By Chibuogwu Nnadiegbulam
After his side’s 1-1 draw with Rivers United on Thursday at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt, Lobi Stars’ striker, Sikiru Alimi hailed the high level of competitiveness that has been on display in this year’s Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL).
The Matchday 20 Group A encounter saw the Makurdi-based side pick up their seventh away point of the season as they extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches to further strengthen their hopeS for a Title Playoff place. Rivers United’s Kunle Odunlami scored a first half own goal to give Lobi the lead before Adebambo Ademola snatched a second half equalizer for the hosts.
With the regular season now on the home stretch, Rivers United had seen the home game as a chance to dislodge Lobi and occupy second place on the table, but the visitors had other ideas with Alimi as Tormentor-in-Chief.
“The game was all about pride and priority,” Alimi, who was voted Man of the Match, told npfl.ng. “We knew if we didn’t get a point in Port Harcourt, it might dent our continental aspirations, so we came all out for the game and it reflected. It’s a good one for us going forward.”
So far, one interesting fact that has caught the eye of NPFL fans and critics alike is that none of the 24 teams participating in this season’s campaign can boast a perfect home record. This has effectively put any debate regarding the win-at-home syndrome to bed and has produced impressive unbeaten runs; Rangers executed 13 games, home and away, without defeat, Enyimba did 12, Akwa United did nine while Lobi are on seven with the hope of extending it further.
Out of the ten away games they have played, Coach Solomon Ogbeide’s charges have secured seven draws and just three defeats, picking points from even the Cathedral in Enugu and Enyimba International’s ‘Rolls-Royce’ Stadium.
“The season has been a great one with surprising results week-in, week-out,” Alimi confessed, “some of the dreaded fortresses have been turned to farm houses. I hope it continues this way and hopefully we can sell our league to the world,” the former Sunshine Stars player added.
It is the ambition of the club to return to continental football next season but Alimi has stated that they would have to qualify for the NPFL Playoff first. At this season’s CAF Champions League, Alimi was top scorer for Lobi Stars with five crucial goals as the Ortom Boys failed to reach the quarter-finals of the competition. But he expressed satisfaction at their performance considering they were initially “written off”.
“We just want to take it a step at a time. We want to make the Super 6 first before talking about getting a slot in the continent.
“The continental experience was something to behold. Nothing beats the experience. Although I’ve been in a continental setup before with Warri Wolves, but it’s with Lobi that I could make an impact. It’s another level of play on its own. I’m so glad for the opportunity and impact that I made. The NPFL is blessed with talents,” he concluded.
Lobi Stars will host Wikki Tourists at the Aper Aku Stadium on Monday, the penultimate Matchday of the regular season, as they look to grab one of the two playoff tickets left in Group A after leaders Rangers secured their place on Wednesday.
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