Three players in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) are chasing the goal king award to be given to the highest goal poacher. The Golden Boot award this season is very competitive after former Kano Pillars star, Ahmed Musa beat Eugene Salami to score 18 goals and erase the previous 17-goal mark.
With just three rounds of matches to the end of the 2010/2011 season, three players are gunning to either equal Musa’s record or set a new all-time record in the NPL.
It is the first time in the history of the Nigerian league that three players are neck-and-neck in the race to win the highest goal scorer award.
All three players have reached the 17-goal mark.
They are Kaduna United’s Jude Aneke, Sunshine Stars’ Ibrahim Ajani and Plateau United’s George Akpabio.
Aneke hit his 17th goal of the season in the 4-1 defeat at Enyimba last Thursday to send warning signals to his closest rivals even though he failed to score during their clash against Enugu Rangers.
Ajani scored his 17th goal with a beautiful header in the top-of-the-table clash at home against Dolphins, while Akpabio’s brilliant hat-trick took his tally to 17 goals from 14 scored back in July, 2010.
Last season witnessed a fierce rivalry between former Niger Tornadoes’ forward, Salami and former Kano Pillars wing star, Musa. Both players were exceptional in the race to erase all-time record set by former Iwuanyanwu Nationale goal king, Ishaya Jatau.?
At the end of the season, Musa eventually edged Salami to reach the 18-goal mark and set a new all-time record.
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