Enyimba lose again, as 3SC whack Akwa United 3-0

Defending champions, Enyimba, lost their second game in a row yesterday when they were beaten 2-1 by Nasarawa United. But Gbenga Ogunbote had a happy welcome in Ibadan as he led 3SC to a 3-0 defeat of Akwa United in another Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) game.

Enyimba were beaten 3-1 by Wikki Tourists in Bauchi last week, but a win against Nasarawa United would have taken them to the top position on the log. Rather, the Peoples Elephant succumbed to the hosts’ spirited fight back after Ifeanyi George had given them a seventh-minute lead.

Nasarawa United equalized through Esosa Igbinoba’s penalty kick on 24 minutes and took the lead four minutes later through Abdularahman Bashir’s close range effort.

In Ibadan, Coach Gbenga Ogunbote’s return to Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) proved the tonic the team had been waiting for, as they walloped Akwa United 3-0.

It was 3SC’s sixth win of the season, which was made possible by two goals from Adetunji Sunday and an Ajani Ibrahim’s strike. In other matches of the weekend, El Kanemi beat Warri Wolves 2-0, Heartland lost 1-2 to Enugu Rangers in Owerri, just as Ikorodu United recorded another home loss, this time a 0-1 defeat by Wikki Tourists.

Kano defeated Plateau United 1-0, Niger Tornadoes beat FC IfeanyiUbah 2-1, and Rivers United beat Lobi Stars 1-0, while Sunshine Stars and Abia Warriors drew 1-1.