Enugu Rangers are back on top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The defending champions beat Abia Warriors 3-1 in the South-East derby on Sunday. Godwin Obaje scored in the 37th minute. Chisom Nwobodo added the second in the 49th. Austine Daniel sealed it in stoppage time. Chukwuemeka Obioma pulled one back from the penalty spot for Abia Warriors in the 53rd. Rangers now have 16 points from seven matches.
Rangers won the NPFL title in 2024. They are one of Nigeria’s oldest clubs, founded in 1970. They won the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1977. The club has won the domestic league seven times. Last season’s title was their first in decades. They have started this campaign slowly. The win over Abia Warriors lifts them above Rivers United. The league is tight at the top. Consistency will decide the title.
Rivers United remain the only unbeaten side. They beat Ikorodu City 2-0. Sunday Olasupo scored in the 19th minute. Chibuike Ugwueze added the second in first-half stoppage time. Rivers United have conceded just two goals in seven matches. Their goal difference is plus eleven. They have kept five clean sheets. Their defensive record is the best in the league. They sit second on 15 points. They have a game in hand.
Barau FC suffered their first defeat of the season. Bendel Insurance beat them 4-1 in Benin City. Barau had started the campaign unbeaten. They led the table earlier in the season. The heavy loss drops them to fourth on 12 points. Bendel Insurance climb to fifth on the same points. Insurance have scored 13 goals in seven matches. Their attack is potent. Their defence is not.
Enyimba won their second consecutive match. They beat Plateau United 2-0 at home. Ikechukwu Ihemekwele scored in the 29th minute. Raph Ezinna added the second in the 68th. Enyimba began the season with four straight defeats. They were bottom of the table. The two wins lift them to 15th position. The resurgence is real. The club’s boardroom crisis continues. Results on the pitch are improving.
Doma United beat Warri Wolves 1-0. They kept a fourth clean sheet. Doma sit third on 13 points. Kwara United beat Ranchers Bees 2-1. Niger Tornadoes beat Kun Khalifat 1-0. Inter Lagos drew 1-1 with Katsina United. Shooting Stars drew 0-0 with Nasarawa United. Kano Pillars drew 1-1 with Sporting Lagos.
Zilkifilu Rabiu of Ranchers Bees leads the scoring charts with five goals. Chukwuemeka Obioma of Abia Warriors has four. Alex Oweilayefa of Bendel Insurance has three. Bendel Insurance and Rivers United average 1.9 goals per match. Rivers United concede 0.3 goals per match. Doma United have four clean sheets. Red cards were issued to Abraham Idakwo of Sporting Lagos, Ahmed Kabeer Yallilo of Katsina United and Emmanuel Ayuba Yikat of Kwara United.
Winners: Enugu Rangers, who reclaim top spot. Rivers United, who stay unbeaten. Bendel Insurance, who end Barau’s run. Enyimba, who climb off the bottom. Doma United, who keep another clean sheet. Zilkifilu Rabiu, who leads the scoring charts. Losers: Barau FC, who suffer their first defeat. Abia Warriors, who lose the derby. Plateau United, who lose to Enyimba. Kun Khalifat, who remain in the relegation zone. Inter Lagos, who stay 19th. Warri Wolves, who lose again.
Bottom Line: Rangers lead the league. Rivers United lead the defence. Barau have finally lost. Enyimba have finally won. Seven matches in, the table is settling. The title race is between Rangers and Rivers United. The relegation battle is between Kun Khalifat and Inter Lagos. The season is long. Nothing is decided.