NPFL: Finidi walks dangerous ground as Enyimba draw Plateau 1-1 in Aba

Former Nigeria international Finidi George’s career as head coach of Enyimba of Aba could be in jeopardy after a string of poor results, the most recent being a 1-1 draw with visiting Plateau United on Saturday evening in Aba.

There have been quiet murmurings around the club given their unfamiliar position on the league table but those quiet whispers are bound to rise some decibels higher after another stalemate in front of their home fans.

Bilal Yakubu, Oluwatosin Adegbite, and captain Austin Oladapo all returned to the starting lineup after Enyimba’s 2-0 loss to Dakkada last Wednesday while Plateau United also made five changes from the team that defeated Katsina United 1-0. On his return to Aba, Reuben Bala started with Christopher Waziri because Ibrahim Buhari and Daniel Itodo were not in the team.

Enyimba had plenty of possession early on, and soon enough Victor Mbaoma, Enyimba’s leading scorer, added to his total with a wonderful finish in the 28th minute when he grabbed Oladapo’s exquisite ball over the defence line and lobbed over Suraj Ayeleso in the Plateau goal.

Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble stretched to stop Rabiu Zulkifilu, whose effort from Haggai Katoh’s cut back seemed headed for the bottom corner in the 51st minute, giving a glimpse of what the visitors had in store for the second half. However Noble was helpless 20 minutes later when Austine Opara equalized with a stunning attempt when Katoh’s ball was cushioned by the former MFM man before he flicked it over a defender and volleyed past Noble in goal.

Enyimba’s second consecutive home draw left them with just 25 points from 18 games, while Plateau drew level with Rivers at the top of the list ahead of Sunday’s fixtures.

The Aba side have won only two of their previous 11 games, drawing four and losing five, with three of the draws coming in their last four home games.

In Saturday’s other game, Niger Tornadoes defeated Remo 1-0 in Minna on Saturday, thanks to a Musa Wakilu penalty in the fourth minute. The Stars are still in third place, but if they win tomorrow, Rangers, Kwara United, and Akwa United would all knock the Ikenne Boys down to sixth place.

In the meantime, the NPFL matchday 18 continues on Sunday with eight other games across the country.

Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) will face Kano Pillars at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, despite the fact that both teams had contrasting fortunes in their previous games, with 3SC losing 2-0 at League leaders Rivers United and Pillars winning by the same scoreline at home over Nasarawa United.

Rivers will be looking for all three points against Gombe United at the Pantami Stadium, and given the way the Stanley Eguma tutored side has been steamrolling opponents, you can count on league leading scorer Ishaq Rafiu to deliver the goods and return Rivers to the top of the league.