NPFL: Rivers United, Plateau United in top slot contest

River United and Plateau United produced away wins to keep pace at the top of this season's Nigerian top flight football league.


The results meant that both sides remain separated by just a point - Rivers United leading the pack with 35 points from 16 matches while Plateau United are second on the log having posted 34 points in the same number of fixtures.


Former frontrunners Remo Stars lost on the road but stay third on account of superior goal advantage over defending champions Akwa United.


Playing in Kaduna, the temporary home of Kano Pillars, Rivers United's lone goal that delivered maximum points came in the 70th minute. Nyima Nwagua, who knows Pillars well being a former player, took advantage of the home side's keeper's howler to bang in the goal.


The victory marks consecutive clean sheets for the Pride of Rivers.

Plateau United were more emphatic in their away victory beating Lobi Stars 2-0 in Makurdi. The Jos side have now gone eight games unbeaten.

Izuchukwu Chimezie's goal in the 32nd minute eased pressure off Fidelis Ilechukwu's squad before Albert Hilary added the icing on the cake in the 90th minute.

Losing to Heartland last weekend must have worked positively for Enyimba who sent Remo Stars back to Ikenne-Remo empty handed. But despite the 1-2 defeat, the Sky Blue Stars did not lose being No 3.

Like Nwagua did for Rivers United against Kano Pillars, Victor Mbaoma scored against his former team, Remo Stars in the 37th minute, while Enyimba doubled the score through another ex-Remo Stars, Ekene Awazie four minutes after the restart.

Remo Stars got a consolation through a penalty kick converted by Junior Nduka in the 70th minutes.

Champions Akwa United moved up to fourth place having beaten Wikki Tourist 2-0 at the Nest of Champions in Uyo.

Two quick goals by Adam Yakub (49th) and Leo Ezekiel (50th) did the damage to the visitors from Bauchi.

Katsina United, Heartland, Dakkada FC and MFM occupy the relegation zone.

 Matchday 16 results: Akwa United 2-0  Wikki Tourist, Enyimba 2-1 Remo Stars, Gombe United 1-0 Abia Warriors, Katsina United 4-1 Dakkada, Kano Pillars 0-1 Rivers United, Sunshine Stars 3-1 Heartland, Niger Tornadoes 1-1 MFM, Lobi Stars 0-2 Plateau United, Nasarawa United 1-1 Kwara United, Shooting Stars 1-1 Rangers

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