Former champions, Kano Pillars assumed leadership of the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, table for the first time this season after they managed to beat Sunshine Stars 1-0 in the week 12 fixture played yesterday at the Ahmadu Bello stadium Kaduna.
Nyima Nwagua’s 9th minute strike was enough to take the ‘Masu gida’ boys to the top of the table with 23 points after Enyimba FC and Kwara United shared the spoils with opponents on home soil.
While Akwa United rallied back to draw 1-1 with Enyimba in a fiercely contested duel, Kwara United also had to fight back to draw 1-1 with Abia Warriors in Ilorin.
Victory for Enyimba would have returned them to the top of the log but Akwa United’s substitute David Philip denied them the opportunity when he jabbed home Charles Atshimene’s knockdown in the 4th minute of second half added time.
In Ilorin, the ‘Afonja Warriors’ had Alao Danbani to thank for rescuing a point for them when he cancelled out Mustapha Jibrin’s 66th minute goal in the 5th minute of added time.
Former Kano Pillars striker, Adamu Hassan was the hero at Lafia township stadium where his brace in the 58th and 85th minute plus Ikenna Ofor’s 10th minute strike handed Nasarawa United a convincing 3-0 win over FC IfeanyiUbah.
There were also home victories for Plateau United who thumped Jigawa Stars 3-0 in Jos and 10-man Wikki Tourists who turned back Rangers 2-1 in the ill-tempered fixture.
And in Warri, Wolves rubbed salt into injury inflicted on Rivers United by Enyimba in the Confederations Cup when they squeezed past the ‘pride of Rivers’ 1-0 for their 4th win of the season.
The remaining week 12 fixtures will be decided today as Katsina United battle MFM in Katsina, Heartland square up against Dakkada in Okigwe just as Adamawa United will be in the hunt for their first win of the season against Lobi Stars.
