NPFL Review: Ikorodu City end Finidi’s unbeaten run, Amuneke wins first oriental battle as Ahmed Musa nets winner for Pillars
Ikorodu City FC made good their vow to end Finidi George and Rivers United’s unbeaten start to the 2024/25 season with a 2-0 win at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos on Sunday evening.
The Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, newcomers scored two second half goals to not only end the Port Harcourt based team’s impressive start but also made it their third home win in a row after beating Bendel Insurance 3-0 and Lobi stars 4-2.
Ayomide Cole opened scoring for the Oga Boys just three minutes after the restart, netting his first goal of the season and the NPFL by taping in a cross from Waliu from close range.
Cole was one of the three substitutions made at the start of the second half and he and fellow substitute, Ayemwenre Rivio scored the goals for the host.
Rivio doubled Ikorodu City’s assistance five minutes later after connecting an Ajeyigbe Toyeeb pass.
At the Umuahia Township stadium, Emmanuel Amuneke won his first away game and first Oriental battle by beating their host, Abia Warriors.
Michael Ogu scored on 12 minutes to put Amuneke and Heartland ahead on 12 minutes and Chukwuma Agor made certain of victory when he netted the second goal four minutes into added time.
At the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, a 47th minute goal by Michael Ibe was all homers, Remo Stars needed to defeat Daniel Amokachi and Lobi Stars 1-0 to move level with Rivers United at the top of the log.
Niger Tornadoes won their first game at home on their fifth attempt, beating Shooting Stars of Ibadan 2-0 at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna.
It was the visitors’ fourth straight defeat away from home which ensured they dropped to 15th on the log with 12 points from 10 games.
Joseph Godstime put Tornadoes ahead on 31 minutes while Rickson Theophilus Mendos killed all hopes of a fightback from Shooting Stars with the second goal on 88 minutes.
At the El Kanemi Stadium in Maiduguri, reigning Federation Cup champion, El Kanemi Warriors defeated Katsina United 1-0 courtesy of a 69th minute goal by Ibrahim Mustapha thereby becoming the only side that has not tasted defeat in the NPFL this season.
Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa proved the match hero yet again when he scored a 92nd minute winner for Kano Pillars in their 2-1 defeat of visiting Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina, incidentally the home ground of the visitors.
Musa has now scored four goals and bagged one assist since he decided to rejoin Kano Pillars for the third time.
NPFL Table
Team MP W D L F A GD Pts
Remo Stars 10 7 0 3 13 6 +7 21
Rivers United 10 6 3 1 12 5 +7 21
Enyimba 10 5 3 2 13 8 +5 18
El Kanemi 10 3 7 0 13 10 +3 16
Enugu Rangers 10 4 3 3 10 8 +2 15
Plateau United 10 4 2 4 14 12 +2 14
Niger Tornadoes 10 3 5 2 10 9 +1 14
Kano Pillars 10 4 2 4 13 13 +0 14
Abia Warriors 10 4 2 4 8 10 -2 14
Sunshine Stars 10 4 1 5 8 12 -4 13
B/Insurance 10 3 3 4 9 10 -1 12
Heartland 10 3 3 4 8 9 -1 12
Katsina United 10 3 3 4 7 8 -1 12
Nasarawa United 10 3 3 4 10 12 -2 12
Shooting Stars 10 3 3 4 6 9 -3 12
Kwara United 10 2 5 3 10 9 +1 11
Ikorodu City 10 3 2 5 12 12 +0 11
Bayelsa United 10 2 4 4 6 12 -6 10
Akwa United 10 2 3 5 8 10 -2 9
Lobi Stars 10 2 3 5 9 15 -6 9
