Ranger Int’l record first win, Insurance of Benin roars on
By Edwin Emeanua-Editor
The abridged 2022 to 2023 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) scuttled to its match day five engagements with mixed fortunes for teams and supporters. Rangers International of Enugu finally recorded its first-season victory on the fifth try, pipping Dakkada FC 1-0 at the Awka Township stadium.
Mohammed Olaweejaru Hadi’s 30th-minute strike for the home side was the difference maker. The win pulled Rangers to the seventh spot in Group B and left the opponent two positions from the bottom of the table.
Group A surprise leaders Bendel Insurance continued their strong start to the season with yet another win on the road. The Group table toppers pipped struggling EL-Kanemi Warriors 1-0 at the Kano Pillars Stadium in Kano State. The loss left the Warriors stranded in the ninth spot of the ten-team Group.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | PTS | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 15 | W W W W W | |
| 2 |  |
5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 12 | W L W W W | |
| 3 |  |
5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 7 | L W L D W | |
| 4 |  |
5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 7 | L W W D L | |
| 5 |  |
5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 7 | W L W L D | |
| 6 |  |
5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | W D D L D | |
| 7 |  |
5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 5 | L W L D D | |
| 8 |  |
5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 5 | W L L D D | |
| 9 |  |
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 4 | L L D W L | |
| 10 |  |
5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 1 | L D L L L |
Samuel Anakwe’s first-minute strike at the Remo Stadium in Ogun State was enough for the home team, Remo Stars, to keep visiting Enyimba FC of Aba at bay. The win took Remo Stars to second on the Group A table, leaving their visitors in third position with seven points.
Ibrahim Mustapha opened the scoring for visiting side Plateau United in the eighteenth minute of their tie to Nasarawa United at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. King Osanga replied for the home side in the 39th minute, leaving the rest to Emmanuel Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, who scored the second goal in the 69th minute for a 2-1 victory for the visitors.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | PTS | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 13 | W W W D W | |
| 2 |  |
5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 12 | W W W W L | |
| 3 |  |
5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 9 | W L L W W | |
| 4 |  |
5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 7 | L D L W W | |
| 5 |  |
5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | L W D D D | |
| 6 |  |
5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | D D W L D | |
| 7 |  |
5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 5 | W D D L L | |
| 8 |  |
5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 5 | D L W L D | |
| 9 |  |
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 4 | L L L W D | |
| 10 |  |
5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 1 | L D L L L |
Kwara is three spots from the drop, while their visitors remain 5th in Group A.
Lobi Stars took some scalps from their visitors Sunshine Stars, in their 1-0 home win at the New Jos Township Stadium. Lobi is now second in Group A with 12 points, behind only their Group’s leader, Bendel Insurance, by one point. Sunshine Stars are placed 5th in the Group with 6 points below Niger Tornadoes, who have garnered 7 points this season.
Yusuf Abdulateef Taiye’s 52′ and 58′ brace handed Gombe United a 2-1 home win against Shooting Stars of Ibadan at the Gombe Township Stadium in Pantami. Though the visitors pulled a goal back in the 66′ of the tie, they fell short and occupied the 7th spot, a point and a spot below their hosts in Group A.
Rivers United stayed top of the Group following their 2-0 win over visiting Wikki Tourists of Bauchi, who continue to wallow at the bottom of the Group B table. Ebube Duru’s 26′ and 64-minute brace at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium in Port-Harcourt secured the win for the home side.
Nearby at the Samson Siasia stadium, Yenagoa, Bayelsa United settled for a 1-1 draw with visiting Doma United of Gombe. The home side remains third from the bottom of the Group B ladder, while Doma climbed to the sixth spot on the rung of the Group, a place above the equally struggling Enugu Rangers International.
At the Umuahia Township Stadium, Bello Lukeman’s 47th minute-injury time goal in the first half gave Abia United a lone-goal victory over visitors Niger Tornados. The win took the home side above their visitors to third in Group B, two points over 4th placed Tornadoes.
NPFL Match Day 5 Results
Nassarawa United 1-2 Plateau United
Remo Stars 1-0 Enyimba FC
Kwara United 2-1 Akwa United
El-Kanemi Warriors 0-1 Insurance
Gombe United 2-1 Shooting Stars
Abia Warriors 1-0 Niger Tornadoes
Bayelsa United 1-1 Doma United
Rivers United 2-0 Wikki Tourists
Ranger Int’l 1-0 Dakkada FC
Lobi Stars 1-0 Sunshine Stars
