NPFL U-15: Shooting Books Q/Final Spot

On Day 4 of the NPFL U-15 Promises tournament, Shooting Stars retained their lead on the log despite a draw with MFM but it was Remo Stars that made a big mark winning their very first game of the tournament. The winning has positioned the Shagamu side to fight for the remaining Quarter Finals spot with second placed ABS FC in a winner takes all fixture. Remo are now on four points while ABS are ahead on six points and victory for either sides would guarantee the winner progression to the last eight of the tournament.

Remo Stars struggled in their previous two fixtures, losing to group leaders, Shooting Stars and drawing 1-1 with MFM. But against the junior Akure Gunners, Dayo Awotoye struck a brilliant brace to help Remo Stars banish the voodoo of not winning at the Osogbo City Stadium.
It was the first fixture of the day and Remo Stars was returning from a break having observed the day off on Wednesday.

A student of Ikene Community High School, Awotoye raised hopes for his side barely one minute after the break when he breached the defensive block of Sunshine Stars that resisted all efforts at goal in the first 45 minutes. He benefitted from a defensive mix-up to bury the ball in the net for the opener.

He would complete his brace seven minutes after the first goal from the spot. Sunshine defender Amoo Dauda handled the ball inside his own box and Awotoye converted brilliantly and confirmed his team victory.

“We are happy we won and the two goals I scored excites me. We fought as a team and we are happy to be back into contention to progress after failing to win our previous two games. We’ll face the most difficult task against ABS tomorrow (Friday) but we have to fight to the end,” said Awotoye to Npfl.ng.

In the second game at Osogbo centre, table toppers Shooting Stars let slip an opportunity to maintain 100 percent success when they let go a goal lead to play out a draw with MFM FC. The Lagos church side could have won the encounter but for profligacy in front of goal after creating many chances.

Olubode Hassan put the Shooting Stars in front from the spot on the 12th minute after he was upended inside the box of MFM and the referee awarded a penalty. Hassan calmly converted from the spot for his fourth goal of the tournament.

An impressive performance from MFM quartet of Eniayewu Hassan, Ibrahim Danladi, Atoyebi Gideon and the team captain Lawal Sulaimon ensured they dominated the encounter and created lots of scary moments for Shooting Stars.

Hammed leveled scores for MFM on the 60th minute; heading home a cross from close range for his third goal of the competition. The goal bolstered their confidence with Atoyebi coming close four minutes after the equalizer but his shot hit the crossbar.

MFM FC have completed their fixtures in the tournament finishing on 5 points from 4 matches while Shooting Stars will play the whipping boys of the group, Sunshine Stars that have lost all three matches in the competition.