NPFL: Rivers United consolidate top spot to emerge half-way champs

Rivers United surged four points clear at the summit of the Nigeria Premier Football League after edging Rangers International 1-0 on Matchday 19 to emerge as halfway champions.

Boluwaji Sholumade struck the decisive goal in the 53rd minute to lift the Pride of Rivers to 37 points at the end of the first stanza.

Abia Warriors remain closest challengers in second place with 33 points following a hard-earned 1-0 away victory over Plateau United in Jos. Taheer Abubakar’s 68^th -minute strike sealed the win for the Umuchineke Boys, while Plateau United’s struggles deepened, leaving them 19th with 19 points.

The defeat sparked protests from Plateau United supporters, who voiced their displeasure during the game, calling for the dismissal of head coach Shola Adegun and a complete overhaul of the club’s management due to poor results.

Away from the title race, Katsina United and El Kanemi Warriors both celebrated their first away victories of the season. Katsina United stunned Kun Khalifat 1-0 in Owerri thanks to a first-half goal from Richard Christopher, a result that propelled the Chanji Boys to 10^th  place with 26 points.

El Kanemi Warriors also impressed on the road, claiming a 1-0 win over Bayelsa United in Yenagoa through Sadiq Mohammed’s 45^th -minute strike. The victory lifted the Borno Army out of the relegation zone into 11^th  place with 25 points and marked their first back-to-back wins of the campaign.

Elsewhere, former leaders Nasarawa United suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Kano Pillars in Kano, with goals from Mustapha Umar, Chiedozie Okorie and Jibrin Mustapha. The loss dropped the Solid Miners to fourth place on 32 points, while Pillars climbed out of the bottom three. Ikorodu City also claimed a notable 1-0 win over defending champions Remo Stars in Lagos, as Enyimba thrashed Shooting Stars 3-0 in Aba to round off a dramatic end to the NPFL’s first half.

NPFL Matchday 19 Results

Bayelsa United 0-1 El-Kanemi Warriors

Rivers United 1-0 Rangers

Enyimba 3-0 3SC

Plateau United  0-1 Abia Warriors

Wolves 2-2 Wikki Tourists

Advertisement

Tornadoes 2-0 Barau

Kun Khalifat 0-1 Katsina United

Kano Pillars 3-0 Nasarawa United

Bendel Insurance 2-0 Kwara United

 Ikorodu City 1-0 Remo Stars