NPFL Review: Ahmed Musa hits brace on Kano Pillars return, Amuneke wins at last as Remo Stars’ 100% record snapped in Ilorin

Former Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa scored a brace on his third Kano Pillars debut to lead the Sai Masu Gida to their second victory in five games and first in almost two months.

Musa scored in either side of the game to give the home side the maximum points.

The former Nigeria international scored the first goal as early as the fourth minute when he smashed in a shot outside Sunshine Stars’ box shot from Mustapha Umar’s assist.

Musa scored the second goal just six minutes after the restart to give the homers a 2-0 lead.
The 31-year-old was denied the chance to score a hat-trick on his third debut when his penalty hit the goal post.

The two goals were however enough as Pillars won their second three points of the campaign.

At the Dan Anyiam stadium in Owerri, another former Nigeria international, Emmanuel Amuneke won his first match as a coach in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, when his team, Heartland defeated visiting Niger Tornadoes 2-0.

Amuneke lost three of his first four opening games as an NPFL coach and drew one, a situation that made Sunday’s game in Owerri a must-win game for him.

Michael Ogu scored the two goals for heartland on 20 and 60 minutes to give Heartland their first three points and home win of the season.

In Port Harcourt, Finidi George, another former Nigeria international winger led Rivers United to their third home win in a row and fourth win in five games played so far in the NPFL.

An 85th minute goal by Ndifreke Udo Effiong at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt gave the home team three points after the visitors, Akwa United’s Friday Apollos scored in the 46th minute to cancel out Manyo Stephen Egbe’s 32nd minute opener.

At the Kwara Sports Complex, a 56th minute goal by Abdulraheem Shola was all Kwara United needed to end Remo Stars unbeaten run in the competition.

The Remo Stars had won their first four games of the season and were confident of making it five against an inconsistent Kwara United who drawn against the weakest team in the league, Ikorodu City at home.

But the host rose to the occasion to record their second home win of the season following their 3-0 defeat of Heartland in their opening game of the season.

Rangers international and Plateau United won by the odd goal against Abia Warriors and Ikorodu City respectively.

Kazeem Ogunleye’s 59th minute goal was enough to give the Flying Antelopes their second straight home win and third win of the season while Vincent Temitope scored in the 57th minute to give Plateau United the needed second victory of the season and first since their opening game defeat of Katsina United at the Jos International stadium.

Team MP W D L F A GD Pts
Rivers United 5 4 1 0 8 2 +6 13
Remo Stars 5 4 0 1 7 2 +5 12
Enugu Rangers 5 3 1 1 4 2 +2 10
Enyimba 4 3 0 1 6 4 +2 9
Plateau United 5 2 2 1 6 5 +1 8
Niger Tornadoes 5 2 2 1 5 5 +0 8
Katsina United 4 2 1 1 5 2 +3 7
Kano Pillars 5 2 1 2 6 5 +1 7
Sunshine Stars 5 2 1 2 5 4 +1 7
El Kanemi 4 1 3 0 7 6 +1 6
Nasarawa United 5 1 3 1 6 6 +0 6
B/Insurance 5 1 3 1 4 4 +0 6
Kwara United 4 1 2 1 3 3 +0 5
Abia Warriors 5 1 2 2 3 4 -1 5
Shooting Stars 5 1 2 2 3 4 -1 5
Heartland 5 1 1 3 4 7 -3 4
Lobi Stars 5 1 1 3 2 6 -4 4
Bayelsa United 5 0 3 2 2 6 -4 3
Akwa United 5 0 2 3 3 6 -3 2
Ikorodu City 5 0 1 4 1 7 -6 1

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