Rangers International are still top of the NPFL after a 2-2 draw with Barau FC in Kano on Sunday, rescued by Chidiebere Nwobodo in stoppage time. Near the foot of the table, Enyimba are in trouble after a 4-2 defeat at Katsina United left the nine-time champions on seven points from eight matches.
Matchday 8 did not change the order at the summit, but it tightened it.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Katsina United vs Enyimba | 4-2 |
| Barau FC vs Rangers | 2-2 |
| Abia Warriors vs Rivers United | 0-0 |
| Plateau United vs Kano Pillars | 4-0 |
| Sporting Lagos vs Bendel Insurance | 2-1 |
| Top three | Rangers 17, Rivers United 16, Plateau United 14 |
| Enyimba | 19th, 7 points |
Rangers survive the spot kicks
Ifeanyi Okechukwu put the Flying Antelopes ahead in the 38th minute. After the break the game turned on two decisions at the other end. Barau were awarded two penalties.
Joseph Atule converted the first on 56 minutes. Aliyu Sugau scored the second on 68, as the league's official report and Premium Times both recorded.
Nwobodo then struck deep into added time.
The point keeps Rangers on 17 points from eight games, with five wins, two draws and a single defeat on the official NPFL table, a record that is far from dominant but still leaves the defending champions one point clear of the chasing pack eight games into the campaign. Rivers United are next. Their goalless draw with Abia Warriors left Finidi George's side on 16 points and still unbeaten after eight matches, the only team in the division without a loss.
Plateau United produced the result of the round. Paul Samson scored in the third minute at the New Jos Stadium, Ekundayo Ojo added a second before the break, and Samuel Ayanrinde and Nenrot Silas, from the spot, completed a 4-0 win over Kano Pillars that lifted Plateau to third on 14 points. It was the first league defeat of the season for Pillars, who sit 10th.
Plateau's technical adviser, Ogunbote, refused to get carried away. “The league is a marathon. We won't allow it to get into our heads,” he told Complete Sports.
Enyimba's slide gets worse
Enyimba travelled to Katsina on the back of a three-match unbeaten run under technical adviser Emmanuel Deutsch. They were two down inside 12 minutes. Emeka Onyema turned the ball into his own net on six minutes. Mubarak Sani added the second, and Luis Dadong made it 3-0 an hour in.
Chidera Michael and Charles Egbe dragged the People's Elephant back to 3-2. Umar Rabiu killed the comeback on 80 minutes.
It was a fifth defeat in eight league games for the Aba club.
They are 19th on the official table, with only Inter Lagos, who were docked three points, below them. Assistant coach Lawrence Ukaegbu pointed to the schedule, telling Complete Sports that “what caused all these problems are fatigue and no training” after the squad had not trained since the Tuesday before the trip.
That is a startling place to find a club that held the NPFL record on its own until Rangers won their ninth title in May. The two clubs now share it.
Ten points.
That is the gap between them on the pitch this season, a reversal that will sharpen the next Oriental derby whenever it comes around.
What comes next
Matchday 9 is due on 17 and 18 October. Rangers meet Bendel Insurance on the Sunday. Bendel arrive on the back of a 2-1 defeat by Sporting Lagos at Onikan, where Kayode Oke scored for the visitors inside 18 seconds before Victor Samuel and Gafar Olaniyan turned the game around within eight minutes.
For a full guide to the 20 clubs and their grounds, see our NPFL clubs and stadiums page.
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