NFPL: Abalogu’s Strike Shoots Enyimba to Second Position

Enyimba’s quest to regain the domestic league crown was boosted lastnight after Andrew Abalogu struck 18 minutes from the end to condemn Warri Wolves to a 2-1 defeat in a rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match.

Abalogu reacted quickest to turn home Chima Akas’s free kick in a crowded penalty area to give the Peoples Elephant the lead for the second time in the well-fought contest decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

Christian Pyagbara scored in the first minute to give Enyimba the lead but Wolves reacted by netting the equaliser just before the interval with Shedrack Oghu making the most of an Ike ThankGod mistake to prod past Theophilus Afelokhai.

Wolves were reduced to 10 men after Solomon Okpako received a straight red card following an altercation with Enyimba midfielder Ikechukwu Ibenegbu in the 75th minute.

Enyimba tried to capitalise on their numerical advantage with Akas coming close to adding a late third but his free kick could only rattle the crossbar in the 78th minute.

The win sees Enyimba climb up to second place on the NPFL table with 30 points from 16 matches, just a point adrift of the leaders, Rivers United, who have played two games more.

‘The People’s Elephant’ have thus extended their unbeaten run to nine matches.