Rangers are back on top of the Nigeria league table after they forced a 1-1 draw in the ‘Oriental Derby’ against champions, Enyimba.
Rangers are now top of the table with 48 points from 28 matches, a point ahead of Wikki Tourists, who lost their leadership after they lost 3-0 at Akwa United, also on Sunday.
Striker Stephen Chukwude gave Enyimba the lead in the 45th minute when he fired home a low, left-footed shot beyond goalkeeper Itodo Akor off an assist by Joseph Osadiaye.
However, moments later Rangers restored parity through Godwin Aguda with a cut-back from Bobby Clement.
In other matches, Shooting Stars defeated Sunshine Stars 2-1, Lobi hammered Warri Wolves 3-0, Plateau upstaged hosts MFM 1-0 and Niger Tornadoes stopped Abia Warriors 2-1.
IfeanyiUbah extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches after they defeated Kano Pillars 2-1, while the match between Rivers United and Ikorodu United was shifted after the Port Harcourt outfit were involved in a road accident.
Hassan Babangida scored twice as Wikki Tourists suffered a dent to their title ambitions in a confounding 3-0 loss at Akwa United.
The former Heartland star, making his first league start for United scored twice from rebounds in the first half before Friday Ubong put gloss on a fantastic home performance by the reigning Federation Cup Kings midway through the second half.
United went into the game on the back of three losses in all competitions, including elimination from the. Federation Cup in midweek, same fate suffered by their visitors who were nonetheless on top of the league table prior to Sunday’s match up at the magnificent Nest of Champions in Uyo.
It was Wikki Tourists heaviest defeat of the season as Abdu Maikaba’s wards faltered in front of about 6,000 spectators in Uyo with United claiming the important three points ahead of an awkward-looking double away schedule against Abia Warriors and Niger Tornadoes in their next two league fixture.
NPFL Match Day 29 Results
Shooting Stars 2-1 Sunshine Stars
Ifeanyiubah 2-1 Pillars
MFM 0-1 Plateau Utd
Lobi 3-0 Wolves
Akwa Utd 3-0 Wikki
Tornadoes 2-1 Abia Warriors
Enyimba 1-1 Rangers
Nasarawa Utd 3-0 El-Kanemi.
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