It’s another weekend as the action continues in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League.
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A total of seven matches were played in the league, which saw 14 goals scored in six centres as only one game went barren.
Also three matches which involved Elkanemi, Enugu Rangers and Enyimba were postponed to another day.
The Maiduguiri flood forced a postponement of the Elkanemi Warriors match while Rangers and Enyimba were engaged in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup.
In our usual style we look at the five things that make the second week of the 2024/2025 NPFL season tick.
*Remo Stars maintains 100% record, clean slate*
Remo Stars defeated Sunshine Stars in the battle of the stars by 1-0 with a maximum six points for the Ikenne Blues who also made a consecutive clean sheet.
They have lived up to the bookmakers expectations as one of the favourites to win the league. Their 100% win returns so far push them to the top of the log, with a surplus of 3 goals advantage though a whooping 36 matches are left to be played.
*Finidi wins Ex- Super Eagles’ tactical battle*
The build up to the Rivers United Vs Heartland was overshadowed by the calibre of the two coaches on the opposite bench as the fixture pitched Finidi George against Emmanuel Amuneke.
Both served the Super Eagles meritoriously as a player while the two went head to head to coach the Super Eagles a few months ago but the Nigeria Football Federation settled for Finidi George at the expense of the “fans favourite” Emmanuel Amuneke. The rest is history.
This weekend match affords the two coaches an opportunity to show what they are capable of doing tactically and the media feast on the luxury of having the legends going against each other on the field.
But it was Finidi George who triumphed again as Rivers United smashed Heartland by 3-1. Kabir Abdullahi’s second half brace separated the two sides after the first half ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
*Two Crucial Late Evening Goals*
We saw two matches with two important late goals as two home teams made it count when the clock was ticking to full time.
Akwa United rescued a point at home through Edidiong Ezekiel 90+11′ minutes penalty to rescue parity after Abia Warriors took the lead in the fourth minute through Adejoh Ojonugwa. Abia Warriors will surely feel not satisfied with the lone point on the road having gone than 90 minutes of ball keeping their lead but for ‘ late evening goal ” from the penalty spot.
Bendel Insurance will even feel it more, having taken the lead against Katsina United on the road through Oronsaye in the 17th minute but Lukman fought back and made it 1-1 in the 22nd minute.
While everyone is waiting for the final whistle of the match, Falolu conjures a magic of a sort in 90+8’ to grab a winner for the home team with a beautiful volley as Katsina United runs away with the maximum points.
*A Sunday of Draws*
It was a Sunday of Draws as four of the five matches played on Sunday, (15 September 2024) ended in a draw.
The only win of the day was in Katsina by Katsina United which was a special. The duel separating goal came in the 8 minutes of added time, otherwise it would have been a day of drawn matches all through as Bayelsa United were held by Kano Pillars, 1-1. Abia Warriors secured a late minute goal to hold Abia Warriors to 1-1.
Niger Tornadoes hosted Nasarawa to a barren draw while nothing separated Shooting Stars and Plateau United as both sides ended 1-1 in Ibadan
*Heartland on a free fall*
Heartland FC conceded another 3-1 loss away to Rivers United in Port Harcourt, the same scoreline they conceded at home against Enyimba last weekend in the first Matchday.
The Emmanuel Amuneke tutored boys are on a free fall presently, the team are so vulnerable at the back which is not a good sign for their ambition of playing in the NPFL every season.
Coach Emmanuel Amuneke has his work cut out no doubt. He has a name to protect as well a job to do, by ensuring that Heartland fortune is changed for good.
It’s still early days, he has enough time and games to restore order in Heartland as the early signs are not looking good.
All the Week 2 Results and Goal Scorers
Remo Stars 1-0 Sunshine
⚽ Shuaibu Ibrahim 7′
Rivers Utd 3-1 Heartland
⚽ Taofeek olaniyi 3′, Kabir Abdullahi 68′, 90+’1
⚽ Christian Molokwu 45+’
Akwa Utd 1-1 Abia Warriors
⚽ Edidiong Ezekiel 90+11′ Ojonugwa Adejoh 4′
Niger Tornadoes 0-0 Nasarawa United
Katsina Utd 2-1 Bendel Insurance
⚽ Lukman Bello 22′, Azeez Falolu 90+’ – James Orosanye 17
Bayelsa Utd 1-1 Kano Pillars
⚽ Rabiu Abdullahi 59′ – Auwalu Ali Malam 41′
3SC 1-1 Plateau Utd
⚽ Uche Onwuasoanya 45′ – Victor Dawa 39′
