Sunshine Stars on Saturday beat Kwara United 4-2 in Ikenne to temporarily swim out of the relegation zone of the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The win has pulled the team up to the 16th position, just a step above the sink line.
But their position at match day 27 will only be confirmed after Sunday’s matches.
Matches that are likely to affect Sunshine Stars’ standing are those of Abia Warriors versus Nasarawa United, Bayelsa United versus Bendel Insurance and the encounter between Akwa United and Katsina United.
The three-match ultimatum issued to the technical crew of Sunshine Stars seemed to have galvanised the troubled side into action.
Before now, they have been having a poor run in the final leg of the league in which they garnered just seven points out of the obtainable 21.
On Saturday, they sprang into action and got the opening goal in the 11th minute through Ahmadu Liman. He was the hero of the day, scoring a hattrick.
But 11 minutes after Liman’s opener, Kwara United drew level through Adesina Gata. In the 27th minute, Kwara United went ahead through Wasiu Alalade.
Sunshine Stars were gifted a goal by Kwara United’s Olaniyi Saheed. A minute into added time, Liman put Sunshine ahead at 3-2, before completing his hat-trick three minutes after the second half resumed.
According to Opta Nigeria, Liman’s hattrick for Sunshine Stars is the earliest hattrick scored in the NPFL since Yusuf Abdullahi scored for Kano Pillars (33′ vs Gombe Utd) in December 2023. Rejuvenated.
Sunday’s Fixtures
- Kano Pillars v Enugu Rangers
- Abia Warriors v Nasarawa United
- Remo Stars v Plateau United
- Bayelsa United v Bendel United
- Ikorodu City v Heartland
- El Kanemi Warriors v Lobi Stars
- Niger Tornadoes v Enyimba
- Shooting Stars v Rivers United
- Akwa United v Katsina United
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