Udoh plays way into The Predictor's XI
|
|
The Enyimba captain and attacking winger scored twice as his team edged Nasarawa United 2-1 to stay within touching distance of early pacesetters in the Nigerian top division this season.
Udoh scored one from the spot and then got his second of Sunday's game from an assist from Ugochukwu Leonard for his first goal in open play in the league in 14 months. His performance in the game deservedly got him one of the two positions in my two-man attack.
MFM youngster Adebayo Waheed squeezed his way into my 3-5-2 despite playing only for 30 minutes in his club's 1-0 win over four-time champions Kano Pillars.
Waheed needed just six minutes to make an impact after
coming off the bench to feature in a very physical game. The 18-year-old took the risk of throwing himself into Stanley Okorom's cross to head past David Obiazo and afterwards his pace off the ball made the Pillars defence work and he slots in beside Udoh in my attack.
In my five-man midfield are not the usual big names in the NPFL. Lukas Yahaya, Oche Salefu, Chigozirim Metu, Richard Jonathan and Tasiu Lawal were in my book the best midfielders of Matchday 5.
Metu of ABS simply ran 3SC ragged in their 2-0 win while Salefu produced a superb performance for Remo Stars as they defeated El-Kanemi Warriors two-nil and he capped his day with a well-taken direct free kick.
Yahaya sat in front of Niger Tornadoes defence by providing the perfect screen that foiled some of Rangers' brilliant attacking moves. No wonder Tornadoes, who many consider as poor travellers in the NPFL, stunned the champions by getting a point off them in a 1-1 draw.
FC Ifeanyiubah just could not cope with the pacy Jonathan who helped Wikki Tourists to a 3-1 win which looks flattering to the eye considering the huge spendings of their opponents in assembling their playing personnel.
Jonathan simply did the damage on FC Ifeanyiubah by scoring twice in the first half and then turned provider for Mohammed Idris Guda to score his team's third goal.
Akwa United goalkeeper Olufemi Kayode is my last man in defence for his massive contribution in his club, earning their first away point of the campaign in a 1-1 draw at Katsina United.
Tornadoes left-back Hussaini Isah also claims a spot in my team of the matchday for his marking and tackling skills in the game at Rangers, just as Lobi Stars captain Anthony Agbaji proved massive in the heart of defence in the 0-0 draw at Rivers United.
MFM right-back Okorom completes my team for not just foiling the attacks of Kano Pillars but also bombing forward when on the offence and then provided that telling cross for Waheed to score.
THE PREDICTOR'S TEAM OF MATCHDAY 5
Goalkeeper: Olufemi Kayode (Akwa United)
Defenders: Hussaini Isah (Niger Tornadoes), Stanley Okorom (MFM FC), Anthony Agbaji (Lobi Stars)
Midfielders: Oche Salefu (Remo Stars), Lukas Yahaya (Niger Tornadoes), Chigozirim Metu (ABS FC), Richard Jonathan (Wikki Tourists), Tasiu Lawal (Katsina United)
Forwards: Mfon Udoh (Enyimba), Adebayo Waheed (MFM FC)
No comments: