Tornadoes dim Shooting Stars 3-2 to win NNL Super 8 trophy
Niger Tornadoes have been crowned champions of the 2021 Nigeria National League (NNL) after they defeated hard fighting 3SC Ibadan 3-2 in yesterday’s finals of the NNL Super 8 play-off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium in Enugu.
At the end of proceedings which started on Wednesday, September 8, Niger Tornadoes, Gombe United, 3SC and Remo Stars picked the tickets to return to the Nigeria Professional Football
League (NPFL).
While Tornadoes topped group A which had El-Kanemi Warriors, Gombe United and DMD of Maiduguri with one win and two draws, 3SC won Group B composed of Bendel Insurance, Ekiti United and Remo Stars with two wins and one draw.
Therefore, the final match which was played yesterday between winners of Group A and B was to decide the overall champions of the 2021 NNL season.
Speaking to Daily Trust, the Technical Adviser of Niger Tornadoes, Abubakar Bala expressed happiness with the return of his team to the NPFL.
He also dedicated the victory to the Niger State government, management, players, technical crew and supporters of the club.
“I am very very happy. I am dedicating the victory to the Niger State government for the financial and moral support. I also dedicate this success to the management of the club, particularly the chairman, who made personal sacrifices even when there was delay in the release of funds by the government.
“I am also dedicating the victory to the players who worked hard and made sacrifices even when their welfare was affected. My colleagues in the technical crew and all supporters of Niger Tornadoes too deserve a special mention,” he said.
Despite the victory, Coach Bala called for total overhauling of the second tier league as he said the competition was poorly organised.
“We are glad that we have left the National League. The league is not properly organised. In the regular season, there were always issues with security, officiating and bad pitches. The league needs total overhauling,” said Bala.
Nigeria’s representatives in this year’s CAF Champions League, Akwa United and Rivers United opened their campaigns on a winning note after their slim victories in the first leg of the preliminary round matches played yesterday.
While reigning NPFL champions, Akwa United defeated Algerian giants CR Belouizdad 1-0 at the Nest of Champions in Uyo, their compatriots, Rivers United recorded a hard fought 1-0 away win at Young Africans of Tanzania.
Akwa United, making their debut in the Champions League, left it late to win against the Algerians when Ubong Friday scored in the 87th minute.
The goal came after a series of missed opportunities by the Coach Kennedy Boboye boys.
Akwa United will have to produce something special in the return leg on September 19, to stand any chance of moving into the next round.
In Dar es Salaam, Rivers United proved to be the better side as they dominated proceedings to win 1-0.
Four minutes into the encounter, Rivers United striker Nelson Esor failed to beat Young African’s goalkeeper, Diarra Djigui from close range.
However, seven minutes into the second half, Moses Omodumuke atoned for his earlier misses as he scored to break the deadlock and condemn Young Africans to home defeat,
The ‘Ýanga boys’ will also face an uphill task against Rivers United in the return fixture on September 19.