NPFL Match Preview: Sunshine Stars vs Niger Tornadoes (First meeting ended in a 2-2 draw)

 

By Chinedu Laurel Okorodike  

Follow me on Twitter via @laureldpundit
and Instagram via @laureldpundit

The Akure Gunners come into this tie on the back of a 2/1 defeat to

Shooting Stars of Ibadan. Their last home game saw them beat Rivers United 1-0. Niger Tornadoes come into this game on the back of a come from behind victory over Abia Warriors. With home advantage very crucial, the home side should win this

Head to Head

Games played between them = 7

Sunshine win= 3

Niger Tornadoes win =2

Draw = 2

SUNSHINE STARS STATISTIC  

They are currently placed 7th on the NPFL log  

They have picked up 10 wins from 27 matches played so far.

They have lost 6 times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL, and once at home this season.

They have won one away game in the NPFL so far this season 

They have won 9 times at home this season.

They have drawn 3 times at home this season and 7 times away 

They have conceded 8 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 18 goals while playing away from home.

They have scored 22 goals while playing at home this season and 10 goals while playing away from home.

Their biggest win this season was defeating Nassarawa United 3-0 at home

Their biggest loss this season was losing to Nassarawa United 3-0 away from home.

They have failed to score in nine away games and 0ne home games

They have kept five Clean sheets at home and five away from home this season.

NIGER TORNADOES STATISTIC  

They are currently placed 12th on the NPFL log  

They have picked up 11 wins from 27 matches played so far.

They have lost 13 times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL, and None at home this season.

They are yet to win an away game in the NPFL so far this season 

They have won 11 times at home this season.

They have drawn 3 times at home this season and none away 

They have conceded 8 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 18 goals while playing away from home.

They have scored 25 goals while playing at home this season and 5 goals while playing away from home.

Their biggest win this season was defeating Warri Wolves 2-0 at home

Their biggest loss this season was losing to Ifeanyi Uba 2-0 away from home.

They have failed to eight away games this season. But they always score at home.

They have kept five Clean sheets at home and none away this season.

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NPFL WEEK 29 REVIEW: SHOOTING STARS VS SUNSHINE STARS ( Sunshine Stars won 2-1 in the First meeting )

By Chinedu Laurel Okorodike  
Follow me on Twitter via @laureldpundit
and Instagram via @laureldpundit


Coach Gbenga Ogunbote will be hoping for an impressive performance from his lads, reminiscent in their 3-1 win over Niger Tornadoes at the Lekan Salami Stadium. The Oluyole Warriors were very impressive as they blew their opponents away by racing into a three goal lead in the first half but they'll face a more daunting task when they host Sunshine Stars.

The Akure Gunners may have lost their last away game came in their shambolic performance in Lafia when they were hammered 3-0. But they bounced back to defeat Rivers United 1-0 courtesy of a stunning goal from leading talisman, Dele Olorundare. 

A repeat of their insipid and lethargic performance in Lafia could see them suffer another defeat as 3SC will be fired up to put in another good performance as they seek to pull clear of the relegation zone. This'll be a very tight game but might tilt towards the host to edge it.

Shooting Stars statistic 

They are currently placed seventeen on the NPFL table.

They have picked up 10 wins from 26 matches played so far.

They have lost eleven times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL

They have won just one away game in the NPFL which was against MFM played on 19th of June, 2016. 

They have conceded 10 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 30 goals while playing away from home.

Their biggest win this season was defeating MFM 3-0 at home.

Their biggest loss this season was losing to Kano Pillars 6-0 away from home.

They have failed to score in seven away games and one home game this season.

Shooting Stars last five matches

Sunshine Stars statistic 

They are currently placed sixth on the NPFL table.

They have picked up 10 wins from 25 matches played so far.

They have lost five times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL 

They have lost just once at home this season which was 1-0 loss to Kano Pillars 

They have won just one away game in the NPFL which was against MFM.

They have conceded 22 goals while playing at home this season and 9 goals while playing away from home.

Their biggest loss this season was losing to Nasarawa United 3-0 away from home

Their biggest win this season was defeating Nasarawa 3-0 at home.

They have failed to score in eight away games and one home game this season.

Shooting Stars last five matches

My Prediction: Shooting Stars 1-0 Sunshine Stars.

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Ikechukwu Ezenwa to earn 600 Thousand Naira monthly salary at Ifeanyi Ubah FC

Newly signed goalkeeper of Ifeanyi Ubah FC Ikechukwu Ezenwa is to earn a monthly salary of 600, 000 Naira at his new club.

Both parties have agreed terms over a two-year contract and the goalkeeper will go on to be one of the top earners in the Nigerian league.

The 27-year-old left Sunshine Stars earlier in the season, citing unpaid salaries and having trained with FC IfeanyiUbah over the last week, he has been offered a deal.

Ezenwa is believed to have been on N450, 000 a month at Sunshine, N150, 000 less than what he will be getting in Nnewi.

He is expected to be in goal for the club in their next league fixture against  Rivers United.

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Okiki's strike gives Sunshine Stars 1-0 win over Lobi

In-form Okiki Afolabi moved joint top of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) goal scorers' chart after his late penalty secured a 1-0 win for Sunshine Stars over Lobi Stars in a Match Day 22 encounter decided at the Akure Township Stadium on Sunday.

The game seem poised for a stalemate after both teams had cancelled themselves out in many of the contests but Afolabi's perseverance led to him winning a spot kick with three minutes left on the clock before he expertly converted to claim full marks for his side.

Lobi will feel hard done by after the loss after imposing themselves strongly throughout the contest. Captain Anthony Agbaji came closest for the Pride of Benue as his header inside the opening ten minutes of the second half came off the foot of the crossbar.

The hosts had also been denied by the woodwork earlier in the first half when Okiki Afolabi crashed a difficult header from Sunday Abe's cross off the upright in the 10th minute of play. Sunshine pressed for an opener in the opening half and had their best attempts after 20 minutes but Lobi goalkeeper Okiemute Odah was alert to deny striker Dele Olorundare. Odah went down quickly to stop Olorundare's first time effort from Ojo Mine's cross and got up right on time to beat out the striker's rebound from close range.

The visitors who have not had many joy on their travels this term went close to taking the lead in fortuitous fashion on 36 minutes when Patrick Ikeokwu squared low into the penalty box. Former Lobi defender Stephen Eze's attempted clearance almost ended up in his own net but Sunshine goalkeeper David Ariyo spared his blushes.

Second half
The half started on an end-to-end note as old warhorse David Tyavkase curled inches wide for Lobi inside two minutes of the restart but the hosts replied with a succession of attempts almost immediately. First Ojo Mine's effort was superbly turned away by his former (Warri Wolves) teammate Odah before midfielder Dayo Ojo hit a volley over the bar from range.

Lobi introduced former Sunshine star Cletus Itodo for midfielder Jiya Mohammed and that changed the complexion of the game entirely. Itodo's angled pass got to Tony Okpotu but the striker failed to beat Ariyo from point blank range.

Lobi's best chance of the game however came when Nanen Immenger's floated ball into the box met his captain Anthony Agbaji totally unmarked but his well directed header beat the goalkeeper but not the post.

The game's defining moment came three minutes before time when Okiki Afolabi cunningly ran on to a loose ball with Lobi defender Dennis Nya lazily hopping around. He was adjudged to have had enough contact on the striker who was sprawling on the ground after both players met.

Afolabi who received his prize for being the League Bloggers Award Player of the Month of May at half time dusted himself and converted beyond the impressive Odah to give his side a first win in the second stanza of the season.

Match details

SUNSHINE STARS: 1. David Ariyo 10. Sunday Abe 3. Ojo Mine 2. Aliassou Sanou 27. Oke Ogagotewho 33. Stephen Eze 17. Meshack Chukwuibukem (Seun Olulayo 66') 28. Dele Olorundare (Samad Kadri 80') 12. Okiki Afolabi 9. Dayo Ojo 18. Ayo Saka (Kehinde Adedipe 86')

Unused subs: 19. Agbor Ekoi 4. Isiaka Oladuntoye 30. Lekan Agunloye 31. Stanley Okoronkwo

BOOKED: Aliassou Sanou 14'

GOAL: Okiki Afolabi 88' (p)

LOBI STARS: 30. Okiemute Odah 18. Solomon Kwambe (Moses Bumde 18') 31. Shehu Nasiru 4. Jiya Mohammed (Cletus Itodo 52') 5. Anthony Agbaji 6. Dennis Nya 29. Patrick Ikeokwu 13. Raphael Ayagwa 11. Anthony Okpotu 20. David Tyavkase 10. Nanen Imenger

Unused subs: 16. John Lawrence 12. Iorliam Gwarza 8. Emmanuel Ajia 28. Sunny Akleche 27. Harrison Egbune

BOOKED: Patrick Ikeokwu 38' Okiemute Odah 83'

GOAL: NIL

Referee: Isyaku Indabawa

Man of the Match: Ojo Mine (Sunshine Stars)

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