Sunshine Stars are back on top of the Nigeria Professional Football League following their one-all draw with Lobi Stars on Sunday.
Tunde Adeniji struck first for the Akure Gunners in the 64th minute on a day the top three sides – Sunshine Stars, Enyimba and Giwa FC – all failed to win.
The hosts battled gamely to claim a share of the spoils when Obioma Arinze profited from an Anthony Okpotu goal-bound effort to poke home the equaliser six minutes later.
Sunshine Stars thus retain to the leadership of the competition with 30 points from 16 matches.
Six-time champions, Enyimba FC, were however just minutes away from leapfrogging Sunshine Stars to become the new leaders but drew 2-2 with Abia Warriors in a rip-roaring contest in Aba.
The Peoples Elephants conceded first when Ndifreke Effiong scored a fantastic solo goal for the visitors in the 27th minute.
Christian Obiozor struck on the stroke of half time to hurl Enyimba back on level terms and the two-time African club champions then took the lead for the first time in the game when Daniel Etor struck early in the second half.
Michael Olaha however pushed a dagger into the hearts of Enyimba fans with the equaliser for Abia Warriors in the 80th minute.
A win would have seen Enyimba move to top spot and Obiozor thought he had guaranteed maximum points for his side but his late goal was correctly disallowed for offside.
Abia Warriors moved two places up to eighth following their heroics in Aba.
Wikki Tourists stayed in third place in the standings after drawing 1-1 with Dolphins in Port Harcourt.
Mubarak Umar gave the Bauchi club the lead with a super finish just before the hour but Dolphins earned a point in the end when Victor Ezuruike struck unerringly from the penalty spot at the death.
Giwa FC retained fourth spot on the standings after recording a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Heartland.
The Naze Millionaires took the lead through the league’s top scorer, Bright Ejike (who has now scored nine goals this season), but Giwa FC roared back to seal the win following goals from Ibrahim Shuaibu and Gyang Amos either side of the break.
Champions Kano Pillars beat El Kanemi Warriors 1-0 in Kano with Adamu Mohammed scoring the game’s only goal on 24 minutes following an intelligent assist from Samuel Tswanya.
Pillars are now seventh on the standings with 25 points from 16 matches, just five points adrift of the leaders, Sunshine Stars.
Sharks remain bottom of the standings after a 0-0 draw with Nasarawa United in Port Harcourt.
The game was the first Sharks were playing at the Sharks Stadium in months but the Blue Angels failed to take advantage and continue to search, in vain, for their second league win of the season.
Enugu Rangers’s brilliant run under Coach Imama Amapakabo came to a shuddering halt at the Nest of Champions as they were put to the sword 0-2 by Akwa United.
Nnamso Edo and Nathaniel Kingsley scored in each half for United at the picturesque Akwa Ibom International Stadium who continued their ascent on the log.
FC Taraba are still one place from the bottom of the standings after a 0-0 draw with Kwara United at home.
FC Ifeanyiubah FC put their recent problems behind them to defeat Shooting Stars 1-0 in Nnewi.
In all, it was a cracking match day 16 that produced five home wins, no away wins, three score draws, two scoreless draws and 17 goals.