NPFL Game Week 2 Updates as it happened

15:30 - 18 January 2023

NPFL live

Hello, and welcome to our live coverage of the NPFL. It's the first set of matches in the second game week of the season. My name is Jidechi, and I'd be your guide across the grounds.

And that's been it for today's coverage. Six more to go tomorrow. Until then, let's call it a day. Good night! 🙋🏽‍♂️

And this is how today's results affect the Group A and B tables. Enyimba with 4 points leading Group A, for now. 2 wins in 2 for Abia Warriors see them sit at the top of Group B.

FULL-TIME!
After a score draw in their opening game, Dakkada came from behind to pick their first win of the season.
Dakkada 2-1 Bayelsa United

FULL-TIME!
And that is it for today from Umuahia, Abia Warriors with a solid victory. Thanks to goals from Kalu Nweke, Bello Lukman and Henry Udezuka, the Umuahia club sit comfortably at the top of Group B.
Abia Warriors 3-1 Bayelsa United

⚽: ANOTHER ONE IN UMUAHIA! Its number three for the hosts. The score is now Abia Warriors 3-1 Bayelsa United thanks to Henry Udezuka. The morale of Emmanuel Deutsch's side must be pretty high right now, don't you think?

⚽: GOAL IN UMUAHIA! The visitors half the scoreline with a goal in the 83rd minute, its Abia Warriors 2-1 Bayelsa United

FULL-TIME!
And that is it. Its a hard-fought win for Lobi Stars in Jos, while the People's Elephants share the spoils in Aba with their visitors.
Lobi Stars 1-0 Rangers
Enyimba 0-0 Akwa United

86 minutes in Aba: Enyimba 0-0 Akwa United: Valentine Obilor controls a high ball and locates Ifeanyi Ogba and the striker cuts it back to Uche Collins who fails to connect first-time.

⚽: THE DEADLOCK IS BROKEN!!! Lobi Stars have now taken the lead in Jos with an 84th-minute goal from Atule Joseph. If it ends this way, Rangers would have lost two games in two this season.
1-0

⚽: GOAL! Dakkada have come from behind to take the lead in Uyo. Aniekan Ekpe converts the penalty kick. Its now Dakkada 2-1 Wikki Tourist

It’s the captain from the spot !!!#NPFL23 #DAKWIK pic.twitter.com/t03qBh2e2l
— Dakkada FC (@FcDakkada) January 18, 2023

⚽: BOOM! It's the second of the day for the Group B leaders Abia Warriors, thanks to Bello Lukman Idowu. 2-0

65”

GOAAAAAL!!!

Bello Lukman Idowu makes it two off an exquisite pocket pass from Henry Udezuka

Abia Warriors FC 2 v 0 The Restoration Boys- Bayelsa United F.C.
— Abia Warriors FC (@AbiaWarriors) January 18, 2023

57 mins: Lobi Stars 0-0 Rnagers: No luck in Jos. A good counter-attacking move by Enugu Rangers sees Reuben Bala beat Daniel Emmanuel free, they both go down in the box.

62 minutes in Aba: Enyimba 0-0 Akwa United: Chijioke Mbaoma does well to keep the ball in play down the right, drifts in and crosses but the ball is off target. Akwa United's coach Deji Ayeni makes a double substitution - its Ubong Essien and Ifeanyi Ogba coming in for Oghenetegha Ebetomame and Leonard Ugochukwu.

Are you in Uyo?
How did you see the Dakkada vs Wikki Tourist half-time performance? Did you enjoy it? 🕺🏽

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!
Dakkada 1-1 Wikki Tourist
Abia Warriors 1-0 Bayelsa United

#NPFL23

HT @AbiaWarriors 1-0 @bayelsautd1

A little bit of the scene here, half way through the encounter.. Warriors could have had more than just a slim advantage, so that leaves Bayelsa with a chance to get back into the game.

We keep an eye on the second period.#ABIBAY pic.twitter.com/7aygBwfVAa
— MrSpeakerr 🇳🇬 (@mr_speakerr) January 18, 2023

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!
Lobi Stars 0-0 Rangers
Enyimba 0-0 Akwa United

Abia Warriors captain with the first home goal of the season for his team...#sportlight #sportlightnews #football #npfl23 #npfl2023 pic.twitter.com/0jnBfKoaXB
— Sport Light News (@sportlightnews_) January 18, 2023

Yep, that was really close 😬.
Let's see if the Promise Keepers can finally break the deadlock in the second 45 minutes

@AkwaUnited_fc first half chance #NPFL23 pic.twitter.com/wdcqQirhIA
— UmuAbaTwiter 💡 (@abatweetss) January 18, 2023

That is it for now. We take a breather as Abia Warriors lead in Umuahia at the interval, and things stay at equilibrium in Uyo
HALF-TIME!
Dakkada 1-1 Wikki Tourist
Abia Warriors 1-0 Bayelsa United

Keenly contested first halves at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba and the New Jos Stadium, but there are no goals to separate the teams in those game.
HALF-TIME!
Lobi Stars 0-0 Rangers
Enyimba 0-0 Akwa United

⚽: BOOM! Dakkada are back on level terms in Uyo. Kufre Ebong scores a spectacle of goal. 1-1!

It’s 1-1 at the Nest Of Champions #NPFL23 #DAKWIK
— Dakkada FC (@FcDakkada) January 18, 2023

Half an hour gone in Jos and Aba
30' Lobi Stars 0-0 Rangers
30' Enyimba 0-0 Akwa United

25' 🟨
Enyimba 0-0 Akwa United: It's the first yellow card of the game in Aba to Enyimba's Pascal Eze. The defender brought down Akwa United forward Leonard Ugochukwu

⚽: BOOM! Abia Warriors are ahead! It's also a goal in the 2nd minute for the Umuahia club. Kalu Nweke on the score sheet.

⚽: IT'S A GOAL IN UYO! Wikki Tourists are in front. A goal in the 2nd minute by Ismaila Malaki give the visitors the lead
Another Uyo win for another visiting side today?

FINALLY!
Dakkada vs Wikki Tourists
and
Abia Warriors vs Bayelsa United
ALL FOUR GAMES FOR TODAY ARE NOW IN ACTION!

1' Lobi Stars 0-0 Rangers
1' Enyimba 0-0 Akwa United

It's 4pm! KICKOFF IN TWO OF OUR GAMES

LIVE @ABA ENYIMBA Vs Akwa United#NPFL23 pic.twitter.com/gp7xEcOjdf
— Abidoye Babatunde A (@Abidoye25) January 18, 2023

1️⃣0️⃣4️⃣0️⃣ - Abia Warriors will host a #NPFL game at the Umuahia Township Stadium for the first time in 1,040 days (since a 2-1 win v Adamawa United on March 15, 2020). Return Credit: Twitter/@Undisputed_Jsam

Meanwhile, this is how the tables look ahead of today's game. Bendel Insurance and Abia Warriors, are the teams leading in both groups 👇🏽.

4️⃣ games on the schedule for today. The rest of the games will go down tomorrow, Thursday.
Jos, Aba, Uyo and Umuahia are the venues for this afternoon's NPFL matches.

Hello and welcome to our very first coverage from the NPFL grounds. What games are you seeing today?