NPFL: Victor Mbaoma’s Treble Shatters Kwara’s Continental Dream
Striker Victor Mbaoma netted a brilliant hat-trick to give Enyimba an emphatic 3-0 win over Kwara United in MatchDay 33 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba on Sunday.
The People’s Elephant went in front as early as the third minute when Mbaoma finished off a counter-attack spearheaded by his attacking partner Christian Ekong. It was Mbaoma’s first appearance since returning from international duty with Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
Mbaoma got his second in the 15th minute through a brilliant finish to Farouk Mohammed’s pass before completing his hat-trick in the 54th minute after good work by winger Sadiq Abubakar. The third goal took Mbaoma’s tally for the season to fifteen goals, one ahead of the trio of Ishaq Rafiu, Chijioke Akuneto (both Rivers United) and Yusuf Abdulazeez (Gombe United) at the summit of the scorers chart.
The win seems to shatter Kwara United’s continental hopes, while the victory took Enyimba to 4th on the log, same points with Rangers who occupy the final continental position.
Enyimba are still without their head coach Finidi George who is in Morocco with Nigeria’s senior team but his first assistant, Deniran Ortega who took charge of Sunday’s game said after the game that his team simply capitalised on their opponents’ weakness.
“We knew how the game would play. We were able to use their weakness because we know they’re stressed,” said Ortega. “They came with a game plan to go back so we can play the game on a neutral ground so bringing them back on the way is a mental stress so we capitalised on it.”
“Our players followed the instructions from the coaches. We played against a good side nonetheless but we are able to capitalize on their mental stress.”
Kwara United will host Sunshine Stars on MatchDay 34 in Ilorin, while Enyimba will travel to relegation hunted MFM FC.
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Sunday’s NPFL results
Enyimba FC 3-0 Kwara United
Akwa United 1-0 Remo Stars
Gombe United 2-2 Dakkada FC
Kano Pillars 1-1 Wikki Tourists
Katsina United 2-1 MFM
Nasarawa United 1-0 Rangers International
Rivers United 2-1 Abia Warriors
Shooting Stars 2-1 Plateau United
Sunshine Stars 2-1 Niger Tornadoes
Lobi Stars 2-1 Heartland
Chidi Nwoke/NPFL.
