Lobi, MFM return to top spot

Lobi Stars and newly-promoted MFM FC have returned to the top of the 2016 Nigeria professional football league season table after recording home victories against El-Kanemi Warriors and Sunshine Stars respectively.

The teams recorded the victory in the Week Four games on Wednesday.

Two spot kicks by Tony Okpotu, the first as early as the 4th minute of the game when the striker was felled in the box and the second in the 55th minute, gave Lobi  a two-goal lead. Nanen Imenger got the third to make it three-nil.

In Lagos, it was a hard-fought victory for MFM, who snatched victory with five minutes to the end of the game through substitute Stephen Odey.

Kadiri Samad had earlier cancelled Musa Newman’s 25th-minute opener in the 38th minute of the game, before Odey broke the Akure Gunners’ heart with the winning goal in the 86th minute.

It was the turn of Ifeanyi Ubah’s foreign imports to get the goals in their 3-1 defeat of Shooting Stars of Ibadan. Brazilian Albérico Barbosa da Silva sent a delightful free kick into the top corner to get the opening goal in the ninth minute, while Ghanaian Kofi Nti scored in the 37th minute.

With the first half winding to a close, Ivorien Seka Pascal nodded home Albérico’s corner kick to go into the break 3-0 ahead.

Shooting Stars’ Wasiu Jimoh got the consolatory goal in the 58th minute, as the game ended 3-1 in favour of the home team.

Rivers United returned to Port Harcourt empty-handed, as they failed to get anything from their trip to Jos, losing 2-1 to Giwa FC.

In Uyo, the game between Akwa United and Heartland came to life in the second half of the game, with four goals scored in the final 45 minutes.

Aniekan Ekpe’s strike from 20 yards took a wicked deflection and went into the net in the 59th minute. However, Heartland responded immediately through Onyebuchi Ajunwa’s long-range effort, which flew beyond Bassey Akpan in goal for Akwa United.

Kufre Ebong’s glancing header from six yards from Yusuf Adio’s cross in the 80th minute restored the home team’s lead, but Ibe Okoro confirmed the victory with virtually the last kick of the game when he headed home Nnamso Edo’s free kick.

Abia Warriors played a goalless draw at home to Kano Pillars; Wikki Tourists routed Plateau United 3-0, whileWarri Wolves failed to beat Rangers at home with the game ending goalless.