FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM NPFL MATCH DAY 7

With four teams ( Enugu Rangers, Rivers United, Wikki Tourist and Fc IfeanyiUbah) all having continental Engagement this weekend, we witnessed week 7 of the 2016/2017 season as Plateau United extend their lead at the top of the table.

Here, Deji Ogeyingbo takes a look at five things we learned:

PLATEAU UNITED ARE SAVING UP FOR THE DAYS OF FAMINE.
It wasn't commanding, neither was it a dominant display from Plateau United in the 2 nil win over El-Kanemi Warriors but like they say in, the most important statistics in football is the result of the match at the end of the day. They still really need to get a creative midfielder who can give them another alternative when the goals dry up( especially from the ones resulting from Daniel Itodo's long throw in's). Like we know in the NPFL, there would come a time when you would have bad patches. God bless you if you haven't racked up some points during your purple patch as a team. Good thing is United are doing just that now.

REMO STARS WOULD RUE LETTING NUDUKA UGBADE GO
After losing back to back games for the first time this season, realization has finally dawned in Remo Stars that the NPFL is a different ball game compared to the NNL. Since Daniel Ogunmodede took charge of the team on interim basis from Nduka Ugbade, they have failed to score in both of their matches. They were really profligate in front of goal in their 1 nil loss to Niger Tonadors and they need to find other avenues of creating goal scoring opportunities when opposing teams cut out the supply line to Victor Mboma. They definitely need a coach well grounded in the league to stir them back up. Zackary Baraje wouldn't do a bad job (just saying).After all, he helped Plateau United finnish 8th last season.

ABIA WARRIORS NEED TO BE MORE CONSISTENT
After ending their 3 game winless streak in the 1 nil win over Gombe United. But against sunshine stars, there were lackerdaisical in their over all play and couldn't convert the chances they manage to create. Godwin Zaki is yet to score in his last 2 matches which bemoans the question on who will take up the mantle of scoring when he is not playing well. Overall, Okey Emordi needs to find a way of ensuring balance in the team to make them consistent.

MFON UDOH CAN STEER ENYIMBA TO A CONTINENTAL SPOT
For a player who has  failed to live up to the standards he set when he scored 23 goals in the 2013/2014 season for Enyimba, he really has started this season with a bang. For the first few matches this season , technical Adviser Gbenga Ogunbote went with new signing Ibrahim Mustapha as the first choice striker. With 3 goals in 5 matches, he was given the mandate to lead the line against Akwa United.He was absolutely imperious throughout the match and needless to say that he scored the only goal of the game which was a magnificent scorcher from outside the 18 yard box. If Enyimba are to to do anything spectacular this season, he definitely would be pivotal for them.

MFM ARE SHOWING CONTINENTAL FORM
They barely escaped relegation last season and they let one of their influential midfielder Ifeanyi Ifeanyi join Akwa United. The general consensus was that they were going to struggle this season. Regardless of their defeat to ABS FC (their first in 5 matches), they  really have been able to keep the balance in the team. THUMBS UP TO FIDELIS ILECHUKWU.