Double Hat-trick Recorded as Teams Jostle for Round of 16 Ticket
HIFL 2021
- LASU Blazers, ATBU Bravehearts on the brink of exit
Manaseh Ibokete of UNIUYO Tuskites yesterday recorded the first hat-trick in the ongoing 2021 Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL) as the Tuskites defeat the UNIZIK Cardinals 5-0.
In the game played at the UNIUYO Sports Complex, Ibokete proved to be a handful for the Cardinals’ defenders who struggled to contain him throughout the match.
Idari Jude provided the remaining two goals that have now taken the Tuskites to the top of the table in Zone E.
In the third game, UNN Lions defeated the IAUE Minders 3-2. Anichebe Idris scored a brace for the Lions in the 13th and 54th minutes before Utazi Chigozie added the third in the 82nd minute. Paul Benedict and Ibeche Chibroma scored for the Minders in the 38th and 79th minute.
In Kano, Michael Samuel of Kogi State University recorded the second hat-trick against the ATBU Bravehearts, as the team won the game 3-0.
The result has now put the qualification of ATBU for the next round in jeopardy having lost their first two games and are no longer fancied to qualify as the best loser from Zone A.
The same scenario also played out in Lagos as LASU Blazers who are the host university are on the verge of exiting the competition.
The Blazers lost their first game against UNILAG Marines 1-0 and the second against LAUTECH 2-1.
Results from games across other centres showed that the race for the Golden Boot for this season is heating up.
In the game between UNIBEN Royals and the team from Adekunle Ajasin University, Ikechukwu Okoro scored both goals to end the game at 2-0in favour of the Royals.
Okoro, who is gradually becoming a master in the league again proved his worth with a superlative performance.
The game between NDU Oilers and the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) at the same centre ended 3-1 in favour of the Oilers.
Mike Gede scored a brace for the Oilers in the 45th and 49th minutes while Godgift Ekene added the third in the 90th minute. The only goal for FUPRE was scored by Idoghor Anthony in the 24th minute of the game.
