Enyimba Football Club are the club champions of Nigeria for a record ninth time after the People’s Elephant did just enough on Sunday to finish with their noses in front of close competitors Rivers United and Remo Stars and win the Nigeria Premier Football League’s Super 6 Playoff. The club from Aba played Rivers United to a 1-1 draw in the final round, leaving both sides and Remo Stars level on nine points with Enyimba ahead by virtue of a superior goal difference. Enyimba and second placed Remo Stars will represent Nigeria in next season’s CAF Champions League while third placed Rivers will participate in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Ekene Awazie scored the all important goal for Enyimba towards the end of the first half when the Rivers United defense failed to clear their lines and Awazie capitalized to finish from a cross. Rivers equalized in the early stages of the second half but could not find the goal they needed to overtake Enyimba with a victory. Enyimba coach Finidi George and his players celebrated their achievement once the full time whistle sounded.
Earlier in the day, Remo Stars defeated Bendel Insurance 1-0 with a first half goal from Qudus Akanni but it was not enough for the club from Ogun State to win the goal difference tiebreaker and sneak into first place. In the opening match of the day, Sunshine Stars won by a 3-1 score over Lobi Stars in a battle between teams who were winless heading into the duel.
Highlights from all three matches on Sunday as well as the trophy presentation to Enyimba are below.
Scores
Sunshine Stars 3-1 Lobi Stars
Remo Stars 1-0 Bendel Insurance
Enyimba 1-1 Rivers United
Super 6 Final Table
Highlights
Enyimba 1-1 Rivers United
Enyimba are presented with the trophy
Remo Stars 1-0 Bendel Insurance