NPFL Week 21 Review: Remo Stars Extend Lead as Enyimba and Rivers United Stumble at Home
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) entered its 21st round with plenty of drama, as league leaders Remo Stars extended their advantage at the top while title hopefuls Enyimba and Rivers United failed to secure home victories.
Remo Stars Pull Further Clear
Remo Stars continued their impressive form with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Abia Warriors, taking their points tally to 42. With Shooting Stars trailing by six points in second place, Remo now look in control of the title race as they secured a fourth consecutive league win.
Home Struggles for Enyimba and Rivers United
The biggest surprises of the weekend came from Aba and Port Harcourt. Enyimba, aiming to push up the table, were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Heartland. Meanwhile, Rivers United dropped points at home as they played out a 2-2 draw with Bendel Insurance. These results see Enyimba slip to ninth, while Rivers United remain in third, seven points behind the leaders.
Biggest Upsets: Ikorodu City and El Kanemi Shock Giants
Ikorodu City pulled off one of the standout results of the week, thrashing Kano Pillars 4-1 to climb to fifth in the standings. Elsewhere, El Kanemi Warriors stunned Rangers International with a 2-1 victory, a result that sees them move up to fourth place.
Shooting Stars Keep Up Chase
Shooting Stars continued their fine form with a 2-0 victory over struggling Nasarawa United. They remain six points behind Remo Stars but have now won five consecutive league matches, establishing themselves as the biggest threat to the league leaders.
Relegation Battle Heats Up
Akwa United remain in deep trouble after being held to a 1-1 draw against Lobi Stars, keeping them second from bottom with just 20 points. Nasarawa United remain at the foot of the table with 19 points after their loss to Shooting Stars, while Sunshine Stars’ 4-1 defeat to Bayelsa United leaves them hovering just above the drop zone.
What’s Next?
With Remo Stars in firm control, the focus now shifts to whether they can maintain their lead in the coming weeks. Shooting Stars will look to keep the pressure on, while teams like Enyimba and Rivers United must rediscover their winning form to stay in contention. At the other end, the fight for survival remains tight, with several teams still battling to avoid relegation.
The NPFL title race is heating up, and with nine rounds left, every point will count!
ALL NPFL WEEK 21 RESULTS
- Katsina United 1-0 Plateau United
- Niger Tornadoes 2-1 Kwara United
- Rivers United 2-2 Bendel Insurance
- Enyimba 1-1 Heartland
- Shooting Stars 2-0 Nasarawa United
- Akwa United 1-1 Lobi Stars
- Ikorodu City 4-1 Kano Pillars
- Remo Stars 3-2 Abia Warriors
- Bayelsa United 4-1 Sunshine Stars
- El Kanemi 2-1 Rangers International
