Lobi Stars regained top spot from Doma United as the matches of Day 10 were concluded on Sunday evening in this season’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). It means Doma occupied the No. 1 spot for just a week.
In all, 11 goals were scored as the teams look forward to Matchday 11 next weekend.
Lobi’s victory over Shooting Stars, who remain at the third place, produced the highest number of goals on this matchday. As early as the second minute, Adebayo Waheeb converted the first of three goals in the fixture. But Gideon Monday responded for the Oluyole Warriors four minutes into the second half, only for Orji Okagbue to convert the winner for the hosts from the spot in the 84th minute.
With that, the Makurdi Stars are now two points clear at the summit after 20 points from 10 matches, while Doma United, who got a point at Ikenne-Remo on Saturday versus Remo Stars, stepped down to No. 2.
Their defeat notwithstanding, Shooting Stars remain at No. 3 having garnered 17 points from 10 games, while Remo Stars are fourth on the log, a point behind the Ibadan side; and Enyimba gained three steps from last Matchday’s eighth position following Saturday’s away win in Owerri.
The People’s Elephants had to wait until the 81st minute to celebrate as Stephen Chukwude scored with his first touch of the game. Their hosts, Heartland remained condemned to the foot of the 20-team table.
With a game in hand (to be played on Wednesday against Remo Stars in Aba), Enyimba will move to No. 2 if they win.
Rangers, formerly at No. 5, lost in Umuahia to Abia Warriors by a lone goal and are now sixth placed. All the home side required to collect maximum points was Collins Nwoburuoke’s strike in the second minute.
With that result, Abia Warriors gained five spots to advance to No. 7.
Bendel Insurance collected a point at Kano Pillars as both sides failed to score. The Benin Arsenal are now eighth on the table, from last week’s sixth; while Pillars stayed at No. 13.
Kwara United’s Alao Mohammed (37th minute) and Abubakar Garba (85th) accounted for all the goals as the Ilorin side overcame Gombe United. The Harmony Boys gained six steps, and are now ninth on the log, while Gombe moved down to 16th from 14th.
Moses Omoduemuke scored the only goal of the match in the 25th as Sunshine Stars beat Sporting Lagos at the Akure Township Stadium. The Owena Waves are now placed 11th from 16th, while Sporting crashed to 14th from ninth.
In Katsina, Katsina United had Bello Lukman to thank for saving them blushes. Garando Tekena shot visiting Bayelsa United ahead in the 45th, but the home fans were relieved as Lukman found the net.
In Kaduna, Tornadoes’ Bashir Usman scored the only goal of the evening in the 65th to earn the home team victory over Akwa United.
All results: Heartland 0-1 Enyimba, Remo Stars 0-0 Doma United, Abia Warriors 1-0 Rangers, Katsina United 1-1 Bayelsa United, Sunshine Stars 1-0 Sporting Lagos, Lobi Stars 2-1 Shooting Stars, Kano Pillars 0-0 Bendel Insurance, Kwara United 2-0 Gombe United, Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Akwa United
Plateau United v Rivers United (postponed)
