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NPFL Super Six Matchday 4 Preview: Lobi Stars seek to relive title defence with victory against Akwa United

The title-holders must go all out to secure a win on Monday against the Promise Keepers, while Rangers and Enyimba also have tough fixtures. Lobi Stars will be desperate to claim maximum points against Akwa United at the ongoing Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) Championship Playoffs at the Agege Stadium, Lagos on Monday, if they do not want to kiss continental football goodbye next season. The Pride of Benue represented Nigeria in the Caf Champions League this year, but they have found the journey difficult during the season-ending tournament after their winning start against FC Ifeanyi Ubah. They fell like a pack of badly arranged cards against Enugu Rangers and Enyimba and their chances of retaining the league title now hang in the balance, ahead of their must-win clash with Akwa United, who are equally not comfortable at the moment. Lobi Stars lost the game against the Flying Antelopes after conceding two early goals, while a loss of concentration cost them dearly against the People’s Elephant. With three points from three matches, Lobi Stars will need more than securing the full points in their final two games with Akwa United and Kano Pillars. They also need other results go in their favour to retain the title they won last season. Evans Ogenyi's men are presently fifth in the NPFL Playoffs table. Akwa United were close to their first loss of the Championship Playoffs against Enugu Rangers on Saturday, but their late comeback was rewarded with a share of the spoils. They are presently third on the table with five points from three games and will need a positive outcome against the Pride of Benue to revive their title hopes. In what will be the first game of the day at the Agege Stadium, Enugu Rangers will square up with Kano Pillars. The Flying Antelopes will be cursing their luck in the last game against Akwa United, where they let slip a two-goal lead to share the points in a game they had under control, even with a man down. Kano Pillars are equally not comfortable on the playoffs table even though they are on top with seven points from three games. They will need to win their last two games to secure their fifth NPFL title, and the first since the 2014-15 season. Enyimba and FC Ifeanyi Ubah will lock horns in another Oriental derby. The People’s Elephant thrashed Lobi Stars 3-1 in their last fixture to quickly bounce back to life after their shock 2-0 loss to Kano Pillars. They cannot afford to joke with the tie with the Anambra Warriors, who despite losing all the three games they have played in Lagos, could play the spoilers' role in a tie they are only playing for pride, having been almost schemed out of the race for a continental slot. Enyimba will benefit from a slip by Kano Pillars to move to the first spot on the NPFL playoffs table if they are able to secure the maximum points against FC Ifeanyi Ubah, and Sai Masu Gida fail to beat Enugu Rangers. Read the full article

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Rangers rebound, beat Lobi Stars 2-1 as Akwa defeats FC IfeanyiUbah

Enugu Rangers yesterday recorded their first points of the on-going Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) Super Six Championship when they defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi 2-1 at the Agege Stadium. Akwa United also got their first win of the competition with a 2-1 defeat of FC IfeanyiUbah at the same venue. Yesterday was matchday two of the competition, which will determine the champions of the 2018/2019 NPFL season. In their first games on Tuesday, Rangers were beaten 0-1 by Enyimba, while Akwa United drew 2-2 with Kano Pillars. Enugu Rangers made good Coach Gbenga Ognbote’s boast that his wards would come back stronger after Tuesday’s setback with Godwin Aguda and Chiamaka Madu giving the Flying Antelopes the perfect start they wanted in the first half. Sikiru Alimi pulled one back for Lobi Stars in the second half, but it was not enough to deny the 2016 champions the three points they needed to keep their title aspirations back on track. Lobi Stars had the first opportunity to take the lead two minutes into the game, but Alimi placed his shot just wide. It was Rangers chance to fail to score in the seventh minute when Chiamaka Madu’s strike was pushed wide by Lobi’s goalkeeper, Egbe Ospino. Rangers got the opener in the 10th minute when Aguda slotted the ball beyond Egbe off a pass by Madu. Madu doubled the tally in the 28th minute when he rounded Egbe to calmly slot the ball into an open net. The first half ended 2-0 in Rangers’ favour. With some changes in the second half, Lobi Stars took the fight to Rangers in search of goals. Their efforts paid off in the 60th when Alimi connected well with a pass from Kadiri to slam the ball beyond a diving Nana Bonsu. But that was all Lobi could get as Rangers defended stoutly to the end. Earlier in the first game of the day, Akwa United came from a goal down to defeat FC IfeanyiUbah 2-1. The defeat condemned FC IfeanyiUbah to the bottom of the table as the only team without a win after two games. The Anambra Warriors, who lost their first match 1-3 to Lobi Stars on Tuesday, took the lead in the 33rd minute through Emmanuel Ugwuka. But Cyril Olisema got the equaliser for Akwa United two minutes after the break when he reacted quickest to a Godspower Igudia shot parried into his path by Anozie Chinedu. Akwa United were awarded a penalty in the 57th minute when Charles Okafor handled Ndifreke Effiong’s cross inside the box. Olisema put the penalty beyond Anozie for the Uyo club’s first win of the competition. Read the full article