Violence, attacks mar NPFL week 18 games

.Injured coach
Effiong

.Kano Pillars, Katsina Utd fans on rampage 

By Taofeek Babalola

It was ugly scenes across venues of the Match-day 18 in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) as some home fans threw away sportmanship behaviours to attack visiting teams.

.Broken Enyimba FC bus

In Kano, Kano Pillars disappointed their fans when they went down to a shock 1-0 home defeat to Akwa United at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

Sportinglens.blogspot.com gathered that the angry home fans invaded the pitch and threw object at the center referee and the visiting team. The quick intervention of the men of the Nigeria Police force prevented the situation from getting worse.

.Injured Akwa United
player

Akwa United assistant coach Effiong (MON) was battered while defenders Ofem Inah and Kodjo Dadzie were seriously beaten up by Pillars fans.

“Match officials were sprawling on the ground and another had head injury. He had to run into the Red Cross Ambulance after being hit by a missle from the stand,” eye witness account reported.

The chairman of Akwa United Paul Bassey said: “Kudos to the Police. Though we are still held captive in the dressing room, outside is tear gas all the way.”

“We are driving out of the stadium now but fans are still unleashing stones on our bus,” Akwa United twitted later on.

.Broken Enyimba bus

In Katsina, despite Katsina United 2-1 home win over Enyimba FC, the home fans still attacked officials of Enyimba FC after the match. Their bus was pelted with sharp objects. The bus was badly damaged as all side window glasses were broken.

“Congratulations to @fckatsinaunited on the victory, but football should be about sportsmanship,” Enyimba FC twitted.

.Injured Enyimba FC
players

In Bauchi, late drama was witnessed when the match was put on hold for few minutes as the security men fired tear gas to disperse troubling crowd at the 90th minute but Wikki Tourists sealed 3-1 victory after nine minutes of added time.

However, fans of Enugu Rangers did not spare their coach Imama Amapakabo after the team’s shocking 2-2 draw with Zesco United in the CAF Confederation Cup first leg play off played that the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Sunday.

It was gathered that the fans attacked Imama immediately after the final whistle but he was saved by the police at the stadium.

Sportinlens.blogspot.com reports that Imama has been asked to step aside.