NPFL Round Up: Rivers, El Kanemi Remain Unbeaten; Enyimba, Heartland Win; Remo, Ikorodu City suffer defeats
There was no victor and no vanquished at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Sunday as the two unbeaten sides in the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League Rivers United and El Kanemi Warriors played a stalemate to remain undefeated after nine matches,
Despite having Gimba Ajiji sent off in the closing stage of the first half, El Kanemi Warriors stood their ground to hold the league leaders to a 1-1 draw to earn a valuable point which helped preserve the unbeaten streak.
Sama’ila Bello put the visitors in front in the 31st minute before Taofeek Olaniyi restored parity just two minutes later.
Ajiji was sent off for a second bookable offence five minutes into the additional time in the first 45 minutes as both sides headed into the dressing room with the score levelled.
Despite having the numerical advantage over the visitors, Rivers were unable to find the second goal with El Kanemi happy to walk away with a point.
In spite of the draw, Rivers remained top of the table with 21 points, three points more than Remo Stars who suffered their third defeat of the season in Owerri.
Emmanuel Amuneke led his side Heartland to a famous 1-0 victory over the Sky Blue Stars.
Peter Afolayan scored in the 71st minute to help the Naze Millionaires claim their second win of the season and temporarily move out of the relegation zone.
Heartland currently sit in 16th position with nine points, the same points as Bayelsa United who are away to Lobi Stars on Monday (today).
NPFL leading scorer Anas Yusuf once again found the back of the net with his ninth goal of the season giving Nasarawa United the win over Kano Pillars to move the Lafia boys to eighth.
It was a match-winner to celebrate his call-up to the CHAN Eagles camp in Abuja.
The forward grabbed the only goal of the encounter just five minutes before the end of the first half and that was all that separated both sides.
Shooting Stars continued their newly found form at home this season, with a 2-1 win over 19th-placed Akwa United.
This is the first home game where the Oluyole Warriors have scored more than one goal this season.
Ikorodu City were on course to claim a point in Aba against Enyimba, but the People’s Elephants claimed the win in the 90th minute from Moses Adukwu
The result keeps Enyimba in third place with 17 points, four points behind leaders Rivers.
Plateau United ran riot against Kennedy Boboye’s Sunshine Stars, grabbing a 3-0 goal win, courtesy of a Sadiq Abubakar brace, and a penalty from Vincent Temitope.