NPFL Matchday 8 Results: Rangers Held in Kano as Plateau United Climb to Third

Rangers International are still top of the Nigeria Premier Football League after NPFL Matchday 8, but only just. Chidiebere Nwobodo’s 90th-minute equaliser rescued a 2-2 draw at Barau FC in Kano on Sunday, leaving the Flying Antelopes on 17 points from eight games, one clear of unbeaten Rivers United, who were held 0-0 by Abia Warriors.

The biggest winners of the weekend were Plateau United, who thrashed Kano Pillars 4-0 to move up to third on 14 points. At the other end, Enyimba’s slide continued with a 4-2 defeat at Katsina United on Friday night, a result that leaves the nine-time champions on seven points and inside the relegation zone.

Two penalties nearly cost Rangers their place at the summit

Rangers looked comfortable when Ifeanyi Okechukwu put them ahead in the 38th minute, but the game turned after the break. Joseph Atule levelled from the spot on 56 minutes and Aliyu Sugau converted a second Barau penalty 12 minutes later, putting the hosts in front against the defending champions. Nwobodo’s late leveller preserved Rangers’ lead at the top, though the margin over the chasing pack is now down to a single point.

Rivers United could have gone top with a win, yet Abia Warriors kept them out in a goalless draw. The Port Harcourt side remain unbeaten and have the best goal difference in the division, which may matter later in the season if the title race stays this tight. Their failure to score, however, means they let a chance to lead the table slip away.

Plateau United’s statement win reshapes the top three

Paul Samson set Plateau United on their way inside three minutes, and Ekundayo Ojo doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time. Samuel Ayanrinde added a third on 82 minutes before Nenrot Silas scored a 90th-minute penalty to complete a 4-0 win that lifts Plateau to 14 points. Kano Pillars stayed on 11 points and sit 10th after a heavy defeat.

Sporting Lagos recovered from conceding inside 18 seconds to beat Bendel Insurance 2-1. Kayode Oke’s opener for the visitors was cancelled out by Victor Samuel on 14 minutes, and Gafar Olaniyan struck the winner eight minutes later, taking Sporting to 12 points, level with Bendel. Nasarawa United also won comfortably, beating Doma United 2-0 through Sunday Dapman’s 10th-minute goal and a Jofrank Istifanus penalty on 55 minutes.

Ikorodu City beat Kwara United 2-0 on Saturday, with Kwara finishing the game with 10 men after Saheed Olaniyi was sent off for a second booking in the 86th minute. Ranchers Bees and Niger Tornadoes played out a goalless draw, and Ranchers also ended a man down after Habibu Yakubu was shown a straight red card.

Enyimba’s defence is now the biggest worry in Aba

Enyimba fell behind to an own goal in the sixth minute at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, and Mubarak Sani made it 2-0 on 12 minutes. Luis Dadong added a third after the break before Chukwuemeka Michael and Chidera Egbe pulled two back in the 67th and 75th minutes, but Umar Rabi’u’s 82nd-minute strike settled it for Katsina United. Conceding four goals in one game will sharpen the scrutiny on the technical crew, coming a week after assistant coach Kelvin Ejeh resigned over a rift with the head coach.

Kun Khalifat beat Shooting Stars 2-0, a result that leaves both clubs on eight points near the bottom. Warri Wolves won 3-1 against Inter Lagos, who remain last on two points after the NPFL docked them three points and fined them ₦5.25m over an assault on match officials.

Friday night football returns for Matchday 9

The league’s Friday Night Football slot begins on October 16 when Shooting Stars host Ranchers Bees, giving both sides an early chance to climb away from danger. For Rangers, the one-point cushion means any slip next weekend could hand the lead to Rivers United or Plateau United, a contrast with how comfortable things looked after Matchday 7. Official results and fixtures are published on the NPFL website.