NPFL: Gombe Compounds Rivers Utd Woes
El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri made a bold statement of taking a shot at the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) title yesterday moving up three places to the second spot on the log.
El Kanemi defeated former champions Kano Pillars 1-0 to stay on 30 points, just two below leaders Plateau United who defeated neighbours Wikki Tourists 1-0 in Jos.
MFM FC who surrendered their leadership to Plateau are on same 30 points as El Kanemi but with less +3 goal difference. The Olukoya Boys were crushed 4-0 during their Sunday’s Match day 17 road trip to Lafia.
Elsewhere yesterday, Akwa United also showed they were capable of pumping in goals at their fortress in Uyo as the
Promise Keepers hammered Shooting Stars 4-2 to climb to the middle of the topflight log on 23 points.
The story of Rangers International FC of Enugu woes continued in the Oriental Derby in Aba as the Flying Antelopes lost 2-1 to Enyimba. This loss may spell doom for Coach Imama Amapakabo who has been handed a three-match ultimatum to either perform or ship out.
In Gombe, an assured first half performance by Gombe United proved decisive as Rivers United was put to the sword 1-0.
United were without their Technical Manager, Stanley Eguma who was suspended for one game and in his absence, looked jaded and bereft of ideas in a first half of low quality.
Sani Suleiman almost put the hosts in front in
the 24th minute but watched in despair as his long range strike beat the Rivers United goalkeeper, Abiodun Akande but clattered against the post.
It was a premonition Rivers United failed to heed as the hosts took the lead barely three minutes following an enthralling team move that culminated in Idris Bakare rounding Akande before planting emphatically into a gaping goal.
The visitors improved after the break and should have levelled matters in the 56th minute when Nzube Anaezemba’s sweetly-hit volley came off the cross bar.
The hosts however enjoyed the best opening of a more entertaining second half. Sani Suleiman was the player the chance fell to but he inexplicably fired over from three yards with a
gaping goal at his mercy.
Rivers United had the ball in the Gombe United net in the 84th minute but the effort was ruled out. Both sides traded chances late on but Gombe United held on to record a vital victory.