NNL SUPER 8 PLAYOFF: Niger Tornadoes are champions

.Ikon Allah, 3SC, Gombe Utd, Remo Stars back in NPFL  

By Taofeek Babalola

Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna have emerged champions of the 2020/2021 Nigeria National League Season after beating Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan 3-2 in the final to lift trophy at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Sunday, Sportinglens.blogspot.com reports. 

The final game, which was earlier fixed for 3pm on Sunday but played at 10 am, was between the winners of the Northern Conference (Group A) and Southern Conference (Group B).

Tornadoes emerged the Group A winner with five points while 3SC topped the Group B table with seven points.   

Shamsudeen Hashim shot Tornadoes into the lead in the nine minutes of play but Gafar Olafimihan leveled scores for 3SC seven minutes later from the spot to end the first half 1-1.

Tornadoes dominated play in the second half and scored two beautiful goals in the 58 and 64 minutes through Ahmadu Liman and Augustine Bafan respectively to crown their efforts.  Shooting Stars reduced the tally with their second goal through Wale Quadry in the 87 minutes but his goal was not enough to stop Oluyole Warriors from defeat.

Meanwhile, the rescheduled match day 3 Group B fixture between Remo Stars and Bendel Insurance FC of Benin ended in a 2-2 draw.

With the draw, Remo Stars have now returned to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for the third time, picking up the last tickets in the playoffs to join Niger Tornadoes, Gombe United and Shooting Stars.