NPFL Game Week 2 Updates as it happened

15:30 - 19 January 2023

NPFL live

Hello again, and welcome to our live coverage of the NPFL. My name is Jidechi and it's the second day of matches in the second game week of the season. Let me be your guide across the grounds.

Thanks for sticking around for our live coverage of today's NPFL game week 2 matches. 4 wins, 2 draws and 10 goals scored across six matches. I know you must have had so much fun. Follow me on Twitter, let's keep talking. For now, it's goodbye from me. 🙋🏽‍♂️

Meanwhile, this is how today's results affect the league table. Can you spot your favourite team?

Quickly plugging in some reactions on the games today 👀

Remo Star have started again this season as they did last season winning away from home at one of the fortress stadium in NPFL.

I love that club show much. @RemoStarsSC #NPFL23
— Michael Odetunde (@Odesportsmedia) January 19, 2023

BANKOLE KAYODE - #NPFL23 Matchday 2 Goalkeeper Of The Week

No goalkeeper has more clean sheets (2) than @Kaybaba35 👏 pic.twitter.com/7aRL8YQT93
— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) January 19, 2023

1️⃣ - Gombe United have now lost at home for the first time in the #NPFL since 2019 - ending an unbeaten run of 24 consecutive home games (W18 D6). Halt#NPFL23 pic.twitter.com/p3RzTs5RU7
— Engineer Kowope (@Undisputed_Jsam) January 19, 2023

Remo pick up an important win on the road against Gombe United.

Ijaball in motion. #NPFL23
— Joy Ojeabulu (@Euphoria_Sticks) January 19, 2023

What an exciting day of football it's been in the Nigerian top-flight league

FULL-TIME IN BENIN
Bendel Insurance 2-1 Plateau United

FULL-TIME IN MAIDUGURI
El-Kanemi Warriors 2-1 Nasarawa United

⚽: IT'S A GOAL! Insurance takes the lead with a few minutes left to play. Imade Oserenkhoe heads home Julius Emiloju's free kick

⚽: BOOM! Is it too late for a comeback? Nasarawa United pull one back in Maiduguri. It's now El-Kanemi 2-1 Nasarawa United

FULL-TIME IN IBADAN, GOMBE, AKURE AND KADUNA!
Shooting Stars 0-0 Kwara United
Gombe United 0-1 Remo Stars
Sunshine Stars 1-1 Rivers United
Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Doma United

Here 👇🏽, let's quickly have a look at that leveller by Sunshine Stars

84'' Goal Alert
Sunshine Stars 1-1 Rivers Utd
The host draw level from the spot.
Ejike Uziechi beats Seidu Mutawakilu from 12 yards#NPFL23 #SUNRIV
#MD2 pic.twitter.com/KcL8wvDE3W
— Abidoye Babatunde A (@Abidoye25) January 19, 2023

⚽: IT'S IN! IT'S 1-1! Mustapha Abdullahi put Plateau United back on level terms in Benin! Yet another comeback by the 2017 champions after what they achieved in their first game

90' Bendel Insurance 1-0 Plateau United: ITS A LATE PENALTY FOR PLATEAU! Can the visitors level in Benin?

⚽: BOOM! Remo Stars with a late, late goal in the 90th minute! Andy Okpe converts off a free kick after Junior Nduka sent the ball to Adams Olamilekan who then squared it to him. 0-1!

⚽: IT'S IN! SUNSHINE STARS ARE LEVEL AT HOME! EJIKE UZOECHI MAKES NO MISTAKE

85' UZOECHIIIIIIII!1-1

Uzoechi calmly draws level from the spot

Sunshine Stars 1-1 Rivers United https://t.co/xXZOYNwMbm
— Sunshine Stars FC (@SunshineFCAkure) January 19, 2023

85' Sunshine Stars 0-1 Rivers United: ITS A PENALTY TO SUNSHINE STARS! Can the hosts level up in this game and deny the champions a possible away win?

75' Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Doma United: Munir Idris can not continue, this makes it three players subbed off as a result of injuries. Sad stuff! 💔

76' Sunshine Stars 0-1 Rivers United: A point-blank save by the Rivers goalie denies Ibrahim Yusuf from close range. The goalie is being attended to by the medics as a result of the action. Great save!

⚽: BOOM! It's the second of the day for El-Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri. It's the first match to witness two goals today, and its the first goal of the season for Zayyad Musa. Scored in the 63rd, they lead Nasarawa United, 2-0

Inside the final 20mins in Gombe

🟡 |0-0| 🔴#NPFL23 | #WeAreRemoStars pic.twitter.com/1oVIqCJZ0Z
— Remo Stars Sports Club (@RemoStarsSC) January 19, 2023

⏱️68' - Double Substitution
Sunshine Stars 0-1 Rivers Utd
Kenechukwu Agu and Ifeanyi Francis replaces Malachi Ohawume and Ukeme Williams #NPFL23 || #SUNRIV || #MD2 pic.twitter.com/a23RmG2hh8
— Rivers United FC (@RiversUnitedFC) January 19, 2023

68' Gombe United 0-0 Remo Stars: It's a great opportunity for Olamilekan Adams to put Remo in front Dayo Ojo's beautiful pass but Itodo Akor denies him.

⚽: BOOM! Ismael Sarki scores his second goal of the season and puts Bendel Insurance ahead in Benin. It becomes the fourth goal that Plateau United have conceded this season. 1-0

52' Gombe United 0-0 Remo Stars: THE PENALTY IS BLASTED OVER THE BAR! Samaila Bello misses the chance to give the hosts the lead in Gombe 😕

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!
Bendel Insurance 0-0 Plateau United
El-Kanemi 1-0 Nasarawa United

52' Gombe United 0-0 Remo Stars: PENALTY TO GOMBE! The referee points to the spot after sighting an infringement inside the visitors' box

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!
Shooting Stars 0-0 Kwara United
Sunshine Stars 0-1 Rivers United

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!
Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Doma United
Gombe United 0-0 Remo Stars

Decent outing from the fans. #NPFL23 #SUNRIV pic.twitter.com/GCUDuqZSPa
— Precious Oham (@Greatman50) January 19, 2023

NPFL 2023: Shooting Stars vs Kwara United

NPFL 2023: Bendel Insurance vs Plateau United

Okay, let's bring in the LIVE STANDINGS now and see how things are looking in both Groups 📈

Fans in Maiduguri will definitely be happy with the situation of things. We're now at the halfway line for all our games today.
⏱ HALF-TIME!
Bendel Insurance 0-0 Plateau United
El-Kanemi 1-0 Nasarawa United

It's a slow day for the goals market, but somehow, the champions lead in Akure, and of course, Tornadoes are living up to their name in Kaduna.
⏱ HALF-TIME!
Sunshine Stars 0-1 Rivers United
Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Doma United
Shooting Stars 0-0 Kwara United
Gombe United 0-0 Remo Stars

40' Sunshine Stars 0-1 Rivers United: Nyima Nwagua lays it for Malachi Ohawume but his shot lacks the needed direction

38: Gombe United 0-0 Remo Stars: IT HITS THE WOODWORK!!! The hosts nearly take the lead but Mamuda's header from Sama'ila Bello's cross hit the posts

Enjoying your match at home. #NPFL23 pic.twitter.com/qcKSiPgszV
— Kennypaul-sax (@KOlatipe) January 19, 2023

AS IT STANDS ACROSS VENUES
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Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Doma United
_
Sunshine Stars 0-1 Rivers United
_
El-Kanemi 1-0 Nasarawa United
_
Shooting Stars 0-0 Kwara United
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Gombe United 0-0 Remo Stars
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Bendel Insurance 0-0 Plateau United
_
Remember to use the hash-tag #NPFL23 while posting pictures/videos of the games you're seeing on Twitter

20' Bendel Insurance 0-0 Plateau United: Twenty minutes have gone by in Benin and it's been a very quiet evening at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

⚽: GOAL! It's El Kanemi Warriors with the lead in Maiduguri. An 11th striker by Alfa Igbudu gives his side the lead against Nasarawa United

⚽: BOOM! The champions are in front. Rivers United surprisingly takes the lead in Akure after a Sunshine Stars defender scores in his own net. 24 minutes gone, its 0-1 here

20' Gombe United 0-0 Remo Stars: Remo's goalkeeper Kayode Bankole comes to his side's rescue, denying Yusuf Taiye a chance to put the hosts in front

⚽: IT'S THE FIRST GOAL OF THE DAY, AND ITS IN KADUNA! Niger Tornadoes take an 8th-minute lead thanks to Munir Idris

Joining the fray:
Bendel Insurance 0-0 Plateau United
El Kanemi 0-0 Nasarawa United

ALL SIX MATCHES FOR TODAY ARE NOW IN ACTION!

1' Shooting Stars 0-0 Kwara United
1' Niger Tornadoes 0-0 Doma United
1' Gombe United 0-0 Remo Stars
1' Sunshine Stars 0-0 Rivers United

It's 4pm! KICKOFF IN IBADAN, GOMBE, ILORIN, AND AKURE

Ondo State Sports Complex for the Sunshine Stars vs Rivers United #NPFL23 game. #SUNRIV pic.twitter.com/RnUJNtkoDm
— Precious Oham (@Greatman50) January 19, 2023

The Tigers have landed!

Kickoff in less than 2hrs. #NPFL23 #NIGDOM #SavannahTigers pic.twitter.com/TcLA0b0nOA
— Doma United FC, Gombe (@domaunitedfc) January 19, 2023

JUST SO YOU KNOW:
According to The Lagos Voice, the away teams scored 58% (14) of the 24 goals recorded on MD1. It is the first time since MD15 of the 2019/20 season that there are more away goals than home goals in a Matchday in the NPFL. 8 goals were scored across yesterday's games - 2 from away teams. Would game week 2's total surpass 14?

Where do see wins coming from today?

Here's a quick one on how the games yesterday ended 👇🏽

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the NPFL game week 2 matches. 6 games going down in Gombe, Benin, Akure, Kaduna, Ibadan and Maiduguri? Which one are you seeing?