Duo makes Team of the Week again

Emmanuel Omodiagbe and Abdulwasiu Showemimo of Warri Wolves and Kano Pillars have once again found themselves places in the Team of the Week after Matchday Three of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL).

Omodiagbe had earlier been named in the Team of the Week for Week 1 while Kano Pillars’ centre-back, Showemimo, is in the team for the second consecutive week.

Others in this week’s team include goalkeeper Fidelis Eze (Juth FC), Mackson Ojobo (Enyimba), Festus Iyoma (3SC), Henry Ubom (Bukola Babes), Isiaka Olawale (Kwara Utd), Uche Nwofor (Rangers), Ehiosun Ekigho (Warri Wolves), Fred Okwara (Rangers), Akombo Ukeyima (Sunshine Stars) and coach Gbenga Ogunbote of Sunshine Stars.

The NPL panel said it had to consider a 4-3-3 formation rather than the 4-4-2 it began with after three players scored two goals each over the weekend.

Ekigho, Nwofor and Okwara all scored two goals each for their clubs and thereby forced their ways into the Team of the Week for Week 3.

At the other end, newcomers, Jos University Teaching Hospital (Juth) Football Club, are one of six unbeaten sides in the elite division, and this is thanks to the excellent goalkeeping by Eze.

At the weekend, Eze kept Juth’s unbeaten start to the season intact by foiling the attacking forays of Niger Tornadoes including a first half penalty from Adamu Baba Sule’s attempt at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna.

Ubom appears to be the surprise mention in this week’s team named by the Premier League after his side, Bukola Babes, went down 0 – 2 at Shooting Stars last Saturday.

For the first time this season, the champions, Enyimba, had a player, Mackson Ojobo, named in the Team of the Week after he edged Juth’s Danjuma Ibrahim for the right-back position.

Apart from Rangers, which have two players in this week’s team, Sunshine Stars’ duo of striker Akombo and coach Ogunbote made the cut after masterminding the only away win of Week 3 at Plateau United.

NPL Week 3 Team of the Week

GK: Fidelis Eze (Juth FC)

RB: Mackson Ojobo (Enyimba)

LB: Festus Iyoma (3SC)

CB: Henry Ubom (Bukola Babes)

CB: Wasiu Sowemimo (Kano Pillars)

DM: Emmanuel Omodiagbe (Warri Wolves)

LM: Isiaka Olawale (Kwara Utd)

RM: Uche Nwofor (Rangers)

CF: Ehiosun Ekigho (Warri Wolves)

LF: Fred Okwara (Rangers)

RF: Akombo Ukeyima (Sunshine Stars)

Coach: Gbenga Ogunbote (Sunshine Stars)