Matchday 35 delivered thrilling action across various centers in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) as teams secured vital wins and dropped crucial points. Here’s a look at the top five key takeaways and the implications of the latest results:
Remo Stars Clinch Historic NPFL Title
Remo Stars sealed their maiden NPFL title with a 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne. Olamilekan Adebayo’s thunderous strike in the 84th minute secured the crucial win, taking Remo Stars to 68 points — enough to win the league with three matches to spare.
The victory makes Remo Stars the 22nd club to lift the NPFL trophy. Remarkably, they become the first privately-owned club to win the league since 2000, and only the fifth since the NPFL turned professional in 1990.
The triumph also guarantees them a spot in the CAF Champions League next season.
Continental Race Goes Down to the Wire
While the title race is settled, the battle for continental spots remains fierce. Only five points separate Rivers United (2nd place) and Ikorodu City FC (4th place), with Abia Warriors sandwiched in third.
Rivers United – 58 points
Abia Warriors – 56 points
Ikorodu City FC – 53 points
With three rounds of fixtures remaining, the chase for the final CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup slots promises a thrilling finish.
Relegation Survival Battle Intensifies
The relegation fight has reached fever pitch after Sunshine Stars secured a massive 2-0 win over Katsina United, moving them to 41 points — level with Akwa United, who also edged Ikorodu City FC 2-1.
Nasarawa United bolstered their survival hopes with a vital win over Heartland, as the Naza Millionaires stay on 42 points.
With just nine points left to fight for, the gap between 14th and 19th is now just three points as Katsina United, Niger Tornadoes, Elkanemi Warriors, are now battling for survival, with three of the bottom six teams set to go down to join Lobi Stars in the NNL next season.
Rangers Set Unwanted Home Record
Defending champions Enugu Rangers suffered a 2-1 home defeat to rivals Enyimba in the Oriental Derby at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium (The Cathedral).
This marks their sixth home loss of the season — the worst home record in the league, even worse than relegated Lobi Stars. Rangers have also conceded 16 goals at home, second only to Lobi Stars’ 19 goals conceded.
It’s a disappointing end to their title defense campaign.
Amuneke’s Heartland Sinking Fast
Former Super Eagles star Emmanuel Amuneke is struggling to keep Heartland FC afloat. Heartland’s defeat over the weekend leaves their survival hopes hanging by a thread.
Amuneke, once strongly considered for the Super Eagles coaching role, now faces the uphill task of winning all of Heartland’s remaining three games — while relying on favorable results elsewhere — to avoid relegation.
Will he pull off a miracle, or will he sink with Heartland? The next few weeks will provide the answers.
Matchday 35: Full Results
Kano Pillars 2-0 Rivers United
Plateau United 2-1 Bendel Insurance
Kwara United 4-0 Lobi Stars
Rangers 1-2 Enyimba
Sunshine Stars 2-0 Katsina United
Abia Warriors 3-1 Shooting Stars
Bayelsa United 2-1 El Kanemi Warriors
Akwa United 2-1 Ikorodu City FC
Remo Stars 1-0 Niger Tornadoes
Nasarawa United 1-0 Heartland
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