Rivers United and Enugu Rangers played out a 1-1 draw on Sunday. The result kept Rivers United top of the Nigeria Premier Football League on goal difference. Four clubs now sit on 18 points. Bendel Insurance beat Kwara United 2-1 away. Kano Pillars defeated Nasarawa United 2-0. Rangers have a game in hand.
Rivers United have never won the NPFL. They finished second in 2022. Enugu Rangers won the title last season. Bendel Insurance won the Federation Cup in 2023. Kano Pillars are four-time champions. The last time four clubs were level on points at this stage was in 2019. That season, the title was decided on the final day.
Rivers United took the lead through a first-half goal. Rangers equalised after the break. Both sides had chances to win. The draw was fair. Shooting Stars produced the weekend’s biggest scoreline, thrashing Abia Warriors 4-1 in Ibadan. Enyimba beat Kun Khalifat 1-0 to climb further from the relegation zone. Katsina United edged Sporting Lagos 2-1. Plateau United drew 1-1 with Warri Wolves. Doma United and Ikorodu City shared four goals.
At the bottom, Inter Lagos remain rooted with three points after a three-point deduction. Ranchers Bees are 19th on nine points. Abia Warriors are 18th on ten. The gap is widening.
The golden boot race is tight. Kayode Oke Solomon of Bendel Insurance, Zilkifilu Rabiu of Ranchers Bees and Chukwuemeka Obioma of Abia Warriors all have five goals.
Winners: Shooting Stars, who produced the round’s most emphatic win. Bendel Insurance, who kept pace at the top. Kano Pillars, who stayed in the title mix. Enyimba, who continued their recovery. The title race, which gained drama. Losers: Abia Warriors, who were thrashed. Sporting Lagos, who lost away. Nasarawa United, who were beaten. Kwara United, who lost at home. Inter Lagos, who remain bottom. The chasing pack, which is being cut adrift.
Bottom Line: Four clubs level on 18 points. Rangers have a game in hand. The title race is the tightest in years. Shooting Stars showed what they can do. Enyimba are climbing. The NPFL is delivering. The next matchday could change everything.