NPFL: Flakes and bits from Matchday 3 

By Olusola Adebayo 

Matchday 3 of the 2023 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, was concluded on Wednesday at Ikenne as Remo Stars came out victorious in the " Stars War" with a 2-0 victory over Shooting Stars. 

Olusola Adebayo takes a look at the flakes and bits of events that define the third round of matches of the season. 

Bendel Insurance and Remo Stars make early super six statements 

After the conclusion of the matchday, only Bendel Insurance and Remo Stars maintained their hundred percent win record, while Abia Warriors and Niger Tornadoes have their perfect start to the season cut short by Lobi Stars (0-1) and Rivers United ( 2-1 ).

Bendel Insurance picked their second away victory of the season as they defeated Kwara United in Ibadan by 1-0 while Remo Stars won at home against Shooting Stars by 2-0, keeping their third clean sheet of the season.

Both teams are tied on 9 maximum points leading group B, making an early statement of finishing among the top 3 that will qualify for the Super six where they will have the chance to compete for the title and continental places.

Though it's still early days, there are fifteen more games to go but the two sides have shown they have what it takes to challenge for a place in the season-ending competition. 

Four Uniteds picked the first victory of the season 

Akwa United put three goals past Nasarawa United to record their first victory of the season. 

It was a spectacular performance from the Uyo-based team after they lost to Bendel Insurance shockingly in the first match of the season, and they showed lots of resilience by picking a point in Aba. 

They are back in contention for a place in the top 3 and last weekend's win away from home might just be the needed fuel to get themselves for the rest of the season.

Plateau, United defeated  Enyimba by 2-1 to also pick their first victory, while Doma United, as well as Bayelsa United, completed the first victories of Uniteds with wins over Dakadda and Wikki Tourists by 1-0 and 2-1 respectively. 

With these new additions to the number of teams that won at least a game season, we are now left with seven more teams still for their first win, with Nasarawa United leading the pack with no points scored at all in the three matches played so far.

Two Uniteds yet to score in 270 minutes 

Though seven teams are still looking for their first victory of the season, Kwara United and Gombe United are setting an unpleasant record in the chase as both teams are yet to score a goal in all three matches played so far.

Both sides met themselves on the opening day in Ibadan, it ended goalless, both sides posted almost an identical scoreline in their next two games, losing one and drawing one 1-0 and 0-0.

 Gombe lost to Remo Stars by 1-0 in week 2 and drew 0-0 away to Elkanemi in Week 3.

Kwara United have their goal ruled out against Shooting Stars and ended the match goalless in week 2 and lost painfully to Bendel Insurance by 1-0 in Ibadan.

 
The ghost of bad officiating didn't go unnoticed 

While the followers were still in euphoria numerous away victories,   ( 9 in 20 victories ) so far and lots of people are attributing the high number of the early stage to fair officiating.

 The match between Rivers United and Niger Tornadoes had a questionable call and the video went viral.

The center referee, Faro Mohammed from Lagos called off what seems to be a good goal scored by Niger Tornadoes.

Less than five hours after the call, the referee committee of the NFF suspended the referee indefinitely and he was summoned to a panel where he explained why the goal was called off.

Meanwhile, the outcry that followed the goal also picked two of the officials that officiated and ruled Kwara United against Shooting Stars on match day 2 in Ibadan.

They are Ndubuisi Ukah from Imo State who was the center referee as well as Assistant Referee II, Otuwho Morrisson of Delta State.

They are to face the panel too while an indefinite ban has been placed on them too.

Matchday 3 Full Results at a glance 

Nassarawa United 0-3 Akwa United 
Rangers Int'l 1-1 Sunshine Stars 
Abia Warriors 0-1 Lobi Stars 
Plateau United 2-1 Enyimba FC 
El-Kanemi 0-0 Gombe United 
Kwara United 0-1 Bendel Insurance 
Bayelsa United 2-1 Wikki Tourists 
Doma United 1-0 Dakkada FC 
Rivers United 2-1 Niger Tornadoes
Remo Stars 2-0 Shooting Stars