Title chasers Enyimba, Sunshine slip

Leaders Enyimba and Sunshine Stars slipped in their chase for the Nigeria league championship yesterday after they lost at Giwa FC and Shooting Stars, respectively.

Giwa kept intact their unbeaten run in the league against Enyimba when they won 1-0 in Jos and Shooting Stars edged past Sunshine Stars 2-1 in a southwest derby.

However, Enyimba remained on top of the standings with 52 points from 28 games, four points clear of Warri Wolves, who toppled Sunshine Stars from second spot.

Giwa have 46 points from 28 games to stay within touch of the front runners.

The only goal of the game was a 74th minute penalty which was converted by Giwa captain Charles Henlong after Enyimba defender Emmanuel Anyanwu handled the ball inside the 18-yard box.

In Ibadan, home team Shooting Stars upstaged Sunshine Stars 2-1.

Tope Orelope was the match winner for ‘The Oluyole Warriors’ when he tucked away a penalty in the 82nd minute.

Cletus Itodo, who marked his birthday on Saturday, opened the scoring for the home team in the 23rd minute.

Nigeria U20 striker Wasiu Jimoh failed to score from the penalty spot after Stephen Eze handled Yinka Adedeji’s free kick in the 34th minute.

And Eze was sent off for second yellow card for hand ball.

But 3SC old boy Okiki Afolabi equalised for Sunshine Stars in the 39th minute.

Shooting Stars had Nigeria U23 goalkeeper Abiodun Akande back in goal for this game after he was dropped from the All Africa Games squad. 3SC now have 41 points from 28 games. Mewnwhile in Katsina, El-Kanemi defeated Lobi Stars 2-1, Warri Wolves held Nasarawa to 1-1 in Lafia, Wikki Tourists were 3-1 better than Akwa Utd, Abia Warriors fell 0-1 to Kwara United in Ilorin, Heartland defeated Rangers 2-0 in Owerri just as FC IfeanyiUbah compounded FC Taraba’s woes with 2-0 win in Oba.

There will be double header in PortHarcourt today as Dolphins tackle Bayelsa in a south-south derby while Sharks FC welcome defending champions, Kano Pillars.