Former Super Eagles head coach Finidi George prevailed over his former club Enyimba on Sunday by leading Rivers United to a 2-0 victory over the People’s Elephant in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash in Port Harcourt.
Rivers United got off to a flying start after 17 minutes when Ubong Friday fired them into the lead at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium and Seiyefa Jackson doubled the home side’s advantage in the 86th minute, following a combination with David Benjamin.
Rivers United are unbeaten this season with three wins and one draw in four matches, while this is Enyimba‘s first defeat of the campaign after recording back-to-back wins.
The People’s Elephant have a chance to return to winning ways when they play their outstanding game against struggling Akwa United at home on Wednesday.
Lobi Stars replaced Ikorodu City at the bottom of the league after their 3-0 loss at Katsina United in their matchday 4 clash.
Azeez Falolu converted a spot-kick for his side’s first goal after 22 minutes, and two minutes into the restart, Nazifi Yahaya doubled their lead. Taofeeq Ahmed completed the rout in the 81st minute.
Lobi Stars have now lost three of their four matches this season, with their only point so far this term coming in their opening fixture of the season at home to Akwa United.
Remo Stars maintained their 100 percent start to the season with a 2-1 victory over champions Enugu Rangers in Ikenne.
Remo Stars lost the title to Rangers last season but they got one over them this time, with the second half producing all the three goals.
Alex Oyowah opened the scoring for the hosts in the 50th minute, but Rangers equalised through a penalty converted by Kenechukwu Agu five minutes after.
Remo Stars regained their lead in the 59th minute through Tochukwu Michael, and they held on for their fourth win in four matches to return to the top of the table.
In one of the three big games of the weekend, Shooting Stars recorded their first win of the season, as they pipped Emmanuel Amuneke’s Heartland 1-0 at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
The win was crucial for Gbenga Ogunbote’s side as they had drawn their first two matches of the season, with Heartland too searching for their first win of the campaign.
Samuel Ayanrinde’s strike decided the clash in 3SC’s favour after 21 minutes on the clock as they moved up to eighth in the NPFL table with a game in hand, while the Owerri-based side are 18th with one point from four matches.
Abia Warriors picked their first win of the campaign, beatung Kano Pillars 2-0 in Umuahia.
El-Kanemi Warriors shared the spoils at home with Plateau United in Maiduguri, with the game finishing in a 2-2 draw.
Bayelsa United, under former Flying Eagles coach Ladan Bosso, continued their struggle this season, playing out a 1-1 draw with Kwara United at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa.
At the Bako Stadium in Minna, hosts Niger Tornadoes played a 1-1 draw with Bendel Insurance. Niger Tornadoes are surprisingly up to third in the table while Monday Odigie’s team are languishing in 15th place.
Results
Rivers United 2-0 Enyimba
El-Kanemi Warriors 2-2 Plateau United
Niger Tornadoes 1-1 Bendel Insurace
Bayelsa United 1-1 Kwara United
Abia Warriors 2-0 Kano Pillars
Katsina United 3-0 Lobi Stars
Remo Stars 2-1 Enugu Rangers
Shooting Stars 1-0 Heartland
