Ikorodu United
yesterday won their second game in four weeks to move off the bottom of
the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) table. The Sam Okpodu
boys defeated
Warri Wolves 1-0 to put substance to their pledge to
escape the drop at the end of the season.
Incidentally, Okpodu was Warri Wolves’ assistant coach last season
when the Seasiders finished second on the log behind Enyimba. And so his
knowledge of the South South team came to the fore yesterday when his
lads punctured all the Wolves’ moves to win the three precious points.
The win, though, did not come easy, as it took a masterpiece of a
free kick from the boots of Fatai Oluwadayo in the 42nd minute to down
the Wolves.
The victory takes Ikorodu United away from the bottom of the table with 16 points from 19 matches.
In Akure, fans of Sunshine Stars and Wikki Tourists were treated to a
battle for supremacy between two top strikers, Godwin Obaje and Okiki
Afolabi.
Obaje, who is the league’s leading goal scorer, showed why he is the
toast of Bauchi fans when he scored his 12th goal of the season in the
40th minute to bring the Tourists on level terms with their hosts. That
was after Afolabi had opened scores for the home team in the 29th minute
via the penalty spot.
But the teams remained on even terms for just a while before Obaje
stole the three points for Sunshine Stars in the 53rd minute with his
10th goal of the season.
Skipper Sunday Abe added the third goal to take the game beyond Wikki Tourists.
Elsewhere, Rivers United beat Akwa United 1-0 in Port Harcourt
through a goal by their man of the moment, Bernard Ovoke, while Nasarawa
United defeated Lobi Stars 2-1.
The game between Heartland and Plateau United in Owerri ended goalless, while Shooting Stars beat Abia Warriors 2-0.
Meanwhile, Giwa FC failed to honour their home game in Ilorin against
Enyimba of Aba, which means that the team could face expulsion from the
league. It is the third game they will fail to honour and according to
the Nigerian league rules, the team have automatically ruled themselves
out of the competition.
Wikki Tourists and Akwa United had earlier in the season walked over
Giwa in Ilorin, where the Jos club were banished to following crowd
trouble during a home game against Enugu Rangers recently.
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