Shooting Stars put on a great show on Sunday, beating Abia Warriors 4-1 in Ibadan. This win helped Rivers United stay at the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after Matchday 11, which saw 20 goals scored in eight matches.
The team from Ibadan controlled the game at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba. They needed this win, moving up to 10th place with 15 points from 11 matches.
Damilola Akinola kicked things off by scoring in the fourth minute, and Sodiq Ibrahim added another goal in the 41st minute.
Ibrahim scored again just before halftime, making it 3-0. Abia Warriors managed to get one goal back in the 80th minute, giving their fans a glimmer of hope. But Issa Yusuf scored in the 88th minute, sealing the emphatic win for Shooting Stars.
In Kano, Nasarawa United's five-game unbeaten streak ended with a 2-0 loss to Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium. Ibrahim Yahaya put Kano Pillars ahead in the 15th minute, and Fabian Nworie doubled their lead in the 64th minute. This win gave Kano Pillars three points.
As a result, Nasarawa United dropped to fifth place with 17 points, while Kano Pillars moved to fourth with 18 points, making them strong contenders early in the season.
Rivers United remain at the top of the table despite a 1-1 draw with Rangers International. Both teams are now level on 18 points, but Rivers United holds first place due to a better goal difference of 10 compared to Rangers’ five. Rivers have played 11 matches, while Rangers have two games in hand.
Bendel Insurance also reached 18 points after winning 2-1 away against Kwara United. They climbed to third place, with one game in hand over the two leading teams.
In other matches, Enyimba managed a narrow 1-0 win over Kun Khalifat, putting them in 16th place with 11 points. This win brought some relief to the team from Aba.
Plateau United and Warri Wolves ended their match in a 1-1 draw. Katsina United beat Sporting Lagos 2-1, moving them up in the standings.
Inter Lagos and Rangers Bees also drew, leaving both teams near the bottom of the table. Inter Lagos is last with three points due to a three-point and three-goal deduction for breaking rules. Warri Wolves, facing a similar deduction, are in 17th place with 10 points.
The results from Matchday 11 show Rivers United, Rangers International, Bendel Insurance, and Kano Pillars all tied on 18 points, separated only by goal difference. Nasarawa United is next in fifth place with 17 points, followed by Plateau United, Barau FC, Niger Tornadoes, and Katsina United, all with 16 points.
With many matches still to come, the race for the top spot is heating up as the 2026/27 NPFL season continues.
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