Football
Colin Udoh, Special to ESPN 7y

Five takeaways from NPFL match day 25

It was an intriguing football weekend in Nigeria, as league leaders Plateau United suffered defeat, top scorer Stephen Odey found his touch again, Ifeanyi Ubah lost their home invincibility, and Enyimba ran into a spot of bother in Nasarawa.

Here are five takeaways from the Nigeria Professional Football League weekend.

PLATEAU UNITED GO DOWN, BUT ITODO ADDS ANOTHER THROW-IN ASSIST

Table toppers Plateau United suffered only their second loss in seven matches, going down 1-2 to their coach Kennedy Boboye's former team, Abia Warriors. Fortunately for United, other results went their way and their position was not threatened.

Having led his new charges to the top of the pile this term, Boboye travelled to Umuahia expecting to inflict further damage on his former employers, who are barely treading water. Abia were without a win in their previous three games, and had only scored once in that time.

Abia went in front brilliantly within the opening 10 minutes. United defender Salomon Junior did not travel far enough, allowing midfielder Shedrack Asiegbu to take it on his chest with his back to goal, turn, and rifle off a volley.

Daniel Itodo's throw-ins have rescued Plateau United on numerous occasions, and when they drew level, it was on the back of another such throw. The panic-stricken Abia Warriors defense failed to deal with it, and Hamzat Owolabi volleyed in with 10 minutes left.

But the hosts were to have the last laugh when Asiegbu converted a penalty kick with virtually the last kick of the game.

ODEY FINDS HIS MOJO

League top scorer Stephen Odey, who is chasing Mfon Udoh's 23-goal record, has endured the opening seven matches of the second round of the season without a goal. The drought meant he remained nine goals behind Udoh with matches running out fast.

But that dry spell was broken this weekend when he found the net against Kano Pillars. It was somewhat bittersweet for the striker as his MFM side succumbed 1-3 to the Kano aristocrats, dropping them down one place to third, still five points behind leaders Plateau United.

Odey will have to be as prolific as he was in the first round if he is to make up his eight-goal deficit.

IFEANYI UBAH FORTRESS SLIGHTLY BREACHED

The FC Ifeanyi Ubah faithful have been quick to declare their home ground a fortress following their seeming invincibility there.

That wall was hairline-cracked by Wikki Tourists on Sunday, who held out for a 0-0 draw against the Pride of Anambra. And in all honesty, the Tourists could have done even more damage if they had taken even one of the breakaway chances they created. Credit must go to their goalkeeper Emeka Nwabulu, whose form on the day was key to securing the point for Wikki.

RANGERS INCHING SLOWLY TO SAFETY

Champions Rangers are gradually creeping their way to safety, point after difficult point. The Flying Antelopes, firmly rooted to the bottom at one point this season, have clambered their way up slowly and surely.

They followed up last weekend's 1-0 home win over Akwa United with a 0-0 draw away to Niger Tornadoes. Prior to that, they had become the first team to come away from EL Kanemi's Maiduguri stadium with a point.

These results have seen Rangers move up to 14th, four places and two points above the relegation zone. A win in their next home game - against Ifeanyi Utah - could take them within two points of the top 10.

SPOT OF BOTHER FOR ENYIMBA

Seven-time champions Enyimba have been looking resurgent of late, and nursing real hopes of finishing in the top three to guarantee themselves continental football next season.

They travelled to Nasarawa hoping to claim at least a point. But that determination led to some tempers flying, with the home fans unhappy about the arbitration of the game.

Nasarawa still won 1-0 with ex-Enyimba striker Abdulrahman Bashir hitting the only goal of a bad-tempered game.

Enyimba dropped to 7th, but can take solace from the fact that they are still just two points shy of second place.

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