Naija Super 8: Lobi Stars, Akwa United qualify for Semi-finals as Rivers and Yobe say goodbye

Joseph Atule proved to be the difference as his brace sent Lobi Stars to the Semi-Finals of the Naija Super 8 tournament.

The Naija Super 8 tournament already has two semi-finalists after the encounter between Lobi Stars and Akwa United, Soccernet.ng reports.

Joseph Atule, Lobi’s star attacker, proved to be the difference maker as he sent them top of the group with a brace. His first goal came in the fifteenth minute after a delightful cross from Waheed Adebayo found Atule unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box, and the 22-year-old wasted no time, as he chested the ball into the back of the net to give Lobi the lead.

The winger added a second not long after as Akwa United’s defenders couldn’t deal with his electric pace. In the twenty-seventh minute, a misunderstanding amongst the Akwa defenders freed the ball to Okoromi David who sent Atule through on goal and he slot the ball past the goalkeeper to double his tally in just under half an hour.

Akwa’s goalkeeper, Gift Elkanah, made sure he kept the scoreline the same in the second half as Okoromi David and Atule stung his palms with goal efforts, and had it not been for him, it could have been a more embarrassing scoreline for the Anambra natives.

Rivers United also won their game against Yobe Desert Stars, but it proved to be too little, too late, as qualification was already confirmed from the first fixture of the day. With Akwa and Lobi Stars confirmed as Semi-Finalists, they will join the top two teams from Group A in the semi-finals.

Katsina United take on Sporting Lagos at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, a game which will determine the semi-finalists from the group. Whoever wins, goes through, and whoever loses, bows out, but a draw sees both teams qualify.