The People’s Elephant blasted past their title rivals thanks to early goals at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba
First-half strikes from Anayo Iwuala and Gabriel Orok was all Enyimba International FC needed to earn a pleasing 2-1 win over Kano Pillars on matchday 5 of the Nigeria Professional Football League 2020-21 season.
Iwuala got Fatai Osho’s men going with a fine strike in the 21st minute, and Orok added a second ten minutes before the break as the hosts blew Maisu Gida away in the opening half.
The visitors found their bearing after the break and had opportunities to reduce the deficit, but their finishing let them down.
Pillars’ goal finally arrived four minutes before stoppage time when Fahad Usman curled home a brilliant free kick to set up a grandstand finish to the game.
But the equalizer never materialized as Enyimba held on for their third win of the campaign.
In Lafia, Nasarawa maintained their unbeaten start to the NPFL season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Katsina United.
Chigozie Uzochukwu got the winner for the home side shortly after the interval to secure a third league victory for the Solid Miners.
Rivers United tightened their grip at the top of the league table with a commanding 3-1 triumph over struggling Heartland FC at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
Godwin Aguda’s 18th-minute penalty set the tone of the afternoon before Kazie Enyinanya doubled the homers’ advantage just past the hour-mark.
Shedrack Oghali reduced Heartland’s deficit midway through the second half, but Malachi Ohawume restored Rivers United’s two-goal cushion four minutes before regulation time.
No away win was recorded on a day when Jigawa Golden Stars’ stalemate versus Kwara United was the only clash that failed to produce at least a goal.
NPFL Matchday 5 Results
Nasarawa Utd 1-0 Katsina Utd
Plateau Utd 3-0 Adamawa Utd
Enyimba 2-1 Kano Pillars
Rivers Utd 3-1 Heartland
Jigawa GS 0-0 Kwara Utd
FC Ifeanyiubah 1-1 Abia Warriors
MFM 1-1 Rangers
Lobi 2-1 Dakkada FC
Sunshine Stars 1-0 Wolves
