Abia Warriors Football Club and Akwa United FC on Sunday secured away victories to change the complexion of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table after Matchday 30 fixtures.
The two away wins ensured big changes on the league table even as they never affected leaders Remo Stars FC of Ikenne and bottom-spot side Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi .
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that with the Lobi Stars versus Remo Stars’ fixture postponed, both the top and 20th positions were in tact.
This was after five wins and one draw in Sunday’s six matches, with three wins recorded on Friday and Saturday in the two days’ fixtures.
The Uyo-based Akwa United were 19th with 31 points before Sunday, but they won 2-0 at Kwara United FC in Ilorin on Sunday.
The win helped them to jump to 17th with 34 points from 30 matches.
Umuahia-based Abia Warriors were 1-0 winners after crossing their state boundary to Owerri against hosts Heartland FC, moving from 44 points at fifth place to 47 points for third place.
Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan also moved up from sixth to fourth with 46 points after beating visiting Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna 3-1 at the Lekan Salami Stadium.
Ayodeji Bamidele gave the hosts the lead in the 38th minute with a thumping header at the far side following a William Ukeme corner-kick from the right side.
Five minutes later, Anthony Okachi doubled their lead from the penalty kick spot after following an infringement on a teammate.
Sundays Williams reduced the tally in the 66th minute to give the visitors some hope of a draw.
But Samuel Okon curled in a free-kick from about 25 metres out at the right side in the 79th minute to extinguish the visitors’ hopes and secure their lead.
It was a first win in seven matches for the hosts.
Rangers International FC of Enugu dropped from third to fifth after their 0-1 loss to hosts Nasarawa United of Lafia.
Ikorodu City FC of Lagos also dropped from fourth to sixth after losing 0-1 to hosts Rivers United.
The Port Harcourt side’s 0-1 win cemented their place in second spot to keep them five points ahead of third-placed Abia Warriors.
But it could only cut the gap between them and leaders Remo Stars to five points, even though the latter now has a game in hand.
Enyimba International could only draw 1-1 with visiting Bayelsa United of Yenagoa in Aba, dropping to eighth place as a result with 43 points.
Bendel Insurance of Benin had meanwhile moved up to seventh after beating visiting Sunshine Stars of Akure 1-0.
El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri dropped to 11th after losing 0-3 to hosts Katsina United.
NAN reports that Matchday 31 will return the league to midweek with the fixtures slated for Wednesday and Thursday as a result of the upcoming holidays.
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