NPFL Matchday 7 Results: Rangers Stay Top as Rivers United Move a Point Behind

Rangers International stayed top of the NPFL on Sunday after a 3-1 win over Abia Warriors at the Awka Township Stadium, but Rivers United’s 2-0 defeat of Ikorodu City leaves Finidi George’s unbeaten side just a point behind. The NPFL Matchday 7 results also brought a second straight win for Enyimba, a four-goal display from Bendel Insurance and a goalless draw for Shooting Stars in Ibadan.

Obaje strikes again as Rangers win the Oriental derby

Godwin Obaje gave the champions the lead in the 37th minute, and Chidiebere Nwobodo doubled it four minutes after the restart. Emeka Obioma’s 53rd-minute penalty pulled Abia Warriors back into the game, but Akorode Daniel’s stoppage-time goal settled the derby and moved Rangers to 16 points from seven matches. The goal was another milestone moment for Obaje, who was recognised by the club for reaching 100 NPFL goals, according to reports from Awka.

It was the response Rangers needed after Ikorodu City ended their unbeaten start on Matchday 6, and it follows the midweek win at Warri Wolves that first took them to the summit. Abia, who had beaten Bendel Insurance 3-0 in their previous outing, drop to 14th on eight points.

Rivers United keep the meanest defence in the league

Rivers United were in control at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium from the moment Samson Olasupo scored in the 19th minute, and Chinemerem Ugwueze added a second in first-half stoppage time. Finidi’s side are the only club in the division without a defeat after seven games, and they have conceded just twice all season. Ikorodu City, who had come into the weekend on the back of their win over Rangers, slip to ninth.

Enyimba’s revival gathers pace after a difficult week

The People’s Elephant followed their 4-2 win over Shooting Stars with a 2-0 victory against Plateau United in Aba, with Ifeanyi Ihemekwele scoring in the 29th minute and Richard Ezinna adding the second in the 68th. The result came only a day after assistant coach Kelvin Ejeh resigned, and it lifts the nine-time champions off the bottom and up to 15th on seven points. Plateau, who were third before kick-off, fall to sixth.

Bendel run riot as Barau’s unbeaten run ends in Benin

Barau FC arrived in Benin City as the only unbeaten side in the league and left with a 4-1 defeat. Kayode Oke scored twice for Bendel Insurance, and the hosts added two more late on after Barau had pulled one back from the penalty spot. The result knocks Barau from first to fourth. Doma United climbed to third on 13 points with a late 1-0 win over Warri Wolves in Gombe through Joshua Abah, while Kwara United came from behind to beat Ranchers Bees 2-1 in Ilorin after Jamilu Yusuf had put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute.

Ismaila Sarki’s late goal gave Niger Tornadoes a 1-0 win over Kun Khalifat in Kontagora, Inter Lagos and Katsina United shared a 1-1 draw, and Shooting Stars were held 0-0 by Nasarawa United at the Lekan Salami Stadium. On Saturday, Kano Pillars stayed unbeaten with a 1-1 draw against Sporting Lagos.

How the NPFL table looks after Matchday 7

The standings below are taken from the official NPFL table. Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars have played a game fewer than the rest of the league, and only six points separate Rivers United in second from Katsina United in 11th.

Rangers head to Kano as Rivers United face Abia next

Matchday 8 gives the leaders a tough assignment, with Rangers visiting Barau FC at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday, 11 October, while Rivers United take on Abia Warriors at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba the same afternoon. Enyimba travel to Katsina, and Ikorodu City open the round against Kwara United at Onikan on Saturday. Rangers also have a CAF Champions League tie against MC Alger to fit around their league schedule this month, which makes the next fortnight a real test of the squad’s depth.