NPFL Match Day 12 Review: MFM snap winless run, Gata’s brace keeps Ikorodu FC at the bottom

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 12 started with a Friday night football at the Agege Stadium, Lagos between MFM FC and Wikki Tourists.

Just as the MFM manager Fidelis Ilechukwu told sportsration in the build up to the game, they ended their winless run thanks to Stephen Odey’s 35th minutes strike.

In the games played on Saturday, Nasarawa United and Shooting Stars recorded (2-1) victories over Plateau United and Heartland FC respectively in Makurdi and Ibadan.

By Sunday evening, it was FC Ifeanyiubah, who had gone top of the log because the game involving leaders going into the match day, Rangers International and Giwa FC in Jos was abandoned.

Rangers International appeared to be close to securing their first three points on the road, but their game away to Giwa FC in Jos was abandoned in the 74th minute. The Flying Antelopes took the lead through Godwin Aguda in the 26th minute before the game was abandoned.

At the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, Ismalia Gata’s double secured maximum points for Niger Tornadoes against visiting Ikorodu United. Gata struck first from the spot in the 7th minute, after Ikorodu’s Izu Chile handled the ball in the area. The forward completed his brace on the half hour mark.

Sunshine Stars, with a third manager after 12 match days, secured a massive 3-0 win over El-Kanemi Warriors at the Akure Township Stadium. Okiki Afolabi opened scoring in the 15th minute from a penalty. Isiaka Oladuntoye flicked in the second from a corner seven minutes into the second half, before Dayo Ojo completed the rout in added time of second half.

At the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt, Bernard Ovoke’s goal proved the difference between Rivers United and visiting Kano Pillars, in a fiercely contested encounter. Omo Johnson reunited with his former teammates from the Garden City, but the home side had Rotimi Sunday to thank for producing a couple of breathtaking saves that denied the Kano side a positive result.

FC Ifeanyiubah scraped to a lone goal win at home to Warri Wolves. Substitute Maduabuchi Okereke got the winner in the 59th minute. Lobi Stars of Makurdi got the better of Uyo-based side, Akwa United in Makurdi. Nanen Barnabas Imenger struck in the 52nd minute after he got to the end of Tony Okpotu’s lofty pass.

A total of 15 goals were scored in 8 games + Giwa FC vs Rangers in Jos abandoned with Rangers leading 1-0.

Match Day 12 Results  

MFM 1-0 Wikki Tourist

Shooting Stars 2-1 Heartland FC

Nasarawa United 2-1 Plateau United

Rivers Utd 1-0 Kano Pillars

Ifeanyiubah 1-0 Wolves

Lobi 1-0 Akwa Utd

Tornadoes 2-0 Ikorodu Utd

Sunshine Stars 3-0 El-Kanemi

Giwa 0-1 Rangers Abandoned

Photo Credit: @LMCNPFL