The Nigeria premier league returned this weekend and i tell you it was a thrilling weekend, a weekend that showed how competitive our League can be.
This articles gives you nothing but a glimpse of what really transpired in the various arenas that entertained our gallant gladiators, if you really want to understand how action proceeds in the NPFL you really have to visit a match venue next week to get a first hand feel of the action.
I was in Enugu to watch Rangers receive a season shocker as Giwa FC came, saw and conquered the flying antelopes 0-1 in their own backyard, much to the shocker and displeasure of their die hard teeming fans.
Leaving Enugu on the bus home i interacted with some of their fans, and they just couldn't hide their frustration. '''which kind nonsense be this'' a fan shouted in anger, ''persin go waste him time com watch ball na rubbish them go dey play, '' he continued "ndia na gba nonsense" he finished in igbo language as he stormed away. I cannot write in this single all the amusing and angry comments from fans, howbeit it was great to watch both teams compete in such high level and exasperating tempo.
What the Enugu fans didn't know at the time was that they weren't the only team to lose at home this weekend, there where loses for Abia Warriors and Kwara United at home as they were both beaten by Wikki Tourists and Heartland respectively.
HOW THE 18 TEAMS FARED
RANGERS vs GIWA FC
Like i said while starting this article, Rangers where left biting the dust at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium by the time this fixture was over, as they where duly beaten by a lone strike from Ibrahim Shuaibu of Giwa FC, a result that have not been experienced by Rangers since Enyimba beat them 1-2 in 2012.
Rangers will now look to save some face when they travel to portharcourt to face Dolphins while Giwa Fc will look to maintain their form when they welcome Akwa united.
Abia Warriors vs Wikki Tourists
They warriors lost the battle at home when the Tourists came visiting, as they overpowered by a bunch of Tourists that really knew how to battle. For the First time in Three seasons.
Wikki where finally able to beat a premier League side away from home much to the delight of their manager Abdul Maikaiba, he said after the game "we came ready!! this is exactly what happens if you come ready". Full time: Abia Warriors 1-2 Wikki Tourists.
Nassarawa utd vs 3SC
Nassarawa utd was unable to capitalize on the poor form of Shooting stars as they allowed the Oluyole warriors to escape with their first point of the campaign after four games,
the hard fighting Solid Miners began the game with a high tempo, attacking the visitors with waves of attacks but the 3SC defence stood firm and where duly rewarded with a point. Full time: Nassarawa utd 0-0 3SC.
SUNSHINE STARS vs DOLPHINS FC
Sunshine are really shinning at the moment, you get the feeling this team will be contenders for everything this term as they constantly churn out results in the dying seconds, backtrack to the game against Gabros int'l on matchday 2, The Akure gunners where able to score in the dying seconds of the game to claim victory.
On sunday against Dolphins they scored in the 89th minute to claim a hard fought 2-1 victory.
Dolphins will now hope to swim above the murky waters of defeat when thy welcome fellow matchday 4 losers, Rangers on matchday 5, while Sunshine will look to continue their streak against when they visist El kanemi warriors.
Kwara united vs Heartland
There was no unity in kwara when Heartland came knocking, the Naze millionaires crushed their hosts 1-3 despite going 1 goal earlier on in the encounter.
Ahmed Jimoh put the home team in the lead but Heartland FC scored three goals of thiers through Mohammed Mohammed, Jimoh Oni and Bright Ejike to race to the top of the league with nine points from three matches. Kwara United are on five points from four matches.
Kano Pillars vs Enyimba
The Sai Masu Gida conquered the People’s Elephant in the redemption tie played in Kano on Sunday evening after Ubong Ekpai’s first half goal separated both sides at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
Both clubs represented Nigeria in the CAF Champions League and were also eliminated together in the first round and they had a chance to prove to their supporters that they had not been left weakened by their exits from the Caf club competition.
Pillars lone goal victory was a measure of revenge over Enyimba who beat them 3-1 in the last league tie of the last season which ensured that they had lost all their last league fixtures on the three consecutive seasons they had emerged as league champions.
The Kano side have six points from two matches while Enyimba are on five points from four games. The People’s Elephant by the loss have lost their unbeaten start to the season.
Both Pillars and Enyimba will be playing away from their base against Nasarawa United and FC Taraba respectively. Full time Kano pillars 1-0 Enyimba.
Akwa united vs Gabros international
The Promise Keepers finally bagged their first home win of the season after Mbang Chukwudike’s 82nd minute goal stopped the resistance of Gabros International FC at the Uyo Township Stadium.
Akwa United have four points from four matches while Gabros are on six points having lost their both away fixtures in Akure and the one in Uyo that was played on Sunday.
Akwa United will travel to Jos for a tie with Giwa FC while Gabros will host Lobi Stars in Nnewi. Full time Akwa united 1-0 Gabros international.
Bayelsa United vs FC Taraba
The Restoration Boys have halted FC Taraba’s unbeaten run after they pipped their Match Day Four foes 1-0 at the Oghara Township Stadium on Sunday through the second half strike of Jafar Buhari.
Before the weekend fixture Bayelsa United had only a point got in a 1-1 home draw against Lobi Stars in Benin City but they have moved to four points after four games while FC Taraba have lost their unbeaten streak and the top spot to Heartland FC. Full time Bayelsa united 1-0 FC Taraba.
LOBI STARS vs SHARKS
Lobi stars FC continued their string of draws in the premier league so far as they where again held at home by hard fighting Sharks of portharcort.
The Makurdi side were a goal down in the 5th minute through Blue Angels’ Jaiyeola Yusuf but Lobi staged a fightback and they equalized on the stroke of halftime through Uche Ihuaralam goal before they raced into the lead in the 61st minute through Eche Idakwo.
Though the visitors got a leveler, Lobi had the chance to bury the tie in the dying minute of the encounter when they got a penalty kick but Bunde Moses missed from 12 yards and the tie ended 2-2.
Lobi are on four points from four games while Sharks have five points from same number of games. The Makurdi side are still unbeaten after four games. Full time LOBI STARS 2-2 SHARKS.
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