Enyimba’s hopes of winning their 10th Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) title suffered a setback after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Heartland in an NPFL MD21 Oriental derby at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba.
2023 NPFL Champs, Enyimba lost more ground in their determination to win their 10th league title after they forced Heartland to a 1-1 draw in Aba in a Matchday 21 tie.
The reverse fixture of the Matchday One tie which ended 3-1 in favor of Enyimba was decided by Daniel Ekpo and Joseph Atule’s strikes in the 18th and 55th minutes of the contest yesterday.
With the home draw, Enyimba is still ninth with 28 points but has gone 14 points behind league leaders, Remo Stars with only 21 games played.
Heartland is 13th with 26 points with the point gained and will face Rivers United in Owerri this weekend. Enyimba are traveling to Bauchi as guests of Lobi Stars.
NPFL MD21: Rivers United Title Charge In Reverse
In another tie, Rivers United have gone four games without a win following their hard-earned 2-2 draw at home to Bendel Insurance in Port Harcourt.
The Pride of Rivers are yet to win a game in 2025 they last won against Kwara United in the first stanza and after that, they have got three draws (including two in Port Harcourt) and one loss to Plateau United in Jos.
Meyiwa Oritseweyinmi stunned Port Harcourt fans with the opener in the sixth minute but Rivers United equalised through Ubong Friday’s wonder strike from 25 yards.
Insurance made it 2-1 through Uche Collins in the 50th minute but Rivers United equalised again just two minutes after that goal through Handsome Surveyor’s goal.
They must now play catch up to Remo Stars who have seven points better than them. Rivers United are third with 35 points from 21 games and must beat Heartland FC in Owerri on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Katsina United needed a stoppage-time winner from the spot kick through Muhammad Ibrahim to beat hard-fighting Plateau United while Niger Tornadoes pipped Kwara United 2-1 in Minna.
Ifeanyi Okechukwu scored the game’s curtain raiser in the first minute and Abdulrasheed Dabai doubled the effort five minutes from the final whistle, but Junior Aimufua reduced the tally for Kwara United in the 90th minute.
Remo Stars Stages Comeback
Abia Warriors threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against league leaders, Remo Stars, in matchday 21 of the ongoing Nigeria Premier.
Ayodele Ezekiel headed the visitors in front from a Paul Samson well-executed corner kick in the 25th minute for his first goal of the season and Anthony Ijoma doubled the lead for the Warriors two minutes later.
The Warriors failed to keep the lead. After a double substitution, the hosts scored two goals inside eight minutes to get on level terms.
Adedayo Olamilekan’s shot from 24 yards in the 38th minute beat Sharp Uzoigwe in goal for the Umuahia boys for their first goal, and Malik Jabaar made it 2-2 in first-half injury time.
in the 53rd minute, Frank Mawuena headed the hosts in front of a corner kick for what later proved the winner.
A Win and A Marriage Proposal For Abine George
El-Kanemi Warriors goalkeeper, Abine George celebrated a double victory by proposing to his girlfriend in their game against Rangers International.
El-Kanemi’s goals came from Nasiru Salihu, who scored in the 18th and 73rd minutes. Isaac Saviour scored the lone goal for Rangers in the 63rd minute.
Despite Rangers’ efforts to equalize, including the introduction of former World Cup star Michael Uchebo, El-Kanemi’s goalkeeper, Abine George, made crucial saves in extra time to secure the victory.
The win moved El-Kanemi Warriors into 4th place on the league table, while Rangers dropped to 6th.
NPFL MD21: Akwa United, Nasarawa Stuck In relegation
Akwa United struck late to snatch a 1-1 draw, denying Lobi Stars all three points in a relegation battle.
Okafor Onyekachi put the Pride of Benue ahead in the 28th minute when he dribbled past defenders and unleashed a thunderous shot beyond goalkeeper Darlington Ovunda to give Lobi Stars the lead.
in the 73rd minute, Friday Apollos found the equalizer for the hosts, ensuring both teams shared the spoils.
Two goals on either side of each half ensured Shooting Stars‘, 3SC winning streak continues after they beat Nasarawa United 2-0 in an NPFL MD21 encounter in Ibadan.
