BascoVanVeli:
Ifeanyi stumble at home and other NPFL Hot Takes

Colin Udoh, KweséESPN

There were great goals aplenty this past weekend in the Nigeria Professional Football League, and MFM FC striker Stephen Odey extended his dominance at the top of the goal charts.

But the weekend's biggest talking point came from Nnewi, where FC Ifeanyi Ubah not only lost their 100 percent home win record, but came close to losing all three points against relegation-threatened Gombe United.

Here's a look at that, as well as a few other talking points from game week 31.

IFEANYI UBAH LOSE HOME INVINCIBILITY

Two years after their stadium was opened, FC Ifeanyi Ubah have finally lost their home invincibility, to relegation strugglers no less.

Supporters of FC Ifeanyi Ubah describe stadium in Nnewi as The Fortress. And so they should. The club had won every single game played there to date. Until Gombe United came calling on Sunday.

Such was the confidence the club had in their home ground, and their under-estimation of the visitors, that leading striker Godwin Obaje was given the weekend off to get married.

It all started well for the hosts. Two superb free kicks from Isaac Loute helped them race into a two-goal lead in the first half, with the potential for even more.

But the visitors flipped the script in the second half, as Sanni Abanni and former Ifeanyi Ubah player Austin Oladapo bagged the goals to draw level.

But the drama did not end there. With the board going up to signal five additional minutes, the home side pushed forward for the winner, only to leave themselves exposed at the back. Gombe duly took advantage, launching a deadly counter attack that ended in a low cross and a tap in.

But, the referee called time on the match at the very moment the ball was about to be tapped into the net, and with two minutes of the added time still to be played.

SUNSHINE RISE OFF BOTTOM OF TABLE

It was not so long ago that Sunshine looked all but condemned to relegation, especially after losing a winnable home game.

But four wins from five, including a road win at Rivers United and Sunday's slim win over El Kanemi, catapulted the Akure Gunners all the way up to the relative safety of 11th position on the log.

It is a remarkable turnaround for Duke Udi's men and represents a win for the positive spirit that the former Super Eagle has maintained since taking over the job from Austin Eguavoen.

Sunshine now only need to win three of their remaining seven games to be safe.

RIVERS UNITED RESPOND TO ULTIMATUM

Rivers United coach Stanley Eguma had been under pressure in recent weeks, even more so after his side's midweek home loss to Sunshine Stars.

After a crisis meeting called by the team owners, Eguma was subsequently issued with an ultimatum: Win the next few games or face sanctions.

His players responded admirably to the challenge, putting three goals past fellow strugglers Wikki Tourists on Sunday.

For a team that rarely scores more than a goal a game, and had never cracked the three-goal ceiling all season, it appears the ultimatum was a good way to shock the squad to a worthy performance.

AKWA UNITED SHOW GRIT

Since overcoming their early troubles to turn their season around, Akwa United have continued to show remarkable character as they chase for a place in the top three.

Nasarawa United, who claimed a road win at Sunshine Stars last weekend, looked on course for another shock result when Aminu Kadir put them went in front before half time.

But Ubong Friday netted his seventh of the season to level things at the break and it was left to Christian Pyagbara to secure the win with a superb combination of team effort and individual brilliance in the second half.

The Promise Keepers stayed third on the log and with a game in hand, could well be on their way to a CAF Champions League spot.

LMC MEDICAL WORKS

The victory song of the Shooting Stars' 1-0 win over hard fighting Enyimba FC was almost marred by an awkward collapse of stand-in skipper Sylvanus Ebiaku midway into the exciting encounter.

Ebiaku had gone in with a sweeping tackle against a rampaging opponent but landed on his head and passed out. The sudden and unusual gesticulations of few players around the area attracted the referee's attention to Ebiaku's prone body.

The incident prompted the arrival of combined medics and ambulance who resuscitated him to a conscious state before he was drove out in the ambulance for further medical attention.

http://kwese.espn.com/football/nigeria/story/3164535/ifeanyi-stumble-at-home-and-other-npfl-hot-takes

Completely disgusted by the bolded. The government should intervene in this matter because some refs and officials want to keep our league in the stone age.

Icon79:
Kennysville, I don't wanna cuss you out but your post makes you sound like a full-time mugu or someone who has never smelled the four corners of a soccer pitch in his life. Who in his right mind would underestimate the importance of a solid goalkeeper to a team. Anyway, I am in a charitable mood today so let me educate you a little.

First, the goalkeeper is your last and MOST important defender. Your entire defenceline is crap if you don't have a solid goalkeeper. As a matter of fact, a poor goalkeeper would even make even the best defenders in the world play with zero confidence. Jamaica just upsets the powerhouse Mexico in the Gold Cup yesterday. In yesterday's game, the only area Jamaica was superior to Mexico was in the goalkeeping department. Mexico has them on the rope the entire game, but their goalkeeper kept them in the game until Jamaica had a free kick toward the end of the game and capitalized.

And I can go on and on to list the teams that won matches based solely on the heroics of their goalkeeper, but I don't have the time. Right now, what I have to tell you is that the goalkeeper is the most important position in the game.



O pari

goldfish80:


Which of our keepers is feared? Even Ikeme was just recently promoted as Wolves first keeper. He used to be Wayne hennesey's Lieutenant for a good number of years till Wayne left for Crystal Palace. HE is not considered one of the best in the Championship.
Abi Vincente Enyeama? he has been laid off by Lille as things stand.HE is surplus to requirements to Bielsa.

To be honest, sometimes I don't understand our big time charly attitude. We have to come down from our high horse and face reality.

komekn:


There are two camps for me.

The first is the proving camp of your football club where you are day in and day out. After you have proven yourself in your club that becomes the justification for invitation to the SE set up.

The SE camp is where strategy, tactics and team plans are established. You have limited time to assess the players most times you will hardly get up to 10 days in camp when the football season is in session.

It is not the place of player discovery or individual player experimentation. For that reason we should be inviting Obagoal, Ideye, Ighalo and Anichebe to camp.

For them to confirm thier pedigree not to discover it.

goldfish80:


I am not of the opinion that Akpeyi is a world class goalkeeper. I cant delude myself into believing that. I think hes an OK keeper, I mean look at his record when he played in the npfl, he was one of the best we had in the league. I recall he was Heartlands !st choice goalkeeper during their run to the finals of the champions league. He was pretty solid alongside Ike Thankgod and Chinedu Effugh at the back. Ezennwa was his number 2 at the time.

If he was as bad a goalkeeper as you all are making him out to be, I wonder how he managed to get to this level. Most of the Npfl goalkeepers can only dream of getting their team to the caf champions league finals.

Even if we must crucify him, lets wait until such a time he does that rather than cook up false accusations just to nail him.

Shorunmu have said something about this guy and trust me, IKe shorumu knows him very well from his days as a national team trainer.

goldfish80:

Earlier in the season against Rangers in Nnewi. Rangers scored a beautiful goal from a free kick which was ruled out and 2 dubious penalties were awarded to Ifeanyi Uba, they missed one and scored the second one. 1 nil to Ifeanyi Uba.. Lol

Joebie:
Ikeme Just recently promoted? Lol.. Enyeama now surplus to requirement? You seem to have forgotten Enyeama's fine record in Ligue 1 in recent seasons. Please can we even boast of Akpeyi at any point in history, besides one or two good showings? It's unfortunate you like to defend the average. For me, Nigeria can do far better in that department. Let's not go too far, lets learn from neighbors Cameroon.

goldfish80:

Ikeme became the first choice goalkeeper for Wolves in the 2013 season. Mind you, this guy is 31 years old. He only became first choice for his club at 28.
In England, he is considered average who has had a fair share of his own gaffes down the years. You can see some of them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbX3vYoMf5k


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3r7wwvEYkM

Even last season he had a few shockers. You may not know this because you don't follow the English championship but that's the reality. Ikeme is not world class like some have been thinking. His case have become absence making the heart grow fonder.

The goals he conceeded against Zambia and Egypt are just identical to the ones Akpeyi considered. But people want to kill Akpeyi.

We have to be real, we don't have any proper world class goalkeeper.

goldfish80:

Ikeme became the first choice goalkeeper for Wolves in the 2013 season. Mind you, this guy is 31 years old. He only became first choice for his club at 28.
In England, he is considered average who has had a fair share of his own gaffes down the years. You can see some of them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbX3vYoMf5k


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3r7wwvEYkM

Even last season he had a few shockers. You may not know this because you don't follow the English championship but that's the reality. Ikeme is not world class like some have been thinking. His case have become absence making the heart grow fonder.

The goals he conceeded against Zambia and Egypt are just identical to the ones Akpeyi considered. But people want to kill Akpeyi.

We have to be real, we don't have any proper world class goalkeeper.

goldfish80:

Earlier in the season against Rangers in Nnewi. Rangers scored a beautiful goal from a free kick which was ruled out and 2 dubious penalties were awarded to Ifeanyi Uba, they missed one and scored the second one. 1 nil to Ifeanyi Uba.. Lol

komekn:


Seems exceptional talent how old is he?

He looks under 16 to me.

goldfish80:

Ikeme became the first choice goalkeeper for Wolves in the 2013 season. Mind you, this guy ais 31 years old. He only became first choice for his club at 28.
In England, he is considered average who has had a fair share of his own gaffes down the years. You can see some of them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbX3vYoMf5k


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3r7wwvEYkM

Even last season he had a few shockers. You may not know this because you don't follow the English championship but that's the reality. Ikeme is not world class like some have been thinking. His case have become absence making the heart grow fonder.

The goals he conceeded against Zambia and Egypt are just identical to the ones Akpeyi considered. But people want to kill Akpeyi.

We have to be real, we don't have any proper world class goalkeeper.

goldfish80:

Ikeme became the first choice goalkeeper for Wolves in the 2013 season. Mind you, this guy is 31 years old. He only became first choice for his club at 28.
In England, he is considered average who has had a fair share of his own gaffes down the years. You can see some of them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbX3vYoMf5k


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3r7wwvEYkM

Even last season he had a few shockers. You may not know this because you don't follow the English championship but that's the reality. Ikeme is not world class like some have been thinking. His case have become absence making the heart grow fonder.

The goals he conceeded against Zambia and Egypt are just identical to the ones Akpeyi considered. But people want to kill Akpeyi.

We have to be real, we don't have any proper world class goalkeeper.

goldfish80:


I dont know if youre saying this just for banter sake or you just made this statement for the shock value, but whichever one it is, clearly it not one of your better finest comments. I cant believe you would want to trust a guy who is allien to this level to man the post in such a big game knowing fully well he haven't seen proper league action for a 1yr. Is the super eagles that joke of a team which every Tom, D*** and Harry is invited to come try out??
This was how we nearly capped a fella from the English 7th division.

If Ghana and South Africans call us super chickens ,you will be offended but look at what you just typed. Honestly speaking, I will rather goto war with Dele Aiyenugba who played more than 32games for his Isreali team last year (i think hes the captain of the team) than this desperate move for Emma Daniel.

Joebie:
Anyone who have been following or reading my comments on This forum will know I hardly use the term world class. The point is I'm by far more comfortable with Ikeme in goal. I'm sure we can post videos of gaffes by even the best keepers. Ikeme has far more experience and is well tested playing in the championship over the years than Akpeyi. The best keeper shows it again and again. Akpeyi is not even the better than all the NPFL keepers. If that's a lie give them a chance and u will see what will happen. Akpeyi's days are numbered in SE.

BascoVanVeli:
Ex-Eagles coach Sylvanus Okpala takes over relegation-threatened Enugu Rangers

Relegation-troubled Enugu Rangers have appointed former Super Eagles assistant coach Sylvanus Okpala as new coach, officials said.

Okpala takes over from Chukwuma Agbo, who has been in caretaker charge of the NPFL side since the contract of championship-winning coach Imama Amapakabo was terminated earlier this year.

Okpala was first linked with the post at the peak of Imama’s troubles at Rangers when they could only force a 2-2 draw with Zesco United of Zambia in a 2017 CAF Confederation Cup playoff.

He has captained the Super Eagles and played professionally in Portugal.

‘Quick Silver’ assisted Stephen Keshi when Nigeria won a third AFCON in 2013 in South Africa.

Rangers, who have never been relegated, are in the drop zone in 17th place on the NPFL table with 39 points from 31 matches.

soetanoreoluwa:



Sir Goodjoe come watch this...

Goalkeepers always have bad day...

Former Barça goalie Victor Valdez was worse back then in Barcelona Its all about believing in them...

Sir goodjoe I could remember some of your long time post when you are talking about coaches believing in player... No matter how bad or good you are if the coach did not believe in you.. You can't never amount to anything in that team...

We all have several examples around us...

That's what we re experiencing with Akpeyi... Now... Majority of us don't believe in him we have put all our mind on someone we thought we perform very well...

Thesame alapamsu during u17 he was uncomposed ..made alot of mistakes that fans was like who is this goalie? But with time he came to party...

We should learn to be patience to our players... Thesame Akpeyi was a man of match against SA think in 2004...if am right...


Stage fright is another thing we re not considering... Bring in a good psychology... To do the work on him...


Alamapasu time will come... I believe if he keeps working hard and don't forget uzoho of depotivo LA corola doing great thing too...


This is a big test match for Nigeria... And if the coaching crew didnit believe in Akpeyi they should call

Ejide or aiyenugba... They are tested goalie not... The rookie...


I love alapamsu but we should not gamble with this world cup or else...

Joebie:
Anyone who have been following or reading my comments on This forum will know I hardly use the term world class. The point is I'm by far more comfortable with Ikeme in goal. I'm sure we can post videos of gaffes by even the best keepers. Ikeme has far more experience and is well tested playing in the championship over the years than Akpeyi. The best keeper shows it again and again. Akpeyi is not even the better than all the NPFL keepers. If that's a lie give them a chance and u will see what will happen. Akpeyi's days are numbered in SE.

TheGoodJoe:


The best. Seaman, David James etc have had atrocious series of games despite loads of experience. It is no guarantee. The best hands after screening is the best hands. No other story. Any other reason for sending a player into the field is SENTIMENTS.