Match Day 27 encounter was played at the Lafia Township stadium.
Plateau United put in an impressive defensive performance which frustrated every move of the home side, thereby forcing the first half to end 0-0.
Even after the break, Plateau United remained resolute at the back, frustrating every effort of Nasarawa United.
They also exploited the midfield to make inroads towards the penalty area of the home side, but this was without success.
In spite the fine defensive display by Plateau United, Nasarawa United finally broke the deadlock in the 59th minute through Chinedu Ohanachom.
He received a connecting header from Aliyu Abdullahi to nod home in the penalty box.
The same scenario repeated itself leading to the second goal for Nasarawa United in the 65th minute.
Aliyu Abdullahi again nodded in to Ohanachom in the penalty box.
This prompted the centre referee to award a penalty kick which Stanley Nwankwo converted to make it 2-0.
Speaking after the match, Abdul Maikaba, Head Coach of Plateau United, praised his boys for their resilience and fine defensive performance.
He, however, blamed the harsh weather for the loss of concentration which led to the two goals scored against his side.
But apart from some times, both teams played very well and i congratulate Nasarawa United. It was their victory.
“As for my team, we tried our best, most especially in the first half. But I believe the weather ran my boys down.
“Nevertheless, we will keep pushing to see if we can end up in the top four or top five on the log at the end of the season,” the coach said.
The win leaves Nasarawa United in the third position on the 2020/2021 NPFL season log after 27 matches played.
In Bauchi, hosts Wikki Tourists Football Club on Sunday defeated visiting FC IfeanyiUba of Nnewi 4-3 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
The victory moved up Wikki Tourists from the 16th position after 27 matches with 30 points.
Wikki Tourists scored 40 minutes into the match through Nazifi Yahaya, who went on to score the second goal two minutes into the second half.
Manu Garba extended the tally in the second half, while Yahaya completed scoring his hat-trick to make it 4-0 in the 58th minute of the match.
But the visitors rallied back, and 74 minutes into the match, Ekenne Awazi reduced the tally, scoring in the 88th minute.
There was then a frenzied ending to the game as Eze Diego scored their third goal in the 90th minute.
Uche Okagbue, the head coach of FC IfeanyiUba, in a post-match interview said his boys were impressive during the match.
“We fought to get at least a draw from the match, but it was not to be.
“We didn’t play badly but it was not our day. Had it been we converted our chances, the result would have been different.
“We are, therefore, not going to cry over the defeat. The players have already gone through lots of stress, as we traveled all night without a rest. But they have done well,” he said.
The coach said he still has confidence in the players, and he was sure that they would do better in their next match.
On his part, the acting Head Coach of Wikki Tourists, Abdullahi Bura, seemed not to be happy with the scoreline.
“I am not in the mood to talk to pressmen,” he said.
In Enugu, Rangers International FC pounded visiting Sunshine Stars of Akure 4-1 at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Ifeanyi Nweke scored for the home team in 5th minute from Chiamaka Madu’s tame cross while Isreal Abia made it 2-0 in 25th minute.
Godspower Aniefiok increased the tally to three for Rangers before the break and Christian Nnaji took the tally to 4-0 for the home team in 47th minute.
Former Rangers, Ojukwu Ifeanyi, reduced the score line to 4-1 for the visitors in 52nd minute when he converted from a spot kick.
Speaking after the match, Sunshine Stars coach, Deji Ayeni, said that “football is all about winning, drawing and losing”.
“Sometimes you get it right and some you get it wrong; so losing against a big team like Rangers FC is not too bad.
“By and large, it was not a bad performance and we are going home to work more on the players with tactics for subsequent matches.
“The coach was optimistic that his team will win Abia Warriors FC in their next match to boost their changes of escaping relegation at the end of the season.
“No team is unbeatable and my target is to guard Sunshine FC to safety at the end of the season,” he said.
Amobi Ezeaku, Rangers FC Team Manager, said the Flying Antelopes played well and to the instructions of the technical adviser, Salisu Yusuf.
He noted that the early goal from his team was the tonic that spurred the players, adding that the team was ready for their upcoming matches in the league.
“We play each game as it comes and our next match against Enyimba FC of Aba will come with its own tactics. I believe that we will get a positive result there.
“Technically, Rangers is a scoring side and a side that more chance and it goes with converting it.
“Today, our players were able to create chances and convert them. It was a good one for us going into the remaining matches of the season,” Ezeaku said.