Title race tightens as OMNI BSIC stun UMB in Bankers Football League thriller
The Bankers Football League witnessed a significant shift in its title race following a dramatic Week 9 of fixtures played across two venues in Accra.
The league table has been tightened at the top, with GCB maintaining their lead but feeling the hot breath of their rivals after a series of unexpected results.
The action at McDan Park produced a mix of tight contests and surprise outcomes. The clash between CBG and BOG ended in a 1 - 1 stalemate, a result that did little to boost either side's ambitions.
In a similarly cagey affair, ABSA and UMB cancelled each other out in a 0 - 0 draw. GCB, however, secured a vital 1 - 0 victory over Zenith Bank, a win that proved crucial for their standing.
The match of the day at McDan Park was arguably the thrilling 2 - 2 draw between S.G and OMNI BSIC, a game that showcased attacking intent from both sides.
Elsewhere, ECOBANK and CBG played out another goalless draw, while ACCESS Bank fell to a 2 - 0 defeat against a resurgent GCB side. BOG managed to bounce back from their earlier draw to secure a 2 - 1 win over Zenith Bank, but UMB suffered a setback, losing 1 - 2 to a strong OMNI BSIC outfit. FirstBank then delivered a statement performance, thrashing S.G 3 - 0, before ECOBANK edged out ACCESS Bank with a narrow 1 - 0 victory.
Over at St. Thomas Aquinas Park, the narrative was one of defence and decisive moments. UBA’s struggles continued as they fell to a 0 - 1 defeat against a confident FirstBank. GTCO and CAL BANK battled to a 0 - 0 draw, a result mirrored exactly in the stalemate between STANBIC BANK and REPUBLIC BANK. GTCO’s search for a win continued as they were held to another 0 - 0 draw, this time by NIB. UBA's miserable week was compounded by a 1 - 2 loss to STANBIC BANK, while NIB capped off a successful outing with a commanding 2 - 0 win over REPUBLIC BANK.
These results have major implications for the league standings. CCB remains first with 25 points, but their lead is now just two points over UMB, who sit second on 23 points despite their loss.
NIB’s strong showing, including two clean sheets, sees them third on 20 points with a game in hand and a formidable goal difference of +15. The most notable mover is OMNI BSIC, whose four-point haul from the week pushes them into fourth place on 19 points, level with ABSA and STANBIC BANK. At the other end of the table, the woes deepen for UBA, who remain rooted to the bottom with just two points from ten matches.
