NPFL Review: Rivers United emerge as new league Leaders

The Pride of RIvers cruised past helpless Heartland FC on Monday, While Remo Stars and Rangers settled for a goalless draw in Nnewi. There were wins for Wikki Tourists, Shooting Stars and Gombe United as well.

Dakkada also left the Okigwe Stadium with a point for a second successive season, while in-form forward Rafiu Ishaq scored again. 

Wikki Tourists edged Plateau United 2-1 in the keenly contested Northern derby in Bauchi. The visitors went into the lead through Salisu Adamu’s own goal but the lead was not for long as Fuad Ekelojuoti leveled for Kabiru Dogo’s men two minutes later.

It remained leveled till the break and after the interval, Anas Yusuf scored a wonderful goal to hand the Elephants all three points. 

The result leave the visitors without a win on their travels, while Wikki move up to 6th on the log.

Enyimba were punished by former player Chukwuka Onuwa as Lobi Stars ran out winners courtesy the midfielder’s late goal.

It was a cagey affair for large periods of the game before the former MFM man was introduced into the game. After a goalless affair in the first half, it was the diminutive midfielder who fired home from inside the area in the final ten minutes to inflict another loss on Finidi George’s side.

Champions Akwa United and Sunshine Stars played out a goalless draw at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. Despite the pre-match statistics backing a goalfest, the two sides failed to find their scoring range as the game surprisingly ended without a goal.

The visitors came close to opening the scoring several times, but goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka kept his side in the game with the Promise Keepers failing to create enough in the final third. 

The result left Kennedy Boboye’s men ninth, while Sunshine Stars are behind them by just a point.

The much talked about top-of-the-table clash between Enugu Rangers and Remo Stars ended goalless in Nnewi.

Remo Stars came into the fixture with an unbeaten record and did their best to extend the feat despite the absence of talisman Dayo Ojo in the midfield. 

In Kaduna, Yusuf Maigoro’s goal gave Kano Pillars a narrow win over MFM, while Nasarawa United also edged Katsina United by a solitary goal. Shammasu Mohammed came off the bench to score the late winner in Lafia. 

Dakkada left Okigwe Stadium with a point after playing out a 1-1 draw with Abia Warriors. Yusuf Yusuf’s opener for the visitors was canceled out by Godwin Obaje’s penalty.

Rafiu Ishaq, Chijioke Akuneto and Morice Chukwu all scored for Rivers United, while Chukwudi Nwaodu scored for Heartland in their league meeting on Monday. Elsewhere, Yusuf Abdulazeez’s early strike gave the Savannah Scorpions their second win of the campaign. 

Substitutes Ebenezer Odeyemi and Ayo Adejubu inspired Shooting Stars to a comeback 2-1 win over Kwara United on Wednesday after Alao Danbani had put the visitors in front at the hour mark.

Kano Pillars 1-0 MFM

Akwa United 0-0 Sunshine Stars

Abia Warriors 1-1 Dakkada

Lobi Stars 1-0 Enyimba

Nasarawa United 1-0 Katsina United

Wikki Tourists 2-1 Plateau United

Gombe United 1-0 Niger Tornadoes

Rivers United 3-1 Heartland

Shooting Stars 2-1 Kwara United

Enugu Rangers 0-0 Remo Stars