Enyimba wins first game as Remo Stars hold Rivers United

Chukwuemeka Obioma’s 16th minute goal was all Enyimba needed to beat Lobi Stars of Makurdi, yesterday, in their second game of the ongoing Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) Championship Play-off holding at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

Enyimba drew their opening game of the campaign 2-2 with Remo Stars on Saturday and needed a win to keep abreast of Rivers United, who took the maximum three points from Sunshine Stars same day.

That they did when Obioma nodded into an open net following Lobi Stars’ goalkeepers’ miscalculation of the flow of the ball from a throw in.

Thereafter, the Peoples Elephant held their own as Lobi Stars sought for the equaliser in vain.

Reacting to the victory, Enyimba Coach, Finidi George, said his boys were gradually coming into the campaign, adding that the win would help their quest for a continental ticket from the championship.

He praised Lobi Stars for giving his team a hard fight, predicting that the Makurdi boys could still finish well in the competition.

To Lobi Stars’ Coach, Baba Ganaru, his team lost because the boys were profligate in front of goal.

“We lost many chances in this game, but that is football. It is not over yet. We will do better on Wednesday,” he said.

In the second game of the day, Rivers United played out a dramatic 2-2 draw with Remo Stars.

Remo Stars thought they had won it with a goal by Olamilekan in the last minute of added time, but Rivers United silenced them with the equaliser through Chiamaka Madu right from the restart of the game.

The game between Sunshine Stars and Bendel Insurance was still on as at press time.

Enyimba will meet Bendel Insurance on Wednesday, Lobi Stars will battle with Rivers United, while Remo Stars will tango with Sunshine