By: Chinedum Ohanusi
Both Day 17 fixtures of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) played on Saturday, ended in wins for the host teams, Lobi Stars FC, and Shooting Stars SC.
At their adopted home ground in Lafia, Daniel Amokachi’s Lobi Stars of Makurdi piped fellow struggling side, Plateau United of Jos 1-0, courtesy of Waheed Adebayor’s goal, on the stroke of halftime, to ease the pressure on the Super Eagles legend, whose team was rock-bottom of the log with 16 points, before the match.
Amokachi took over, after a managerial change early in the season, but Lobi Stars had largely struggled for results, despite a somewhat improvement in their standard of play.
The victory improved their points tally to 19, and they are now 15th on the log; that’s pending the conclusion of matches scheduled for today; while Plateau United remained on 18 points, and reclined to the 16th position, after the narrow defeat, in the Benue-Plateau derby.
In the late evening game played under floodlights at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, 5th on the log, Shooting Stars SC of Ibadan added to their haul of 24 points by comfortably beating Kano Pillars FC 2-0.
A goal in either half by Joshua Apkan (43 mins), and Adam Mustapha (77th min.) propelled the Oluyole Warriors to the win, and they hopped from 5th to 4th in the table; whilst Kano Pillars stayed in 8th position, with 22 points.
Seven games are scheduled for today, at designated venues across the country; but the encounter in Aba, between Enyimba Int’l FC and Nasarawa United FC, has been moved to Thursday, by the NPFL.
Sixth placed El-kanami Warriors welcomes Abia Warriors to Maiduguri in what has been dubbed a “battle of Warriors”; and Niger Tornadoes are home in Minna to Sunshine Stars of Akure; meaning the first game for Coach Mohammed Bala for the Akure Gunners, will be against one of his his former side.
Katsina United will host reigning champions, Enugu Rangers who are 3rd on the log, in the North-West; while 2nd placed Rivers United slugs it out with Kwara United in Port Harcourt.
In other games scheduled for today; Bayelsa United will clash against Akwa United in a South-South derby; Heartland FC of Owerri are hosts of 18th placed Bendel Insurance at the Dan Anyiam Stadium; while Ikorodu City will have their hands full against log leaders Remo Stars FC, at the Mobalaji Johnson Arena, in Onikan, Lagos.
Remo Stars FC lead the NPFL table, but just on superior goals difference; as the Sky Blues from Ikenne-Remo are tied on 29 points with Rivers United; Enugu Rangers are 3rd with 27 points.
