…Rangers start title defense on shaky note
…Enyimba falter on opening day
…Ikorodu City, Barau make early strong statement

Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) have begun their 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season on a winning note following a 2-1 defeat of the newly-promoted Inter Lagos at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan on Friday.

‎Shooting Stars opened the scoring in the 15th minute courtesy of Lucky Gyang Emmanuel but their lead lasted only seven minutes as Inter Lagos captain Uchenna Njoku tapped in from close range at the near post to equalise.

‎At the close of halftime, Emmanuel won a penalty for 3SC following a clumsy challenge by Inter Lagos defender Jamiu Arowolo, which Sodiq Ibrahim converted to restore the Oluyole Warriors’ lead inside the first half added time.

3SC had the chance to put the game to bed when they were awarded a second spot kick very late in the game but substitute, Mustapha Adams Agba’a missed from 12 yards as his penalty come off the upright.

‎Despite the late miss from the spot, 3SC held on to claim the full points, thereby, winning an opening NPFL fixture for the first time in three seasons (D1 L1).

Rangers 1-1 Katsina United

Rangers International played out a 1-1 draw with Katsina United at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Ogun State, their temporary home ground due to the ongoing renovation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

Luis Dadong put Katsina United ahead in the 38th minute and with the visitors looking set to snatch a shock victory against the defending champions,
Rangers eventually snatched an equaliser through Chibueze Oputa who scored in the seventh minute of second half added time.

Barau 3-1 Nasarawa

Barau FC made a strong statement on the opening weekend of the 2026/27 NPFL season by defeating Nasarawa United 3-1 at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano State.

Barau netted first through Joseph Atule in the 15th minute while the visiting Nasarawa Utd responded only five minutes later, with Abubakar Abdullahi restoring parity.

Al’Amin Umar then scored in the 78th minute to put Barau back in front after which Sugau Aliyu made sure of their victory by adding another goal four minutes later.

Ikorodu City 3-1 Ranchers Bees

Ikorodu City also made a firm statement by starting their 2026/27 NPFL season on a victorious note following their 3-1 defeat of Ranchers Bees at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos State.

Ranchers Bees netted first but the Oga Boys went all out to search for an equaliser and the Lagos side responded in the 30th minute through Umar Dan’Azumi.

Ikorodu City completed the turnaround in the 45th minute when Abayomi Ayodeji put the home team ahead for the first time in the game.

The Oga Boys then made sure of the maximum points in the 87th minute, when Farouk Salami converted from the penalty spot.

Tornadoes 2-1 Enyimba

Enyimba International of Aba faltered in their opening game of the season after suffering a 2-1 loss to Niger Tornadoes at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna State.

Tornadoes went ahead first after Aliyu Goyi opened the scoring for the host team in the 40th minute while Enyimba found an equaliser after the interval as
Wonah Williams made it 1-1 in the 71st minute.

However, Tornadoes went all out to secure victory against the Elephants of Aba and got their winning goal through
Michael Olalusi who scored in the 83rd minute.

Insurance 2-1 Warri Wolves

Bendel Insurance came from behind to secure a hard-fought 2-1 win against Warri Wolves at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

Warri Wolves struck first in the game when Eventus Itolowo hit the back of the net early while Insurance responded through Kayode Oke, with the forward converting a penalty to make it 1-1.

Alex Oweilayefa then completed the turnaround for Insurance as the Benin-based side finally secured a 2-1 victory and three points from their opening game of the 2026/27 NPFL season.

Rivers United 2-0 Plateau United

Rivers United began their league campaign on an impressive note after bagging a 2-0 triumph over Plateau United at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Abdulrasheed Dabai opened the scoring for Rivers United while Wasiu Falolu doubled the advantage of the home team who defended resolutely to ensure that they kept a clean sheet.

Doma 2-0 Sporting Lagos

Doma United matched the result of Rivers United as they also secured a 2-0 home victory against Sporting Lagos at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe State.

Sadiq Rilwan put Doma United ahead before Daniel Simon then added the second goal after the break, even as the home team defended stoutly to ensure that they did not concede.

Kwara United 2-2 Kano Pillars

Kwara United produced a late comeback to snatch a dramatic 2-2 draw with Kano Pillars who appeared set to leave Ilorin, Kwara State with three points.

Pillars built a two-goal advantage against Kwara United, with the duo of Shola Abdulraheem and Rabiu Ali scoring for the visitors.

Kwara United, however, mounted a late spirited fightback, as Alex Jerry scored a brace to level the contest, with his second goal of the game arriving in the seventh minute of second half added time.

Abia Warriors 0-0 Kun Khalifat (73 minutes)

Rain stopped the NPFL fixture between Abia Warriors and Kun Khalifat from being concluded at the Umuahia Township Stadium in Abia State.

The officials abandoned the match in the 73rd minute due to a very heavy rainfall which made the pitch unplayable, with the score still 0-0. The remaining 17 minutes and injury time will be completed on Monday morning.

Results From NPFL Matchday One

Shooting Stars 2-1 Inter Lagos
Kwara United 2-2 Kano Pillars
Niger Tornadoes 2-1 Enyimba
Barau FC 3-1 Nasarawa United
Abia Warriors 0-0 Kun Khalifat
Doma United 2-0 Sporting Lagos
Bendel Insurance 2-1 Warri Wolves
Ikorodu City 3-1 Ranchers Bees
Rangers 1-1 Katsina United
Rivers United 2-0 Plateau United

Match Day 1 Standings

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Barau FC	1	1	0	0	3	1	2	3
2	Ikorodu City FC	1	1	0	0	3	1	2	3
3	Doma United FC	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	3
4	Rivers United FC	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	3
5	Bendel Insurance FC	1	1	0	0	2	1	1	3
6	Niger Tornadoes FC	1	1	0	0	2	1	1	3
7	Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC)	1	1	0	0	2	1	1	3
8	Kano Pillars FC	1	0	1	0	2	2	0	1
9	Kwara United FC	1	0	1	0	2	2	0	1
10	Katsina United FC	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1
11	Rangers International FC	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1
12	Abia Warriors FC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
13	Kun Khalifat FC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	Enyimba FC	1	0	0	1	1	2	-1	0
15	Inter Lagos	1	0	0	1	1	2	-1	0
16	Warri Wolves	1	0	0	1	1	2	-1	0
17	Nasarawa United FC	1	0	0	1	1	3	-2	0
18	Ranchers Bees	1	0	0	1	1	3	-2	0
19	Plateau United FC	1	0	0	1	0	2	-2	0
20	Sporting Lagos FC	1	0	0	1	0	2	-2	0