Enyimba Are League Champions for the Ninth Time!
- Tie Remo Stars, Rivers Utd on nine points, separated by goals differences
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Enyimba International FC of Aba emerged champions of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) for a record ninth time last night after all three front runners in the Championship Super 6 Playoffs in Lagos ended on nine points apiece. The Aba Elephant won by a superior +4 goals advantage and were presented with N100million price money.
Defending champions, Rivers United lost their title after their Match-day 5 clash with Enyimba deadlocked 1-1 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Lagos Island.
Enyimba have Ekene Awazie to thank for putting them ahead in the 39th minute. However, Nyima Nwagua restored parity for Rivers United three minutes after returning from the half time break.
Remo Stars similarly ended their playoff on nine points after handing out a 1-0 result to Bendel Insurance for their second defeat of the just ended season.
While both Enyimba and Remo will represent Nigeria in next season’s CAF Champions League, Rivers United will take consolation in returning to the CAF Confederation Cup where they campaigned this term before getting knocked out by Young Tigers of Tanzania.
In the other fixture of the final day of the playoffs, Sunshine Stars of Akure hammered Lobi Stars 3-1 to finish fourth on five points ahead of Bendel Insurance on the log.
Remo Stars who are the only team that scored in every of their match of the Super 6 Playoffs, have Qudus Akanni to thank for their solitary goal in the 37th minute against Bendel Insurance. It was the first time that Remo have beaten Bendel Insurance in the NPL.
For Bendel Insurance that went 21 games unbeaten this season, it was indeed a disappointing outing, having shown so much promise in the abridged part of the season before the playoffs.
They led the Group A standing from the beginning till the final 18th match of the abridged format without conceding any defeat. This wonderful performance gave their legions of supporters that the Benin Arsenal were sure to pick one of the tickets to continental club football next season. But three straight draw results at the beginning of the playoffs signposts trouble for the team from Benin. It therefore was not a surprise that they capitulated to both Rivers United and Remo Stars in their final last matches to end up on just three points and fifth in the final standing last night.
Bendel Insurance’s only chance to play in the continent next season is to win their Federation Cup final clash with Enugu Rangers next weekend at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
