The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match-day 20 witnessed a thrilling encounter between Sunshine Stars and Ikorodu City at Ikenne on Saturday. Sunshine Stars, under the guidance of their new coach Abubakar Bala, emerged victorious with a 4-3 scoreline, marking a memorable debut for their mid-season signing, Danbani Alao, who netted a brace. The match was a rollercoaster of goals and near-misses, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. Sunshine Stars’ attacking prowess was evident from the outset, while Ikorodu City demonstrated resilience and fighting spirit, repeatedly narrowing the deficit only to be pegged back by their opponents.
Sunshine Stars wasted no time in asserting their dominance on the field. Ahmadu Liman, another new acquisition, opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a cross that unexpectedly found its way into the back of the net. The home side continued their offensive onslaught, and just four minutes later, Promise Awosanmi capitalized on a rebound from Ikorodu City’s goalkeeper, James Faith, to double their lead. Despite missed opportunities by Ikorodu City’s Tosin Oyedokun and Toheeb Ajeigbe, Sunshine Stars further extended their advantage in the 34th minute. Alao, just seconds after replacing Elma Arunta, made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch of the game.
Despite trailing 3-0, Ikorodu City refused to surrender. Shola Adelani breathed life back into their hopes with a goal just before halftime, reducing the deficit to 3-1. The second half witnessed a revitalized Ikorodu City side, determined to claw their way back into the contest. Adelani completed his brace in the 60th minute, making it 3-2 and setting up a tense final stage of the game.
The match remained on a knife-edge as Ikorodu City pressed for an equalizer. However, their hopes were dashed in the 74th minute when Alao scored his second goal of the match, restoring Sunshine Stars’ two-goal advantage. Despite Alao missing a chance to complete a hat-trick, Ikorodu City continued to battle, and Emmanuel Solomon scored in stoppage time to make it 4-3. However, time ran out for the visitors, and Sunshine Stars held on to secure a hard-fought victory.
Elsewhere in the NPFL match-day 20 fixtures, defending champions Rangers International suffered a setback, losing 2-1 at home to Niger Tornadoes. Rangers’ striker, Chidozie Okorie, missed a penalty that could have leveled the score for the hosts, highlighting a disappointing day for the reigning champions. The missed penalty proved to be a turning point in the match, as Niger Tornadoes capitalized on the opportunity to secure a valuable away victory, further compounding Rangers’ woes.
In Umuahia, Abia Warriors emerged victorious with a slender 1-0 win over Bayelsa United. Sunday Megwo’s early goal in the fifth minute proved decisive, as the Warriors held on to secure all three points. The match, though not as high-scoring as the Sunshine Stars-Ikorodu City encounter, demonstrated the competitive nature of the NPFL, where even a single goal can determine the outcome. Abia Warriors’ defensive resilience played a key role in their victory, ensuring they maintained a clean sheet despite Bayelsa United’s efforts to find an equalizer. These results further underscored the unpredictability of the league and the potential for any team to upset the established order.
