CHAN Eagles beat MFM 3-2, lift NPFL Invitational trophy

MFM FC of Lagos yesterday showed glimpses of what their fans should expect at the 2018 CAF Champions League when they put up a gallant fight in the final game of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) Invitation Championship.

At the end they lost 2-3 to CHAN Eagles, but they were just unlucky.

Enthusiastic fans, who had been witnesses to the entertaining football served by six of the biggest teams in the country in the last one-week, as usual filled the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, venue of the championship.

They were made to sit on the edges of their seats, as both teams chose the final game to advertise all the ingredients that have made the NPFL one of the best competitions in in Africa.

Rising star, Anthony Okpotu and Kingsley Eduwo gave the CHAN a 3-0 lead in the early part of the game, but the Olukoya Boys showed the fight in them when they reduced the tally to 3-2 with strikes from Jonathan Zikiye and Chuka Uwaga.

It made for a tense final moments as the Olukoya Boys sought the equaliser, which the national team was not ready to allow.

Sunday Faleye was rewarded for his heroics in the last group game against Enyimba, thus, securing a spot up front with Okpotu who was making his first start in the tourney.

Salisu Yusuf returned to regular suspects with Rabiu Ali, Moses Eneji, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi all returning to the fold but there was no chance for team captain, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, with Theophilus Afelokai in his stead.

Fidelis Ilechukwu stuck with the starting XI that secured the decisive 1-1 draw with hosts, Kano Pillars.