NPFL: Junior Lokosa Hits Brace as Sporting Lagos Crush Kano Pillars

*NFF’s hammer falls on 14 referees over poor conducts

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Former Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) top scorer, Junior Lokosa, scored a brace as Sporting Lagos hammered Kano Pillars the 3-0 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

Lokosa hit targets in the 12th and 36th minutes against his former club to take his tally for the current season to three goals for Paul Offor’s side. Jonathan Alukwu scored the other goal for Sporting Lagos to take all three points.

Elsewhere inside the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, Lobi Stars snatched the top spot of the NPFL from Enugu Rangers after a sweet 2-1 away win against Bayelsa United.

Samuel Tiza gave Lobi the lead a minute before the half hour mark.

Bayelsa however fought back with Robert Mizo netting the equaliser three minutes before the break.

The goal was Mizo’s sixth goal of the campaign.

But Tiza returned to break the hearts of the home fans when he struck in the 67th minute to win all three points for Lobi.

The win takes Lobi Stars to the summit of the NPFL on 14 points from seven games, one more than Rangers.

Bayelsa United remain rooted to the bottom 19th spot with six points from seven games.

Meanwhile, due to their poor performances in recent matches in the NPFL, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) refereeing department has suspended 14 referees.

In the last few years, Nigerian referees have been missing in action at most continental tournaments owing to poor performance and lack of adequate training.

The refereeing department released a statement yesterday, indicting the officials and confirming their preliminary suspensions.

One referee from Match-day 2; another from Match-day 4; two officials from Match-day 5; and two from Match-day 6; and one from Match-day 7; were all suspended from further officiating topflight matches.

The committee is to review the full videos of the matches involved and provide proper evaluation of the performance of the referees for further considerations if they are fit and proper to handle NPFL games.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

(Today)

Atletico v Celtic

Lazio v Feyenoord

Dortmund v Newcastle

AC Milan v PSG

C’Zvezda v RB Leipzig

Man City v Young Boys

Shakhtar v Barcelona

FC Porto v R’Antwerp

NPFL

Sporting 3-0 K’Pillars