THISDAY

MFM FC’s Teenage Striker, Waheed, Puts Pillars to the Sword

- Ugo Aliogo

A sublime header from teenage striker Adebayo Waheed was just enough for Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club to secure their third home win of the season against Kano Pillars in one of yesterday’s fixtures of Match-day 5 of the Nigeria Profession­al Football League (NPFL) decided at the Agege Township Stadium.

It was indeed a tough encounter for Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men. The visitors dominated possession in the early stage of the exchange but MFM defenders gave good account of themselves with great level of composure.

MFM FC mounted pressure on the visitors’ defence in the 8th minute with Onuwa Chukwuka, Sikiru Olatunbosu­n and Stephen Odey troubling the Sai Masu Gida defenders.

The Olukoya Boys had a chance to register the first goal of the game in the 16th minute of the encounter when Adekunle Adegboyega low shot beat Pillars goalkeeper but Chinedu Udoji stopped the forward from scoring his second goal of the season with a timely goalline clearance.

Former Ikorodu United attacker Kabir Balogun tested MFM FC goalkeeper Ospino Egbe in the 36th minute of the game with a ferocious shot but the former Bayelsa United goaltender pulled a lovely save. First half ended goalless for both teams.

Ilechukwu’s men came out like a house on fire in the second half of the game. Onuwa set Odey up with a beautiful pass the latter dribbled past his markers but his last attempt on the ball went inches wide.

Four minutes after Odey’s attempt at goal, MFM FC boss made his first substituti­on of the game replacing Adekunle with 18-year-old striker Adebayo Waheed.

The teenager made his impact felt five minutes after his introducti­on scoring his side’s only goal of the game in his first NPFL appearance with a brilliant header after connecting a cross from Stanley Okorom. The game ended with the Lagos-based team claiming another home victory.

The Olukoya Boys who moved from 3rd position to 2nd on the NPFL log with 10 points from a possible 15 will travel to Akure for a date with Sunshine Stars on Sunday in an encounter tagged ‘South-west Derby.’

At the Gateway Internatio­nal Stadium in Sagamu, Remo Stars FC shook off the tensions of a newcomer to spank old war horse, El Kanemi Warriors, 2-0 to harvest maximum points in the NPFL match day five clash.

The hosts left no room for guesses as they drew first blood with an early goal that left the visitors from Maiduguri in shock when Onuoha Chukwujekw­u blasted in from close range a rebound from goal rush in two minutes of the whistle.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria