NPFL: Rivers United back to winning ways, back on top; Remo Stars crash in Katsina, 3SC makes it five wins at home
After four games without victory including two back-to-back defeats, Finidi George and Rivers United return to winning ways following their 1-0 defeat of visiting Abia Warriors at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt in a matchday 13 fixture.
Ndifreke Udo Effiong scored the only goal of the game on 58 minutes, and which catapulted Rivers United back to the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, table with 25 points from 13 matches, two more than Remo Stars of Ikenne who crashed 2-0 at Katsina United.
Remo Stars were looking to consolidate on their first position on the log and were hoping to win their first game in three matches but left the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina with their fourth loss in their last five games on the road.
Two second half goals from Azeez Falolu on 50 minutes and Boslam Dawi on 62 minutes were enough to give the Katsina team all three points and move them to 11th on the log with 16 points.
At the Jos International Stadium in Jos, Plateau United defeated Nasarawa United 2-0 to move three points clear of the relegation zone and dropped their visitors to the bottom of the log.
Plateau United’s goals came from a Shina Kumater own goal on 51 minutes and a penalty converted in the 81st minute by Olawale Doyeni.
At the Lekan Salami stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, Shooting Stars won for the fifth time in seven home games following their 1-0 defeat of Bayelsa United.
An Anthony Achu Okachi’s goal on 16 minutes made all the difference between winning and losing as it shot the Oluyole Warriors up to ninth on the log with 18 points from 13 matches.
NPFL Table
Team MP W D L F A GD Pts
Rivers United 13 7 4 2 13 6 +7 25
Remo Stars 13 7 2 4 13 8 +5 23
El Kanemi 13 5 7 1 15 13 +2 22
Enyimba 12 5 5 2 14 9 +5 20
Enugu Rangers 13 5 5 3 13 10 +3 20
Kano Pillars 13 5 4 4 18 17 +1 19
Ikorodu City 13 5 3 5 16 14 +2 18
Niger Tornadoes 13 4 6 3 11 10 +1 18
Shooting Stars 13 5 3 5 11 11 +0 18
Kwara United 13 4 5 4 14 12 +2 17
Heartland 13 4 5 4 11 11 +0 17
Katsina United 13 4 4 5 11 11 +0 16
Sunshine Stars 12 5 1 6 9 13 -4 16
Plateau United 13 5 3 5 13 14 -1 15
Abia Warriors 13 4 3 6 10 15 -5 15
Bayelsa United 13 3 5 5 8 14 -6 14
Lobi Stars 13 3 4 6 14 19 -5 13
Akwa United 13 3 3 7 9 12 -3 12
B/Insurance 13 4 3 6 11 15 -4 12
Nasarawa United 13 3 3 7 10 16 -6 12