Remo Stars beat 3SC 1-0
Former African champions, Enyimba of Aba, at the weekend boosted their chances of retaining their Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) status with a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Wikki Tourists in Bauchi.

Enyimba have struggled for consistency this season and are in the unfamiliar battle against relegation to the lower league.

They are placed in the 13th position with only three points separating them from the 17th-placed Wikki Tourists in the 20-team league, which will see the last four sides relegated to the lower Nigerian National League (NNL) at the end of the campaign.

The game against Wikki Tourists was one which Enyimba coach, Emmanuel Deutsch said would help the Peoples Elephant’s battle for survival, but it dampened the hosts’ fight to escape the drop as they remained in the 17th position with five games to go.

Wikki Tourists started brightly, taking the lead in the 15th minute to send the home crowd into raptures. They held onto their slender advantage until halftime, going into the break 1-0 up.

But Enyimba, known for their resilience, equalised in the 56th minute, setting up a tense second half. The home side, desperate for points, regained the lead in the 71st minute through J. Mairiga, igniting hopes of a crucial victory.

But it was not to be for Wikki Tourists. In the dying moments of the game, seven minutes into added time, A. Nwaorisa snatched a dramatic equaliser for Enyimba, breaking the hearts of the Wikki faithful. The final whistle confirmed a 2-2 draw, a result that feels more like a loss for the struggling home side.

In other games at the weekend, Remo Stars boosted their chances of surviving the drop with a 1-0 defeat of Shooting Stars of Ibadan, while Warri Wolves dented Rivers United’s title hopes with a 2-0 defeat in Warri.

Elsewhere, league leaders, Rangers, were held to a goalless draw in Enugu by Barau FC, Kano Pillars bashed Bendel Insurance 4-0, Katsina United piped Niger Tornadoes 1-0, while Kwara United defeated El Kanemi Warriors 3-0 in Lagos, where the NPFL banished them following crowd troubles in their Ilorin home.

The unexpected result of the weekend happened in Lafia where Kun Khalifat of Owerri defeat title hopeful, Nasarawa United 1-0.