NPFL: El-Kanemi, Bendel Insurance, Tornadoes, 5 Others Relegated

BY EDMOND ODOK, The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2018/19 season on Sunday ended with shock and surprises as eight teams, including some big names, got drown in the relegation waters.

Indeed, it was battle royal on the day for 17 teams that struggled to survive the dreaded drop into the Nigeria National League (NNL).

Among the eight clubs booted out of the premier league on the Match Day 22 final fixtures include household names like El-kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri and Bendel Insurance of Benin.

Also on the list of dropped teams are Remo Stars of Ijebu Ode, Gombe United and Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna. Others include Go Round FC, Yobe Desert Stars and Kwara United.

However, it was victory celebrations for Rangers International of Enugu, Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Enyimba International of Aba as they qualified for the Super Six tournament from the Group A NPFL abridged league.

Completing the qualifiers from Group B for the Super Six tournament are Akwa United FC of Uyo, Kano Pillars and FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

Meanwhile, the streets of Akure, the Ondo State capital were agog with celebrations as Sunshine Stars Football Club on Sunday escaped relegation from the NPFL by whiskers.

The Akure-based side was in their best element as they pounded visiting Mountain of Fire Ministry (MFM) FC 4-2 inside the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure.

Sunshine Stars’ midfielder, Anthony Omaka, told newsmen at a post match conference that he was proud of the performance of his teammates in the fight against relegation.

Speaking on their escape from relegation, “The entire State knows the importance of the match, which led to the massive support during the game and am sure the team will go back to the drawing board,” he said.

Sunshine Stars finished eighth on the table thereby escaping relegation narrowly

All The Final Day Results

GROUP A

Katsina United 2          vs   Enyimba 1

Niger Tornadoes 0       vs   Kwara United 1

Remo Stars 0                vs   Lobi Stars 0

Rivers United FC 1      vs   Bendel Insurance 0

Sunshine Stars 4          vs   MFM FC 2

Wikki Tourist 1            vs   Enugu Rangers 0

GROUP B

Abia Warriors 3           vs  Kano Pillars 0

Delta Force FC 0         vs  Plateau United 0

Go Round 0                   vs  Gombe United 1

Heartland Owerri 2     vs  El Kanemi Warriors 0

Ifeanyi Ubah Utd 2      vs  Akwa United 1

Yobe Desert Stars 1     vs  Nasarawa United 2