Two MatchDays into the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), top flight debutants Sporting Lagos are on top of the table, while defending champions Enyimba find themselves at the foot of the table although with a game in hand.
The Lagos side travelled to Uyo on MatchDay 2 and will be returning home with a point. And having defeated Gombe United on the opening day last week in Lagos, the Noisy Lagosians now have four points, better on goal difference than Lobi Stars.
The Makurdi side ended the five-goal thriller against visiting Sunshine Stars 3-2; Samuel Tiza recording a brace for the home team. Tiza scored in the 53rd and 70th minutes, but Taiwo Abdurafiu (79th minute) reduced the tally.
Ajibola Adeleke restored Lobi’s two-goal advantage in the 85th, while a goal in the fourth minute of added time ensured that the match finished 3-2, advantage Lobi.
Fourteen teams – from Bendel Insurance to Shooting Stars – have won a match and recorded three points each. Among them Insurance and Remo Stars have each played a game.
While Insurance beat Shooting Stars on Saturday in Benin City, Remo Stars came from a goal down to overcome Rangers on Sunday. Just eight minutes into the match at the Remo Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, the Flying Antelopes went ahead through Kazwem Ogunleye. But Remo Stars replied, courtesy of Oluwaseun Ogunribide in the 35th minute. Sikiru Alimi won the match for the Sky Blue Stars 18 minutes later.
Gombe United shocked Enyimba 2-0 in Gombe to send the defending champions to the last spot on the fledging table. Alakwe Chijioke (43rd minute) and Ahmed Jimoh (90th minute) were the winners for Savannah Scorpions.
Former champions Rivers United also suffered a setback in the first match of the season. The CAF Confederation Cup campaigners suffered from a penalty goal by Bashir Usman in the seventh minute.
In Jos, Plateau United pipped Heartland 1-0 through Bernard Mundi (12th minute), while Isaiah Ejeh also won it for Kwara United with his 45th minute in Ilorin against Abia Warriors.
MatchDay 2 results: Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Rivers United, Plateau United 1-0 Heartland, Lobi Stars 3-2 Sunshine Stars, Remo Stars 2-1 Rangers, Gombe United 2-0 Enyimba, Akwa United 0-0 Sporting Lagos, Kwara United 1-0 Abia Warriors, Doma United 2-0 Bayelsa United, Bendel Insurance 2-0 Shooting, Kano Pillars 1-0 Katsina United
