Enyimba have secured their eighth league title following their 3-0 win over Akwa United on Wednesday in their final match of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Super Six.
Goals from Rueben Bala, Stanley Dimgba and Abdulrahman Bashir ensured that the People’s Elephant secured maximum points against the Promise Keepers to end the championship play-offs with an unassailable 12 points.
After netting two goals in the last game against Ifeanyi Ubah, coach Usman Abd’Allah retained Bala upfront with the duo of Stanley Dimgba and Bashir getting starting roles.
On his part, the Akwa United coach handed Mfon Udoh a starting role, having opted to have the top striker come in from the bench in the last two games. Aniefiok Godspower and Marshal Johnson got starts against the People’s Elephant.
After a rather cautious start by both teams, Udoh almost took the lead against his former club Emyimba but while he directed his header at goal, it was well-saved by Theophilus Afelokhai in goal.
Enyimba responded with a big chance of their own minutes later, as the left-footed free kick by Joseph Osadiaye stung the palms of Akwa keeper Emmanuel Iwu and the follow-up volley by Bashir clipped the crossbar and went over.
Both teams kept pushing for the crucial opening goal and it was Enyimba that found a way in the 43rd minute when Osadiaye got the ball across for Bala who bundled it home past Iwu despite the challenge of an Akwa defender. Enyimba were relieved to take the slim lead into the break.
In the second half, Akwa United mustered all their effort to get an equaliser but against an Enyimba team that had the best defensive record during the regular season, they just did not find a way through.
While the Promise Keepers threw in all their energy going upfront to save their failing campaign, they were further punished in the 89th when Bashir picked up a loose ball and smashed it from distance past Iwu to put the icing on the cake for Enyimba.
On the hour, the People’s Elephant extended their lead when Dimgba peeled off a ball-watching Akwa defense to head past goalkeeper Iwu from Stanley Okorom’s cross. With this 3-0 win, Enyimba finished the season on 12 points, making sure nobody can catch them.
…Kano Pillars fined, Rabiu Ali banned
Sequel to the crowd disturbances and harassment of match Referees in one of the fixtures of MatchDay 4 of the Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL) Championship Playoff, Kano Pillars FC has been fined Eight million Naira (N8m) and its captain, Rabiu Ali banned from all NPFL activities and matches for a period of 12 matches.
Supporters sympathetic to the Kano football side invaded the pitch, damaged perimeter fences and advertising panels while hauling objects at the VIP stands at the end of the fixture between Kano Pillars and Rangers International which ended 1-1.
The League Management Company (LMC) in a summary jurisdiction notice charged Kano Pillars with a four count breaches of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL including breaches of Rule B13.18, C9, C1.1.
Rabiu Ali was charged for accosting the Referee and in so doing incited others to commit acts of violence and misconduct in breach of Rule C1.3
The notice to Ali read, “consequently, and taking into consideration your role as the captain of the team, by which your conduct is deemed to be an aggravated breach with a view to imposing more severe sanctions pursuant to Rule C19, the LMC intends to exercise its summary jurisdiction and to impose on you the following sanction: a ban from all NPFL matches and activities for a period of twelve (12) matches, commencing immediately”.
In the charged against Kano Pillars, the breaches covered offenses such as the hauling of objects towards the field of play by some of their supporters in violation of Rule B13.18. Kano Pillars were also charged for failing to control and ensure proper conduct of its players and officials who accosted the match Referee in protest which constituted a breach of Rule C9.
The third charge read, “you are in breach of Rule B13.18 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League, in that on Monday, 10th June 2019, immediately after your NPFL Championship Playoff Match: Kano Pillars vs. Rangers International, some of your supporters encroached onto the field of play, pursuing after match officials”.
The fourth count was hinged on the violent conduct of the Supporters in a manner capable of bringing the league to disrepute and including injury to spectators and damage to facilities and equipment in violation of Rule C1.1 which is punishable by virtue of B15.17 and B13.23 of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL.
For the first three breaches, the LMC fined the club N1m for each count and N5m for the breach of Rule C1.1. Furthermore, the club has been ordered to play their next three home matches behind closed doors and stands to forfeit three points in the new season, 2019/2020, should it be found in further breach of the charges during the duration of the new season.
The player and club are required by the Rules to accept or appeal the charges and sanction in writing within 48 hours.
