Shooting Stars ended El-Kanemi Warriors’ unbeaten run with a 3-0 win at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, in matchday 11 in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on Sunday, Afrosport reports.
Prior to the game, Aliyu Zubairu’s El-Kanemi had gone 10 games without defeat, winning three and playing out seven draws.
Shooting took the lead in the 27th minute through Samuel Ayanrinde, who headed in Monday Gideon’s left-footed cross. The Oluyole Warriors extended their lead 11 minutes later through Aliyu Abubakar, whose cross-cum shot found its way into the back of the net.
The hosts got another in the 62nd minute when substitute Mustapha Agba’s left-footed curler beat the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.
Victory moved Gbenga Ogunbote’s Shooting Stars to ninth in the NPFL standings with 15 points, while El-Kanemi Warriors dropped to seventh.
Meanwhile, at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Ikorodu City put in a good shift that earned them their first-ever away victory in the NPFL following a 2-1 win over Katsina United.
A day to be blessed by Solomons ❤️❤️
We did it!
Get in!!!!!!!!! First away win of the season#NPFL25 MD11#OgaBoys \\ #WeAreIkoroduCityFC pic.twitter.com/MCV73g7Cvb— IkoroduCityFC (@IkoroduCityFC) November 10, 2024
The newly-promoted side went behind in the 18th minute through a Moses Effiong opener, but a spirited comeback victory for the Oga Boys started with Solomon Alade’s 44th minute equaliser.
With a minute left in regulation time, Emmanuel Solomon, who assisted the first goal, fired the Oga Boys in front, as they ultimately secured maximum points, which took them out of the relegation zone and into 12th in the league standings.
That’s a wrap for Match day 11.#NPFL25 pic.twitter.com/3JGiTke4jE
— NPFL News 🇳🇬 (@NPFL_News) November 10, 2024
In Sunday’s other games in the NPFL, Kwara United won 1-0 away at Nasarawa United courtesy of a first-half stoppage time goal from Emmanuel Ogbole, while Bayelsa United stunned Rivers United 1-0 away at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
After going nine games without suffering defeat, Finidi George’s Rivers United have now recorded two consecutive losses in the league this season.
Elsewhere at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, Heartland pipped Sunshine Stars 1-0; Niger Tornadoes also recorded a 1-0 win at the expense of Akwa United through Papa Daniel’s 47th minute goal inside the Bako Stadium in Minna.
League leaders Remo Stars forced nine-time NPFL champions Enyimba to a 0-0 draw in Aba, just as champions Enugu Rangers also got a point against Plateau United in Jos following a goalless stalemate.
