Rivers United cemented their place at the top of the pile in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after securing a 1-0 win over Rangers International on Sunday. ‎The Pride of Rivers had to dig deep to see off Rangers at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt. ‎In the opening moments, Rivers United winger Aniekeme Okon came close to scoring on 16 minutes but was stopped by goalkeeper George Abine. ‎It was a tight contest into the break until centre-back Boluwaji David Sholumade headed Finidi George’s side in front seven minutes into the second half. ‎Rangers pressed for the equalizer and thought Finidi’s team had been undone when they scored late but referee Moukhtar Bashir ruled it out for an infringement. ‎Sholumade’s goal proved enough to see Rivers United go four points at the top ahead of second-placed Abia Warriors who have 33 points. ‎BIG RESULTS ON THE ROAD ‎Abia Warriors won their fourth match on the road when they stunned Plateau United at the New Jos Stadium 1-0. ‎Taheer Abubakar’s goal on 68 minutes made sure Imama Amapakabo’s team won back-to-back matches on the road and placed them as the side with most away wins so far this season. ‎El-Kanemi Warriors and Katsina United joined Abia Warriors as the teams that won on the road in this matchweek. ‎Sadiq Mohammed’s goal on the stroke of halftime at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa helped El-Kanemi to a 1-0 win over Bayelsa United. ‎Katsina United also won by the odd goal at Kun Khalifat FC through Richard Christopher’s 39th minute goal. ‎KANO PILLARS OUT OF BOTTOM SPOT ‎Kano Pillars were commanding on return to their Sani Abacha Stadium home ground with a 3-0 win against Nasarawa United. ‎Mustapha Umar (23’), Chiedozie Okorie (68′) and Jibrin Mustapha (72′) scored for Sai Masu Gida who finally move out of bottom position in the standings for the first time in 71 days since October 19. ‎DERBY DELIGHT FOR IKORODU CITY ‎Ikorodu City did not only claim the bragging rights in the Southwest Derby against champions Remo Stars but also played themselves into the top-three with a 1-0 win. ‎Odinaka Alfred fired in absolute cracker from 25 yards to beat Remo Stars goalkeeper Kolimba Alladoum five minutes before halftime. The win is City’s first triumph over Remo Stars in the NPFL. ‎Abdulaziz Dalhatu and Rickson Mendos netted in Niger Tornadoes’ 2-0 win over Barau FC at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna. ‎Chinedu Ufere, Edidiong Ezekiel and Chidera Michael scored a goal each as Enyimba overran Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) 3-0 in Aba. The tide of the game would have been different when Enyimba led by a goal but Gbolagade Adelowo missed a spot kick on 51 minutes. ‎Warri Wolves and Wikki Tourists shared the points in a four-goal thriller at the Southern Delta University Stadium in Ozoro. ‎Ezekiel Oroh and Seyi Mayi scored for Wolves while Imamu Bala accounted for Wikki’s two goals. ‎A day earlier, Bendel Insurance saw off Kwara United 2-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City through goals from Emmanuel Akpan (19′) and Kayode Oke (42′). ‎The second round of the NPFL will resume on January 14 while the second transfer window opens on New Year’s Day and runs till January 31.

Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Remo Stars, suffered their 10th defeat of the campaign when they lost at home 3-2 to Bendel Insurance in one of Sunday’s fixtures. ‎‎The titleholders have been off-colour this season and that form came to the fore as Bendel Insurance forged ahead at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta the adopted home of Remo Stars. ‎‎Wisdom Udom handed the Benin Arsenals the lead on 14 minutes before Chinedu Nwosu added a second on 28 minutes leaving the champions on the ropes. ‎‎In the 30th minute, Olalekan Adeleke gave the champions what seemed to be a lifeline as they threw everything at Kennedy Boboye’s side in a bid to get back on level terms. ‎‎The Sky Blue Stars further fell behind when Henry Onyia’s long throw-in was turned into the net for an own goal in the 40th minute as Bendel Insurance restored their two-goal lead to go into the break in the driving seat. ‎Remo Stars revved into action immediately from the second 45 minutes and on 61 minutes, Victor Mbaoma trimmed Bendel Insurance’s lead to one. ‎Boboye’s men switched into game-management mode and did well to keep off the champions and secure a huge win on the road – their second of the season. ‎‎The early kickoff of the festive fixtures also produced five goals between El-Kanemi Warriors and Enyimba with the former winning by the odd goal. ‎El-Kanemi races into a two-goal lead through Daddy Abdulrahman’s spot kick and Jonas Emmanuel on 29 and 37 minutes respectively. ‎Mohammed Hussaini scored two minutes before halftime for Enyimba to make the scoreline respectable. ‎‎Seven after the resumption of the second half, Jonas was on hand to restore El-Kanemi’s two-goal lead before Onyebuchi Nwaorisa came off the bench to score in the 76th minute for the game to end 3-2 on favour of El-Kanemi. ‎Enyimba’s city rivals, Abia Warriors left it late at the Umuahia Township Stadium to edge past Warri Wolves 1-0 in a tight contest. ‎‎Abia Warriors needed a 96th minute penalty scored by Sunday Megwo to see off Wolves and move into third place on the standings. ‎‎Ikorodu City who began the matchweek in third place slipped to fourth after a 2-1 defeat at Rangers International. ‎Godwin Obaje and Chidiebere Nwobodo netted for Rangers on 34 and 75 minutes respectively while Rasheed Owolabi’s goal on 95 minutes turned out to be consolation for City. ‎‎Bottom-placed Kano Pillars out life back into their race for survival with a 2-1 win over Plateau United. Mohammed Baba Ganaru’s side had to come from behind to win with goals from Mustapha Jibrin (45′) and Ahmed Musa (48′) to render Wisdom Ndon’s strike for Plateau United irrelevant. ‎Before the turnaround for Kano Pillars, Rabiu Ali missed a spot kick in the first half that should tied the score after Ndon’s goal. ‎‎Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) moved one place up from seventh to sixth after their 2-1 win over Niger Tornadoes. ‎Gbolagade Adelowo opened scoring from the spot on the stroke of halftime and Promise Awosanmi doubled the lead in the 66th minute before substitute Kufre Ebong got a goal in added time of second half for Tornadoes. ‎‎Two second half goals from Babatunde Bright and Ini Emmanuel proved enough for Kwara United to defeat Bayelsa United 2-0 at the Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin. ‎The match between Wikki Tourists and Kun Khalifat FC produced no goals as both sides shared the points. ‎‎The festive fixtures for Matchday 18 continue on Monday and Tuesday when title contenders, Nasarawa United and Rivers United will be involved. ‎‎League leaders Rivers United play on the road on Monday at Katsina United while Nasarawa United will be at home to Barau FC, two days before Christmas Day.

Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) newcomers Barau FC made a statement on Friday when they smashed title contenders Rivers United 4-1 at their Sani Abacha Stadium home ground in Kano in a rearranged fixture. ‎Rivers United were always favourites to win this fixture judging by their current form or at worst take a point. ‎‎The former champions justified the odds in their favour in the opening moments of the match and deservedly got their noses in front just five minutes into the game through Duke Osimaga. ‎Finidi George’s Rivers United would have been two or three goals up inside 20 minutes but Samson Obi failed to put the ball past Barau FC goalkeeper Yusuf Muhammed and Azeez Falolu watched as his attempt went agonisingly off target by inches. ‎‎THE TURNAROUND ‎‎The tide of the game then changed when Barau FC won a spot kick which was converted by Usman Maidubji on 25 minutes to bring the score even. ‎The confidence of Ladan Bosso’s men grew from thereon as it became a different contest from the opening 20 minutes which Rivers United dominated. ‎On the stroke of halftime, the Maliya Boys turned things around when Jimmy Ambrose put them in front for the first time in the game. ‎EX-STAR RETURNS TO HAUNT RIVERS UTD ‎‎At the start of the second half, Barau FC head coach, Bosso, switched things up and sent on ex-Rivers United striker Kabir Abdullahi and Hillary Ekawu to replace Abdulmajid Aminu and Nana Abraham. ‎The introduction of the former Rivers United proved to be an inspired substitution despite Finidi’s attempt to guide his team into the contest when he made a triple change of bringing on Okon Aniekeme, Babatunde Bello and Isaac Annor 10 minutes into the restart when they were still trailing 2-1. ‎Kabir Abdullahi needed just 18 minutes into his introduction into the game to make an impact. ‎The centre forward netted the first of his two goals on 64 minutes and then followed up with the second 13 minutes later to hand Barau FC and emphatic victory and their biggest win of their season so far. ‎‎The win also lifts Barau FC out of the bottom-four ahead of their Matchday 18 fixture at Nasarawa United on Tuesday. ‎Despite the heavy defeat, Rivers United keep top spot but will rue the missed chance of going five points clear ahead of second-placed Nasarawa United. ‎‎This is the first time Rivers United would ship in four goals in a league game since June 2, 2024 (566 calendar days) when they lost 4-1 at Enyimba. ‎Rivers United will now make the trip to the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium where they will face Katsina United on Monday.

Bendel Insurance and Rangers International played out a 1-1 draw at the Samuel Ogbemudia in Benin City in a Matchday 17 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on Saturday. ‎Coming off back-to-back wins, Bendel Insurance were looking to make it three wins on the spin to ensure they stay far above the drop zone. ‎However, it was visiting Rangers International that had the better moments of the early exchanges. ‎Rangers winger Chimobi Igwilo proved a handful for the defence of the home side with his darting and dribbling runs while at the other end, half chances fell to Kayode Oke, Elmer Arunta and Chinedu Nwosu. ‎The first period ended goalless. ‎The second 45 minutes produced end-to-end display and the breakthrough goal did not come until the 81st minute when Promise Anyanwu put the Benin Arsenals in front. ‎Oke anticipated a flicked pass well and peeled off his marker, leaving him one-on-one with Rangers goalkeeper George Abine who blocked his initial attempt. ‎The Bendel Insurance striker was fortunate as the ball bubbled back onto his feet and he centered it to a better-positioned Anyanwu who simply knocked the ball into an empty net. ‎‎Kennedy Boboye’s side looked like they would run away 1-0 winners and claim a third straight win before Chidozie Iwundu offered a route back into the game for Rangers. ‎In the final moments of added time, Iwundu’s free kick from all of 35 yards was turned into his own net by Henry Onyia and that ensured that Rangers took a point back with them from Benin City. ‎The draw takes Rangers’ total points to 26 and they keep their place in fourth while Bendel Insurance move one place up to 14th on the standings. ‎Matchday 17 continues on Sunday and Monday with nine matches that would involve the top-three Nasarawa United, Rivers United and Ikorodu City.