NPFL: League leaders taste defeat as ex-Super Eagles coach takes over Nasarawa United

By Olaolu Joseph

Rangers International revived their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title defense with a 2-1 home win over leaders Remo Stars on Sunday.

Isaac Saviour’s 30th-minute strike and Kingsley Muduforo’s 49th-minute goal earned Rangers the victory, lifting them two places to 3rd in the 2024/25 season standings.

Hadi Haruna pulled one back for the visitors, setting up a frantic finish to the game.

Elsewhere on Sunday in Matchday 24 action, Heartland moved up two places to 12th after a 2-1 victory over visiting 3SC in Owerri, while Bendel Insurance defeated Niger Tornadoes 3-0, climbing one spot to 10th in the table.

Chukwuma Agbor put Heartland 1-0 up in the 30th minute, but Adams Mustapha equalized for 3SC in the 80th minute, creating tense moments at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.

Succor arrived in the 88th minute when John Bassey restored Heartland’s lead with a penalty, albeit after a retake.

Bassey’s initial spot kick was saved by 3SC goalkeeper Lawal, but the referee ruled he had stepped off his line and ordered a retake of the penalty.

Despite the loss, 3SC remain in second place, 8 points behind table-toppers Remo.

10th-placed Insurance relied on goals from Julius Emiloju in the 5th minute, Uche Collins in the 55th minute, and Kayode Oke in the 76th minute to send Tornadoes down one place to 13th in the table.

Meanwhile, Nasarawa United have parted ways with their head coach, Kabiru Dogo. The Solid Miners have announced Salisu Yusuf as Dogo’s replacement for the remainder of the season.