Rangers Hold Top Spot After Dramatic Draw With Barau FC
Defending champions Rangers International maintained their position at the top of the Euromatch Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table after a 2-2 draw with Barau FC in Kano on Sunday.
Rangers took the lead through Ifeanyi Okechukwu in the 38th minute, but Barau fought back in the second half to take the lead before conceding a late equaliser.
Joseph Atule levelled the score for Barau from the penalty spot in the 56th minute, while Aliyu Sugau converted another penalty in the 68th minute to put the hosts ahead.
However, Chidiebere Nwobodo scored in the 90+3rd minute to rescue a point for Rangers.
The result leaves Rangers with 17 points from eight matches.
Rivers United also maintained their unbeaten run after playing out a goalless draw against Abia Warriors. The result extended their unbeaten start to the season to eight matches.
In Lagos, Sporting Lagos came from behind to defeat Bendel Insurance 2-1. Kayode Oke gave Bendel Insurance the lead just 18 seconds into the match, but Victor Samuel equalised in the 14th minute before Gafar Olaniyan scored the winner eight minutes later.
Plateau United recorded an impressive 4-0 victory over Kano Pillars in Jos to move into third place with 14 points.
Paul Samson opened the scoring in the third minute before Ekundayo Ojo doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time. Samuel Ayanrinde added the third in the 82nd minute, while Nenrot Silas converted a stoppage-time penalty to complete the victory.
The defeat ended Kano Pillars’ unbeaten run.
Warri Wolves defeated Inter Lagos 3-1 to move to 13th place with 10 points from eight matches.
In Owerri, Kun Khalifat FC secured their second win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Shooting Stars SC. Agor Chukwuma scored in the 40th minute, while Uchechukwu Onuoha sealed the win in the 63rd minute.
Despite the victory, Kun Khalifat remain 18th with eight points, level with 17th-placed Shooting Stars.
Nasarawa United also claimed a 2-0 win, defeating Doma United through goals from Sunday Dapman in the 10th minute and Jofrank Istifanus, who converted a penalty in the 55th minute.
Saturday Results
Ikorodu City defeated Kwara United 2-0 on Saturday, with Farouk Salami scoring in the second minute before Ikechukwu Junior added the second in the 36th minute.
Ranchers Bees and Niger Tornadoes played out a goalless draw. Ranchers Bees finished the match with 10 men after Habibu Yakubu received a straight red card for stopping a goal-bound move.
Katsina United Beat Enyimba
Katsina United defeated Enyimba International 4-2 in Friday’s encounter.
An own goal by Emeka Onyema gave Katsina United the lead in the sixth minute, while Mubarak Sani doubled the advantage six minutes later.
Luis Dadong extended the lead in the 60th minute before Umar Rabiu scored the fourth in the 80th minute.
Enyimba fought back with goals from Chidera Michael in the 67th minute and Charles Egbe in the 75th minute, but their efforts were not enough to prevent defeat.
Rangers remain top of the table after eight matches, while the other clubs continue their fight for better positions as the NPFL season progresses.
