NPFL concludes first stanza with important wins

Posted : 22 January 2024

After spending most of the matchdays playing second fiddle to Remo Stars, Lobi Stars FC are now heading into the second stanza as the league leaders of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after Match Day 19 signaled the end of the first stanza of the 38 match day of hostilities.

Lobi Stars on Sunday edged out the visiting Plateau United FC 1-0 with a goal scored by Kumaga Suur in the first half of the match.

The victory of Lobi Stars over Plateau United has now kept their hopes alive as they are still chasing the title.

Lobi Stars now have 36 points, having played 19 matches of which 11 ended in a win, two draws, and recorded five losses.

On the trail of Lobi Stars is the dethroned league leaders, Remo Stars, who ground out a 2-1 win over the visiting Abia Warriors, ensuring the sky-Blue Stars have 35 points to place second on the table.

Remo Stars have 35 points from 19 league matches with 11 wins, two draws, and six losses.

Defending champions Enyimba International FC were the biggest winners on the last day of the first stanza, having gone to Ibadan to upset the Shooting Stars of Ibadan 2-1 at the Lekan Salami Stadium.

Shooting Stars suffered a horrible home defeat against Enyimba as Chijioke Mbaoma gave the People’s Elephant the lead in the 56th minute from the penalty spot before Kareem Ademola equalized for the Oluyole Warriors in the 83rd minute while Chibueze Izuogu netted the winning goal in the 93rd minute.

With the important away win, the defending champions, Enyimba International, who are still without their Technical Adviser, Finidi George, on duty in Cote D'Ivoire as one of the assistants to the Coach, Jose Santos Peseiro, now occupy the third place with 32 points but with a game in hand.

Also, Akwa United pulled off a surprise victory against Rangers International as they're looking for a way out of the relegation zone.

Also in Kano at the Sani Abacha stadium, Kano Pillars dominated Heartland in a 2-1 victory over the Naze Millionaires.

Suleiman Idris scored the opening goal in the 49th minute before skipper Rabiu Ali netted the second goal from the spot while Clement Ogbobe scored Heartland’s consolation goal.

Niger Tornadoes were held to a goalless draw by Katsina United, a result that will see them remain above the relegation zone until the second stanza.

Bayelsa United also picked up an away point in Gombe after a 1-1 draw. However, the result still couldn't help them out of the relegation zone.

For the last match of the first stanza, a total of 20 goals were registered, serving as the concluding match in the first stanza of the campaign.

The last matchday recorded three draws, one away win, and six home wins were also recorded in the process.

NPFL concludes first stanza with important wins

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