By China Acheru
Match Day Four of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) brought first wins this season for Rivers United, Sunshine Stars and Jigawa Golden Stars.
Incidentally, they all won against former champions- Rivers won 2-1 against Rangers (champions in 2016), Sunshine Stars 1-0 against Enyimba (2019 Champions) and Jigawa Golden Stars winning 1-0 against Kano Pillars.
Rivers United picked their first win of the season by beating Rangers 2-1 to continue their rich vein of form against the flying Antelopes from Enugu in the last three seasons.
Bamba Bakary scored from the spot in the 30th minute, his second successive home penalty goal to give United the lead but Rangers fought back to get the equaliser in the 54th minute through substitute Ibrahim Olawoyin.
Substitute Malachi Ohawume got the winner in the 75th minute for all three points.
In Akure, Anthony Omaka put Sunshine Stars in front in the 10th minute against the defending champions Enyimba and held on to 1-0 win to improve their home Head to head record at Akure to five wins and four draws.
In Kano, it was newcomers Jigawa Golden Stars taking maximum points against four-time champions Kano Pillars through a solitary seventh minute Yusuf Muhammad simple tap in from a Saleh Salihu’s assist.
Warri Wolves almost won in Lagos but a late equalizer saw home side, MFM end the encounter 1-1.
Playing their home game at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, MFM were stunned early in the second half when Moses Omoduemuke’s delightful free kick from about 25 yards went straight into the net to give visiting Warri Wolves the lead in the 57th minute. Adeniji Kabir Adewole, however equalized in added time to draw the home side level.
Wikki were in perilous form as they dropped Delta Force by 3-0. Daniel Jackson finished off a fantastic counter-attack for the host in the 20th minute before Promise Damala beat the offside trap to put the home side two goals up in the 35th minute.
Daniel Jackson got his brace by jabbing home a fine cross from Williams Ukeme
Substitute Ijioma Maxwell scored with his first meaningful touch of the game to get a consolation goal in the 89th minute.
In other games, Lobi white washed Heartland 3-0 with first half goals from Abdulwasiu Mahmud, Sikiru Aluminium and John Lazarus despite going a man down in the closing moments when Adeleye Aniyikaye was given the marching order at the Aper Aku stadium, Makurdi.
Nasarawa and league leaders Plateau United cancelled out themselves to share the spoils playing out a 1-1 draw through Anas Yusuf opener and a Mustapha Ibrahim equaliser.
The only barren draw came at the nest of champions as host Akwa United played 0-0 against a resolute Katsina United side. Former goal king Mfon Udoh missed a penalty.
