Matchday two of the NPFL saw 10 games played across 10 centres, 18 goals scored, eight clean sheets kept, nine home wins and no away win. Sporting Lagos was the only away side to avoid a loss.

Rivers United failed to get the season running with a victory as they fell to the wind of the Niger Tornadoes at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. Bashiru Usman converted from the penalty spot in the seventh minute to give his side the upper hand early on, as they held on to the one-goal cushion for the entirety of the game. 

Rivers United Coach, Stanley Eguma believes that his side could have converted their chance and attributed his side’s performance to tiredness as a result of late arrival.

” We hoped for a better result than what we played today, but I think my players did not play to their potential. We were a bit slow in the game and our reaction was poor in today’s game and I think that would have been as a result of tiredness, arriving late to the match venue.

“Also from the beginning, it was not a bad second half, especially when we got them and the game under our control, we had a lot of chances to convert in the second half. They had the first half and in the second half when we came back we played all the game in their half and our problem was converting and I think what looked like a penalty, the referee should have given to us but I don’t know why he denied us.

“He gave them a penalty in the first and it’s better that when our own came he should have given to us but he is in charge of the game. All I know is that it was not a good outing for us. We have to go back and work on the team and come back better in the next game”

He also added that the game will serve as preparation for the CAF Confederation Cup.

“A game of this magnitude is there to help us for the continent, that is why we have been clamouring for the league… We are using it as a test run for the CAF Confederation”

He finished off by addressing the turf, blaming the loss partly on the condition of the turf at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, calling on the administration to build better structures.

” We could not put good passes because the turf did not allow us to play our smooth flowing game today. The pitch was very dry, a lot of potholes, the ball was wobbling here and there, it never allowed good football. I think we have to work on these structures and come out better in the next”

Away from Rivers United, NPFL new boys, Sporting Lagos held former champions Akwa United to a stalemate at the Nest of Champions despite head coach, Paul Offor’s absence on the touchline. Paul Offor is currently in Namibia taking a coaching course to further sharpen his knowledge of the game.

Akwa United had the upper hand on the attacking end of the pitch, making 18 attempts and four on goal but just could not find the spark to see them through what was a hard-fought encounter all round.

Over at the Pantami Township Stadium in Gombe, The Elephants of Aba got their trunks yanked as they lost to Gombe United 2-0 with goals from Alakwe Chijioke and Ahmed Jimoh denying the reigning champions of a flying start to the season.

Bayelsa United’s explosive start to the season took a downhill in a 2-0 loss to Doma United away from home. 

The Benin Arsenals began their NPFL Campaign with a 2-0 win against Shooting Stars home at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Saturday.

Plateau United grabbed a win at home at the New Jos Stadium and scored what could be a goal of the season contender. Mundi Bernard put the ball at the back of the net in an acrobatic fashion in the 11th minute to grab a victory for his side. The Naze Millionaires’ could not find a response, racking just two shots on target.

The lone goal of the encounter started off from a long ball sent in deep in the midfield to the right wing which was properly dealt with and dispatched via a cross, whipped in perfectly for Bernard Mundi to finish it with a stunning bicycle kick.

Remo Stars picked up from where they left off in the head-to-head with Enugu Rangers in what was an electrifying contest in Ikenne, as Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men suffered a 2-1 defeat in a heartbreaking fashion.

Enugu Rangers took the lead through Kazeem Ogunleye in the eight minute and they went flying in jubilation as though the final whistle was blown. Not long after, Daniel Ogumodede’s men found the equalizer through Oluwaseun Ogunribide in the 35th minute and completed the comeback in the 53rd, courtesy of Sikiru Alimi’s strike, completely dashing the hopes of the visitors at the blast of the full-time whistle.

Remo Stars FC’s right back, Sodiq Ismail assisted both goals in just his first game of the season. He finished last season as the top assist provider with eight assists and has already opened his account on his first appearance of the season.

 Scoreboard

Akwa Utd 0-0 Sporting Lagos

Doma Utd 2-0 Bayelsa Utd

Bendel Insurance 2-0 3SC

Kano Pillars 1-0 Katsina Utd

Gombe Utd 2-0 Enyimba

Lobi Stars 3-2 Sunshine Stars

Kwara Utd 1-0 Abia Warriors

Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Rivers Utd

Remo Stars 2-1 Enugu Rangers

Plateau Utd 1-0 Heartland