Yobe Stars were mathematically relegated from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Sunday after a 0-1 loss to Group B leaders Akwa United in Uyo. Former champions Enyimba and modest side MFM FC also slipped down the Group A table after home draws on Sunday.
Yobe needed a win in Uyo – a very tall order – to stay within mathematical chance of escaping but they lost to a Godspower Aniefiok’s 15th minute goal which left them bottom of Group B with fifteen points from 19 matches. It means the Stars can no longer get up to 25 points with just three matches left in the regular season.
Kano Pillars moved to second on the log with a 2-0 win over Go Round FC in Kano while third-placed El-Kanemi Warriors suffered a shock 0-2 loss at home to Delta Force. The biggest win of the day came in Okigwe where Abia Warriors beat hosts Heartland 4-2. In-form winger Ibrahim Olawoyin scored a brace for Warriors in the encounter.
In Group A, ten-man Lobi Stars climbed to second on the log and within four points of leaders Rangers International who they defeated 1-0 in Makurdi on Sunday. Defender Solomon Kwambe curled home a free kick in first half stoppage time to score the game’s only goal.
Lobi leapfrogged Enyimba into second place after the People’s Elephant slipped to third following a lacklustre 1-1 draw at home to Wikki Tourists. Defender Ifeanyi Anaemena gave Enyimba the lead from the spot but Promise Damala equalised for Wikki on the hour mark.
Bottom placed Remo Stars earned a 1-1 draw at MFM while Chibundu Amah scored for Sunshine Stars in their 1-0 defeat of Niger Tornadoes in Akure. Despite missing two spot kicks, Bendel Insurance climbed out of the drop zone with a 2-1 win over Katsina United while Kwara United remained in troubled waters after a 0-0 draw at home to Rivers United.
RESULTS
Enyimba 1-1 Wikki
Kwara Utd 0-0 Rivers Utd
Lobi 1-0 Rangers
MFM 1-1 Remo Stars
Sunshine 1-0 Tornadoes
Insurance 2-1 Katsina Utd
Akwa Utd 1-0 Yobe Stars
Pillars 2-0 G/Round
Plateau Utd 2-1 Nasarawa Utd
El-Kanemi 0-2 Delta Force
Heartland 2-4 A/Warriors
