Rangers Go Top as Enyimba Beat Shooting Stars for First NPFL Win
Rangers International seized control of the early NPFL table on Wednesday, while Enyimba finally broke through for their first league victory of the season as four rescheduled Matchday 2 fixtures reshaped the domestic picture.
The champions beat Warri Wolves 1-0 in Ozoro to climb to 13 points and move to the top of the standings, while Enyimba defeated Shooting Stars 4-2 in Aba after a difficult opening stretch to the campaign.
Rivers United remained second after a 1-1 draw at Katsina United, while Sporting Lagos and Ikorodu City shared the points in a goalless Lagos derby.
Rangers take top spot
Rangers’ rise came through a narrow but valuable away win.
Godwin Obaje converted a first-half penalty at the Southern Delta University Stadium to give Rangers a 1-0 victory over Warri Wolves. The result lifted the Flying Antelopes to 13 points from six matches.
That put them one point ahead of Rivers United and Barau FC, who both sit on 12 points, with Plateau United fourth on 11.
For Rangers, the result also represented a quick response after their 2-0 defeat at Ikorodu City three days earlier.
Enyimba finally get off the mark
Enyimba’s afternoon in Aba carried a different kind of pressure.
The nine-time champions had failed to win any of their opening league matches and had only collected their first point of the season in a goalless draw at Kano Pillars on September 27.
Against Shooting Stars, the breakthrough arrived emphatically.
Richard Ezinna opened the scoring after seven minutes before Damian Chibueze Ezeifule doubled the lead with a long-range strike. Idris Abubakar added a third before half-time, and Ifeanyi Ihemekwele made it 4-0 four minutes into the second half.
Shooting Stars responded late through substitutes Mustapha Adams Agba’a and Johnmark Aule, but Enyimba held on for a 4-2 win and their first victory of the campaign.
The result does not erase Enyimba’s difficult start, but it gives the club a first platform to build from after weeks of pressure.
Rivers drop points but stay second
Rivers United missed the chance to take control of the table after drawing 1-1 at Katsina United.
Samson Olasupo put Rivers ahead two minutes into the second half, but Sani Mubarak equalised three minutes later.
The point kept Rivers in second place on 12 points, one behind Rangers and level with Barau FC.
Rivers remain unbeaten after six league matches, but the draw allowed Rangers to move ahead of them.
Lagos derby ends without a goal
Sporting Lagos and Ikorodu City cancelled each other out at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, with the rescheduled Lagos derby finishing 0-0.
The fixture had originally been moved to September 30 because the stadium was unavailable on the initial Matchday 2 date.
Neither side found the breakthrough when the match was finally played, leaving the local rivalry without a winner.
Early table pressure is beginning to form
The September 30 fixtures were games in hand rather than a full new round, but their consequences were immediate.
Rangers now lead. Rivers United remain close behind. Enyimba finally have a win.
And with Matchday 7 approaching, the early NPFL table is beginning to acquire genuine pressure at both ends.
KEY CONTEXT
- Enyimba beat Shooting Stars 4-2 for their first NPFL win of the season.
- Rangers defeated Warri Wolves 1-0 and moved top with 13 points.
- Rivers United drew 1-1 at Katsina United and remain second on 12 points.
- Sporting Lagos and Ikorodu City drew 0-0.
- Barau FC are level with Rivers United on 12 points, with Plateau United fourth on 11.
