Matchday 2 of the NPFL Championship Play-offs provided interesting results which further leave the favorites to win the 2019 NPFL season under uncertainty.
Winners on matchday 1, Lobi Stars were beaten by Rangers who lost to Enyimba on Monday while Kano Pillars and Akwa United who shared the spoils on an opening day beat the Aba Elephants and FC Ifeanyi Ubah respectively.
AKWA UNITED V FC IFEANYI UBAH – 3 PM
FT Score: 2-1
Goalscorers: Emmanuel Ugwuka 33″ (FCIU), Cyril Olisema 48″ 60″(p) (Akwa United)
Akwa United finally got a win to their Championship Play-offs campaign to a winning start after the 2-2 draw against Pillars on Tuesday. The promise keepers, however, had to come back from a goal down to hit a 2-1 win over FC Ifeanyi Ubah who have now lost the second straight game so far.
Rafael Everton tutored side conceded first for the second game running after just 33 minutes after Emmanuel Ugwuka slotted home from a Chibuike Eze’s excellent through pass.
However, the second half proved more fruitful for Akwa United as they scored four minutes after the break through Cyril Olisema who tucked in a rebound from FC Ifeanyi Ubah’s goalkeeper Chinedu Anozie who saved smartly from a long shot.
The forward stepped up again on the hour mark to slot home a penalty after a cross into the box was handled by the opposition defender. The win finally sees Akwa United put an end to a winless run which would have extended to five on the night.
They face Rangers next on Sunday 9th of June by 7 pm while FC Ifeanyi Ubah would hope to win against Pillars when they face off 3 pm the same day to keep any hope of CAF competition qualification alive.
Lineups
Akwa United: Ojo Olorunleke, Etboy, Juwon Oshaniwa, Marshal, Denis, Adou, Godspower, Ndifreke Effiong, Mfon Udoh, Charles, Alberico Da Silva
SUB: Iwu, Elu, Kodjovi, Olisema, Fernando, Obata, Ocheme.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah: Chinedu Anozie 2. Promise James 3. Chinonso Udeh 8. Ikenna Cooper 6. Charles Okafor 30. Jimoh Gbadamosi 14. Emmanuel Ugwuka 26. Tega Ebetomame 9. Chijioke Alaekwe 25. Chibuike Ezeh 29. Christian Nnaji
SUB: Anthony Okoro 5. Matthew Emmanuel 10. Nansel Bussa 13. Didi Komboye 15. Onuoha Chukwujekwu 16. Nonso Nzediegwu 24. Uche Ihuarulam
WHAT THE COACHES SAID
Akwa United Coach
FC Ifeanyi Ubah Coach
RANGERS V LOBI STARS
FT Score: 2-1
Goalscorers: Godwin Aguda 15″ (Rangers) Chiamaka Madu 28″ (Rangers), Sikiru Alimi 59″ (Lobi)
Rangers international put behind them their opening day loss to Enyimba with a 2-1 victory over Lobi Stars to put their title hopes back alive.
The Gbenga Ogunbote tutored side started brightly early into the game and were duly rewarded with a goal from Godwin Aguda fifteen minutes into the game.
Chiamaka Madu made it 2-0 just before the half-hour to further extend the lead but Lobi stras who were poor in the first half started gun blazing in the second half as Sikiru Alimi scored his second goal in 2games on the hour mark.
However, despite the end to end exchange from both sides in the second half the scored remained unchanged for the remaining half hour of the game thus putting an end to Lobi’s 10games unbeaten run.
Lineups
Rangers: Nana Bonsu, Tope Olusesi, Ugwu Uwadiegwu, Tony Shimaga, Semiu Liadi, Isiaka Oladuntoye, Godwin Aguda, Chiamaka Madu, Bobby Clement, Ajani Ibrahim, Michael Uchebo
SUB: Japhet Opubo, Christian Madu, Ousmane Pape Sane, Ugochukwu Ugwuoke, Ifeanyi Egwim, Ifeanyi George, Felix Ogbuke
Lobi: Egbe Ospino, John Lazarus, Ebube Duru, Otakho Alex Aghahowa, Kwambe Solomon, Bashiru Olawale, Ojudigha Ezekiel, Kadiri Timileyin Samad, Sikiru Alimi, Samuel Mathias, Kelly Oahimijie Kester
SUB: Kayode Olufemi, Bunde Moses, Nzekwesi Andrew, Oluwadamilare Ojo, Tiza Iorwuese, Michael Stephen, Ogunye Austine
WHAT COACHES SAID
Rangers Coach
Lobi Stars Coach
KANO PILLARS V ENYIMBA
Ft Score: 2-0
Goalscorers: Adamu Hassan (76″), Nyima Nwugua (80″)
The third game of the night saw the first fixture between the two heavyweights this season however the much-anticipated game was abandoned a minute before half time as heavy rain rendered the game unplayable and resumed early on Friday morning.
The second half of the game prove more interesting and eventful as Enyimba were awarded a penalty in the 60th minute after a foul by Chris Madaki on substitute Bashir Abdulrahman.
However, Ifeanyi Anaemena’s poor penalty kick moments later was saved by Suraj Ayeleso and the people’s elephant were made to pay for it as Adamu Hassan scored for Pillars 16 minutes later while Chris Madaki made up for his error by providing a cross on the 80th minutes which was headed in by Nyima Nwugua for his second goal of the competition.
Lineups
Kano Pillars: Surajo Ayeleso, Victor Dennis,
Chris Madaki, Adeshola David, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Sunday Chinedu, Auwalu Ali Malam,Alassan Ibrahim, David Ebuka, Rabiu Ali (c), Nwagua Nyima
SUB: Danladi Isah, Austin Uzochukwu Ayaya, Fahad Usman, Nzube Anaezemba, Adamu Hassan, Yusuf Maigoro, Gambo Muhammad
Enyimba: Theophilus Afelokhai, Andrew Abalogu, Ifeanyi Anaemena, Nelson Ogbonnaya, Nasiru Sani, Thomas Zenke, Dare Olatunji, Austin Oladapo, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Joseph Osadiaye, Ibrahim Mustapha.
SUB: Fatau Daudu, Ernest Governor, Stephen Mango, Bright Emmanuel, Chukwuka Onuwa, Reuben Bala, Bashir Abdulrahman
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