#NPFL24 Full Time MD9
Akwa Utd 3-2 Remo stars
Bayelsa Utd 1-1 sunshine stars
Enugu int 0-0 Katsina Utd
Enyimba 1-0 Lobi stars
Rivers utd 2-1 Abia warriors
Shooting Star 1-0 Kano pillars
Sporting Lagos 1-1 Heartland FC
DOMA 1-0 Plateau Utd
Gombe Utd 1-0 Niger Tornadoes
Bendel INS 2-2 Kwara Utd
The ninth matchday of the 2023/24 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season witnessed some thrilling and dramatic games across the country. Here are some of the highlights of the action:
Akwa Utd came from behind twice to beat Remo Stars 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. Remo Stars took the lead in the 18th minute through Franck Mawuena, who scored his fourth goal of the season. Akwa Utd equalized in the 34th minute through Ndifreke Effiong, who headed in a cross from Ubong Friday. Remo Stars restored their lead in the 52nd minute when Sikiru Alimi converted a penalty after he was fouled by Etim Matthew. Akwa Utd leveled again in the 71st minute when Charles Atshimene scored from close range after a scramble in the box. The hosts completed their comeback in the 83rd minute when Wisdom Fernando scored the winner with a stunning strike from outside the box. The result moved Akwa Utd to fourth place on the table with 15 points, while Remo Stars remained in 11th place with 10 points.
Rivers Utd climbed to the top of the table with a 2-1 win over Abia Warriors at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt. Rivers Utd took the lead in the 27th minute through Godwin Aguda, who scored his sixth goal of the season. Abia Warriors equalized in the 54th minute through Chinedu Ohanachom, who tapped in a cross from Emmanuel Ugwuka. Rivers Utd regained their lead in the 76th minute through Malachi Ohawume, who scored his fifth goal of the season. The result gave Rivers Utd 18 points from nine games, while Abia Warriors dropped to 14th place with nine points.
Enyimba recorded their first win in four games with a 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba. The only goal of the game came in the 65th minute when Anayo Iwuala scored from the penalty spot after he was brought down by John Lazarus. The result lifted Enyimba to third place on the table with 16 points, while Lobi Stars slipped to sixth place with 13 points.
Shooting Stars ended Kano Pillars’ unbeaten run with a 1-0 win at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. The lone goal of the game came in the 78th minute when Gbolahan Salami scored his seventh goal of the season with a powerful header from a corner kick. The result moved Shooting Stars to second place on the table with 17 points, while Kano Pillars dropped to fifth place with 14 points.
Sporting Lagos and Heartland FC played out a 1-1 draw at the Agege Stadium in Lagos. Sporting Lagos took the lead in the 43rd minute through Chibuzor Okonkwo, who scored his third goal of the season with a curling free kick. Heartland FC equalized in the 68th minute through Samuel Nnoshiri, who scored his fifth goal of the season with a penalty after he was fouled by Oluwaseun Olaniyi. The result left Sporting Lagos in 12th place with 10 points, while Heartland FC remained in eighth place with 11 points.
Bayelsa Utd and Sunshine Stars also shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa. Bayelsa Utd took the lead in the 15th minute through Okiki Afolabi, who scored his sixth goal of the season with a header from a cross by Ebuka Okeke. Sunshine Stars equalized in the 55th minute through Fuad Ekelojuoti, who scored his fourth goal of the season with a volley from a cross by Sadeeq Yusuf. The result kept Bayelsa Utd in 10th place with 10 points, while Sunshine Stars stayed in ninth place with 11 points.
Enugu Rangers and Katsina Utd played out a goalless draw at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu. The result moved Enugu Rangers to seventh place on the table with 12 points, while Katsina Utd remained in 13th place with nine points.
Delta Force recorded their first win of the season with a 1-0 win over Plateau Utd at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba. The only goal of the game came in the 89th minute when Uche Onwuasoanya scored with a header from a corner kick. The result lifted Delta Force to 18th place on the table with six points, while Plateau Utd dropped to 15th place with eight points.
Gombe Utd also registered their first win of the season with a 1-0 win over Niger Tornadoes at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe. The lone goal of the game came in the 77th minute when Ibrahim Mustapha scored with a low shot from inside the box. The result moved Gombe Utd to 17th place on the table with seven points, while Niger Tornadoes stayed in 16th place with eight points.
Bendel Insurance and Kwara Utd settled for a 2-2 draw at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. Bendel Insurance took the lead in the 12th minute through Charles Omokaro, who scored his fifth goal of the season with a header from a cross by Emmanuel Uangbaoje. Kwara Utd equalized in the 32nd minute through Michael Ohanu, who scored his fourth goal of the season with a tap-in from a cross by Stephen Adah. Bendel Insurance restored their lead in the 52nd minute through Junior Osaghae, who scored his third goal of the season with a volley from a cross by Omokaro. Kwara Utd leveled again in the 72nd minute through Christopher Nwaeze, who scored his third goal of the season with a header from a corner kick. The result left Bendel Insurance in 19th place with five points, while Kwara Utd stayed in 20th place with four points.
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