Football
Dami Ugbane, Special to ESPN 6y

NPFL: Home teams dominant on matchday 13

It was a perfect weekend for all five home teams in the Nigeria Professional Football League, as the quintet enjoyed a clean sweep of victories.

Nasarawa United completed a first-half turn around to earn a vital 2-1 home win against Lobi Stars in the North Central Derby in Lafia, a result which hands them some brief relegation respite.

Austine Ogunye got Lobi off to the perfect start, converting a fifth-minute spot kick, but two goals within 12 minutes from Najeem Olukokun and Ikechukwu Nwani completed the Nasarawa United comeback.

Anthony Okpotu was also dismissed for Stars, who could be overhauled by Kano Pillars when they play on Monday night.

Bala Yahuza and Sikiru Alimi netted in each half to earn Sunshine Stars a 2-1 win against Yobe Desert Stars. Defeat, a fifth away from home for the visitors this term, had little effect on their league position as they remain fourth.

Babatunde Solomon handed Yobe a shock 17th-minute lead, before Yahuza levelled from the spot in the 29th minute.

Alimi netted the winning goal just after the hour mark to seal a first win in three games for Sunshine Stars who moved three spots out of the dropzone.

Abia Warriors overcame an early penalty miss to earn a vital 2-0 home win against Wikki Tourists. Ndifreke Effiong fired over the bar from the spot in the sixth minute, but Samson Obi netted a second-half brace, combining on both occasions with Emeka Isaac.

The win lifted the Warriors into sixth, a point off the top four, while Wikki are only a point above the dropzone.

Also at the wrong end of the table, El-Kanemi Warriors moved out of the bottom four thanks to Ocheme Edoh's winner, which sealed a 1-0 victory against FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

Finally, Lukman Mohammed's third-minute penalty secured maximum points for Katsina United at home to 10-man Heartland, who have lost their last three.

Abiodun Joseph was shown a second yellow card in the 50th minute for dissent, compounding Heartland's problem on the day, as they remain two points from bottom spot.

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