NPFL round-up: Gombe, Doma suffer heavy defeats as Shooting Stars secure away win

Table topper Enugu Rangers visited Katsina United on matchday 29 hoping to make a good impression. They almost did, but the home side’s resolute spirit saw the visitors fall to a 4-3 defeat.

Nonetheless, Rangers are still on 51 points, matched now at the summit though by Lobi Stars, who pipped the league’s defending champion Enyimba 1-0 in their hard-fought battle at the Lafia Township Stadium, but have a goals advantage to stay top.

Struggling Heartland bounced back in Owerri with an emphatic 3-1 win over Sporting Lagos but remained still in the relegation waters, only above Gombe United who suffered a 5-0 trouncing at Minna against Niger Tornadoes who have now chalked up two consecutive victories after beating Insurance in Benin City on matchday 28.

Despite Kwara United Coach, Kabiru Dogo, surviving an earlier three-match government ultimatum to turn the club’s fortune around, he still failed to grind a winning formula over Insurance at the Ilorin Township Stadium, with the game ending a goal apiece to the anger of the home fans that thronged the venue.

Sunshine Stars’ inconsistency continued at home as the Kennedy Boboye-tutored side needed hard work to come back from a goal down to level scores against Bayelsa United. Boboye had charged his wards to win full points in vain as the visitors warded off a late threat by Sunshine to secure the vital away point.

Remo Stars compounded Akwa United’s 1-0 loss to Doma United on matchday 28 with a 2-1 win in Ikenne, condemning the Uyo side to continue its relegation battles, despite having lately signed on Mohammed Babaganaru, one of the most competent coaches on the domestic scene, to rescue the side from going down as the season hits the home stretch. Interestingly, Doma United also failed woefully to ride on the wave of the Uyo win, falling 4-0 to Plateau United at New Jos International Stadium on Sunday.

Remo Stars have now crept into the third position on the log with 49 points, leapfrogging Enyimba who are on 48 points after its failed expedition to Lafia, as Plateau United trail on 47 points.

Sequel to the two away wins on matchday 28, Shooting Stars continued the trend on Monday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano where the Ibadan side pulled a 2-1 victory over Pillars. Despite eight added minutes after full-time, the home side fought in vain to get the equaliser. Shooting are now in 6th position on 46 points while Pillars slipped to eighth position on 41 points.