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Champions Akwa United
Wikki Tourists Football Club of Bauchi, on Thursday, snatched a 2-0 win at home over Adamawa United Football Club of Yola, to escape relegation from the 2020/2021 NPFL.
Wikki Tourist beat the visiting Adamawa 2-0 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa stadium, Bauchi, to maintain its 25th position on the table, with 45 points from 38 matches.
Tourists’ Hassan Mustapha gave his team the lead through a header in the 21st minute of the game and in the 38th minute, Nazifi Yahaya of the Tourists utilised a counter attack to make it two for the home side.
The second half saw a defensive Wikki Tourists, as the visitors piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser that never came, as the match ended in favour of the Tourists.
Abdallah Bura, the Wikki Tourists head coach, speaking shortly after the match, appreciated God for giving him the opportunity to serve his state and rescue Wikki Tourists from going into relegation.
“The miracle behind the victory was hard work and God’s blessings to escape relegation. Since I started as the coach I didn’t lose woefully as we played many Football clubs and won”, he said.
On his part, Justine Madugu, head coach of Adamawa United, said games were always like that, either to lose or win.
“It’s always the case with us, we have good and bad moments in the league. It is not a new thing that we lost. Our team, in terms of performance, we are done, but in terms of results we have not gotten what we deserve.
“The experience aspect also counted against us, sometimes the decision making comes along with experience,” Madugu said, explaining that the team had tried its best to get to this stage and their efforts should be appreciated.
Hassan Musa, a football fan and supporter of Wikki Tourists, described coach Bura as the one who saved the team from relegation, saying that he deserved to be rewarded by the club’s management.
Rangers International FC of Enugu signed off the 2020/2021 NPFL on Thursday with a 2-0 win against visiting Plateau United.
With the result, the Flying Antelopes finished seventh on the NPFL table with 62 points, while Plateau United ended the league on ninth with 51 points.
Issif Traore opened scores for the home side during the encounter at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium shortly before the interval.
Olawoyin Ibrahim made it two in the 83rd minute to secure Rangers’ maximum three points.
Speaking at the post-match interview with journalists, Rangers Team Manager, Amobi Ezeaku, said: “It is not easy being in the continent in the last five years, and finishing 7th on the log this season.
“We are happy that God saw us through the season, especially in this era of insecurity in the country.
“Continental league was our target but as we have missed it this season, 2021/2022 will be our time,” Ezeaku said.
The 2020/2021 NPFL season ended on Thursday the day’s high points in Enyimba International’s upward surge and Sunshine Stars’ escape from relegation.
With the competition’s title already gone since Match Day 37 to Akwa United, only one 2021/2022 CAF Champions League slot and one 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup ticket were at stake.
Enyimba surprised all with a 3-1 away win in Uyo against Dakkada FC to move from fifth to second and qualify to return to the CAF Champions League.
The Aba-based 2019/2020 champions moved ahead of Nasarawa United, Kano Pillars and Rivers United of Port Harcourt who all lost their matches.
Kwara United also moved from sixth to third, upstaging on goals difference Nasarawa United of Lafia who finished fourth after losing 1-3 to hosts Abia Warriors of Umuahia.
This was after they beat visiting Katsina United 3-0 in Ilorin, to claim the 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup ticket.
Kano Pillars dropped to fifth after losing 0-1 to Heartland FC of Owerri, while Rivers United dropped to sixth after being involved in the day’s biggest talking point.
Sunshine Stars of Akure beat Rivers United 1-0 dramatically escape relegation by moving into 16th place above Jigawa Golden Stars who lost 0-2 to MFM FC in Lagos.
Rangers International and Lobi Stars maintained seventh and eighth places respectively after home wins, with the Enugu side beating Plateau United 2-0 and the Makurdi side beating new champions Akwa United.
The losses meant nothing to both the Jos side and Uyo side, just as it is in the case of Wikki Tourists of Bauchi who handed a 2-0 defeat to visiting Adamawa United of Yola.
The points gained did virtually nothing to boost or damage their final positions in the competition, just as the already-relegated FC IfeanyiUbah had no relief in beating Warri Wolves.1-0.
Adamawa United, FC IfeanyiUbah, Warri Wolves and Jigawa Golden Stars have all now been relegated into the 2021/2022 Nigeria National League (NNL).
Both Akwa United and Enyimba International will represent Nigeria in the 2021/2022 CAF Champions League.
Kwara United will join the winners of the 2021 Aiteo Cup in representing Nigeria in the 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and his deputy, Kayode Alabi, on Thursday watched on as Kwara United FC of Ilorin thrashed visiting Katsina United FC 3-0.
The match, which was the grand finale for the 2020/2021 NPFL season, was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
The match had the hosts dominated most of the proceedings with Nosir Afeez marshaling the midfield with determination and confidence.
Kwara United would have scored as early as the 4th minute but a solid piece of defending by Katsina United’s defenders denied them.
Katsina United’s Matthew Emmanuel called Dele Aiyenugba into action in the 14th minute forcing the former Super Eagles of Nigeria goalkeeper to a fine save.
Three minutes later, Kwara United’s midfield maestro, Nosir Afeez forced Katsina United’s goalkeeper to a great save from a 25 yards free kick.
The hosts drew the first blood in the 22nd minute when Junior Abayomi poked home a fine Muritala Lawal’s pass inside the goal area.
The visitors after conceding the first goal defended perfectly and maintained the 1-0 deficit into the break.
Kwara United returned more determined with Katsina United lowering the tempo at which they played in the first half, having in mind nothing at stake for them in the match except pride.
Michael Ohanu doubled Kwara United’s lead by expertly in the 63rd minute finishing off a fine Issa Gata’s low pass.
Ten minutes later, the centre referee pointed to the spot for a penalty for Kwara United after a Katsina United player was ruled to have handled the ball in his box.
Stephen Jude increased the homers tally to 3-0 in the 74th minute to put the game beyond the visitors and put it to bend on the final day of the season.
The match excited host Kwara governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and his deputy, Kayode Alabi, among other spectators.
Pos TEAM P W D L GD Pts
1. Akwa United 38 19 14 5 +29 71
2. Enyimba International 38 18 12 8 +8 66
3. Kwara United 38 19 8 11 +20 65
4. Nasarawa United 38 20 5 13 +17 65
5. Kano Pillars 38 19 7 12 +9 64
6. Rivers United 38 18 9 11 +12 63
7. Rangers International 38 18 8 12 +18 62
8. Lobi Stars 38 17 7 14 +4 58
9. Plateau United 38 14 9 15 +10 51
10. MFM FC 38 13 12 13 –1 51
11. Dakkada FC 38 15 5 18 –10 50
12. Katsina United 38 14 7 17 -7 49
13. Heartland FC 38 13 9 16 –9 48
14. Abia Warriors 38 12 11 15 -2 47
15. Wikki Tourists 38 12 9 17 –8 45
16. Sunshine Stars 38 11 12 15 –11 45
17. Jigawa Golden Stars 38 11 10 16 –15 43
18. Warri Wolves 38 11 8 19 –15 41
19. FC IfeanyiUbah 38 9 12 17 –17 39
20. Adamawa United 38 5 10 23 –35 25
Abia Warriors 3-1 Nasarawa United
Dakkada FC 1-3 Enyimba International
Rangers International 2-0 Plateau United
Heartland FC 1-0 Kano Pillars
FC IfeanyiUbah 1-0 Warri Wolves
Kwara United 3-0 Katsina United
Lobi Stars 2-1 Akwa United
MFM FC 2-0 Jigawa Golden Stars
Sunshine Stars 1-0 Rivers United
Wikki Tourists 2-0 Adamawa United
And that’s all on the NPFL 2020/21 news headlines on AllNews for today. More sports news headlines are on this dependable website. Do enjoy the rest of your day.
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