SEVEN-TIME champions Enugu Rangers have climbed to the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League table after securing a 2-1 win over struggling Heartland in oriental derby on match-day 27 in Aba on Sunday.
Defender Ifeanyi Onyebuchi scored Rangers first goal in the first half and Kalu Nweke doubled the advantage in the second half before the hosts halved the deficit to end the game 2-1.
Led by Fidelis Ilechukwu, Rangers have been on the ascendancy in their last 10 games, losing only one and are unbeaten in nine consecutive games. They have also won three of their last four away matches.
Lobi Stars surrendered their place on top of the table no thanks to a 1-1 draw against Bayelsa United in Lafia. Sunday Chinedu gave Lobi the lead in the 61st minute but Kehinde Lawal restored parity for the visitors as they continued to swim out of relegation.
In Jos, Plateau United’s title chase also suffered a setback as they were beaten 2-1 at home by relegation-threatened Akwa United at the New Jos Stadium.
After storming into an early lead through Gerome Heutchou, a 90th minute penalty which was converted by Suleiman Sani nicked the win for the Promise Keepers while the hosts only goal of the game from the penalty spot courtesy of Sunday Anthony in between the visitors’ goals.
The shake up in the top four continued with a 2-1 defeat of champions Enyimba by Kwara United in Ilorin, where the People’s Elephant assistant coach, Yemi Olanrewaju was sent off.
The tense game ended 1-1 at halftime with Ikenna Cooper scoring an equaliser for Enyimba after Emmanuel Ogbole opened scoring for Kwara inside the opening 10 minutes but Ogbole got his brace and Kwara’s match winner just five minutes after the restart.
Andrew Idoko and Azeez Falolu, who scored his third goal of the season were also on target for Katsina United as the Chanji Boys came back from a goal down to beat Abia Warriors 2-1 at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina.
On Saturday, Mustapha Umar’s 48th minute goal at the General Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano was the difference as Kano Pillars beat Sporting Lagos 1-0 on match-day 26.
The Sai Masu Gida, as Pillars are popularly known, bounced back from last weekend 2-1 defeat to Bayelsa United to claim their 12th win of the season and their first in the last five games.
The win means Pillar move to sixth on the NPFL table above Shooting Stars who travel to Kaduna where they face Niger Tornadoes at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium on Monday.
Meanwhile, in the second Savannah Derby of the season, Doma United and Gombe played out a 1-1 draw at the Gombe Township Stadium Pantami.
Enugu Rangers now hold a one point lead at the top of the table with 48 points after 27 matches and they are followed by Lobi in second with 47 points.
Heartland (23), Gombe United (24), Niger Tornadoes (30) and Bayelsa United (31) are in the bottom four but Kwara United with 32 points are just one point away from safety after their win on Sunday.