Azeez Ajagbe and Leonard Ugochukwu were on the score sheet as Sunshine Stars ended a five-game winless streak with a 2-0 victory over Katsina United at the Akure Township Stadium on Saturday.

It was a result many thought would be celebrated by the club but the Akure Club’s Coach Emmanuel Deutsch was not in any such mood for celebrations, insisting the placing of the club at the end of the season will determine the mood.

Deutsch did cut a relieved figure at full time was quick to dedicate the win to fans of the club.

“The victory is for Sunshine Stars fans. Everyone had been waiting for it and I am glad we have found the nets again. I am not happy yet, at least not until the end of the season when I know where the team finished,” Deutsch told www.npfl.ng.

“We are now scoring goals. I hope we continue this way. In the past few days, I saw strong connection and support from the fans. I really hope we can continue this way,” he concluded.

The Owena Whales went into the game under some pressure having failed to win a game since April, and the run looked set to continue following a goalless result at half time of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) MatchDay 30 fixture.

However, Ajagbe lashed on a loose ball to give Sunshine Stars a 58th-minute lead before Ugochukwu was brought down in the box, and the former Heartland FC attacker stepped up to convert the resulting penalty kick in the 85th minute.

The goals ended Sunshine Stars’ run of five matches without scoring a goal. The victory was also the first for the Owena Whales in their last seven matches against Katsina United.

MATCH STATS

Sunshine Stars XI

23. Japhet Opubo, 4. Habeeb Yakub, 5. John Bello, 11. Leonard Ugochukwu (Adebari 87′), 13. Ike Brandon (Kehinde 87′), 17. Azeez Ajagbe, 18. Ikenna Cooper (Awosanmi 55′), 28. Anthony Anioke, 30. Ebonam Nwogbaga, 33. Mutiu Dauda, 35. Vincent Temitope (Olalusi 55′) 

SUBS

22. Olufefemi Kayode, 3. Chigozie Chilekwu, 6. Chinedu Ozor, 10. Sunday Abe, 12. Kehinde Adeyemi, 26. Michael Olalusi, 29. Kamoru Adebari, 36. Joshua Erukusin, 38. Promise Awosanmi 

GOAL: Azeez Ajagbe 58′, Leonard Ugochukwu (PK) 85′

YELLOW CARD: Vincent Temitope 12′, Habib Yakub 36′

Katsina United XI

Nwabali Stanley 12, Franck C Kappe 22, Nasiru Sani 3, Usman Baru’u 4, Egbe Manyo 23, Gerome Heutchoukulong 2, Mustapha Salisu 16, Matthew Emmanuel 14 (Omoyele 66′), Ahmed Abdoul’taofeek 9 (Anayo 90′), Boubakar Talatou 27, Adebayo Waheed 32 (Madaki 88′)

SUBS

Elkana Godgift 1, Nafiu Ibrahim 24, Madaki Dauda 18, Aliyu Musa 35, Anayor Emanuel 17, Omaka Chukwudi 25, Tosin Omoyele 11, Hassan Abubakar 6, Amah Chibundu

GOAL: NIL

YELLOW CARD: Boubakar Talatou 36′, Stanley Nwabali 79′

  Azeez Ajagbe, Coach Emmanuel Deutsch, Katsina United, NPFL, NPFL22, Sunshine Stars, Ugochukwu Leonard