Nigerian Football
League title coronation day beckons for unstoppable Rivers United
Rivers United again put more distance from their position and second placed Plateau United after a home win over the Jos side.
And in other games of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) MatchDay 31, Gombe United, Katsina United, Enugu Rangers, Lobi Stars, Enyimba and Nasarawa United all recorded important home victories on Wednesday evening.
Rivers United seem determined to be crowned champions before the final four games of the season if they maintain their form and keep the ten points lead after MatchDay 35.
The Port Harcourt side now has 67 points while their day’s losing opponents, Plateau United are second with 57 points.
Chijioke Akuneto scored all the goals in the 2-0 defeat of Plateau United. His first was on 34th minute and the second on 82nd minute, thus drawing level on 14 goals with teammate, Ishaq Rafiu and Gombe United’s Abdulazeez Yusuf in the race for the league’s top scorer.
Gombe United’s Yusuf netted one of the three in his side’s 3-2 defeat of struggling Heartland. It was the first time the Owerri side would score two away goals this season but they are still 18th on the log with 34 points.
Samaila Bello scored Gombe United second goal on 47th minute while Barnabas Daniel got the third in the 62nd minute.
Heartland attempted a late fightback through goals by Chukwudi Nwaodu’s penalty and Chijioke Mbaoma in the 68th and 82nd minutes.
Katsina United took a big leap off relegation zone after a 2-0 home win against Niger Tornadoes.
Ahmed Taofeek and Madaki Alkali Dauda scored the goals in the 67th and 75th minutes to lift their side to 13th on the log with 39 points.
Enugu Rangers recovered from the embarrassing loss to Plateau United in the last game with a 2-1 victory over Wikki Tourists. Christian Nnaji scored a brace in the 13th and 49th minutes while Christopher John netted the Bauchi sides’ lone strike in the 38th minute.
The win has seen Rangers opening a three point gap in third position with 51 points ahead of fourth placed Enyimba.
Shooting Stars dropped another points at home, this time to Remo Stars in the South West derby. It was the visitors that scored first from the spot after seven minutes through Sikiru Alimi who notched his fourth goal of the season since his mid season acquisition but the Oluyole Warriors equalised barely five minutes later through Ebuka Anaekwe.
Lobi Stars got their first win in four games after a 3-1 home win against Kwara United. Chinonso Okonkwo who earlier missed a spot kick atoned for it with the curtain raiser in the 21st minute. Olamilekan Adams and Nanen Imenger added two more in the 47th and 55th minutes after a 42nd brief equaliser from ex-Lobi Stars, Samuel Tiza who elected not to jubilate because he netted against his former club.
At Aba, Enyimba relied on Chukwuemeka Obioma and Samuel Stone’s goals in the 29th and 79th minutes to chalk up a 2-0 win over Sunshine Stars. The victory sends Enyimba to the top four for the first time since the start of the second stanza. They are on 48 points but Sunshine Stars slid to the ninth spot with 42 points.
Nasarawa United did their relegation worries some good with a laboured 2-1 victory over Abia Warriors. Abubakar Abdullahi and Aliyu Abdullahi were on the score sheets for the Solid Miners while Flying Eagles’ Augustine Njoku made it a nervy finish when he reduced the deficit in the 55th minute.
- NPFL Matchday 31 Results
- Enyimba 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Katsina Utd 2-0 Tornadoes
- Lobi 3-1 Kwara Utd
- Akwa Utd 0-0 MFM
- Gombe Utd 3-2 Heartland
- 3SC 1-1 Remo Stars
- Rivers Utd 2-0 Plateau Utd
- Rangers 2-1 Wikki
- Nasarawa Utd 2-1 Abia Warriors
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has slammed Kano Pillars with a ₦9.5 million fine, a three-point deduction, and an indefinite ban from their home ground, Sani Abacha Stadium, following violent scenes during their Matchday 8 clash with Shooting Stars of Ibadan.
The latest punishment adds to Pillars’ growing record of disciplinary infractions. Since 2019, the club has paid over ₦36 million in fines related to crowd disturbances and violent conduct: ₦8m (June 2019), ₦2.5m (March 2022), ₦9m (April 2022), ₦2.25m (June 2022), ₦1m (October 2023), ₦12m (January 2024), and ₦2m (October 2024).
The disciplinary action, announced less than 24 hours after the incident, follows a pitch invasion in Kano that led to attacks on match officials and players of Shooting Stars, causing widespread condemnation.
Under the NPFL’s summary jurisdiction, the league deducted three points and three goals from Pillars’ accumulated tally for breaching Rule C1.1, which prohibits assault on match officials and opposing teams. The club will now play its home games at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina for the rest of the season.
In addition, the NPFL imposed a ₦9.5 million cumulative fine on the club for multiple breaches of league regulations:
- ₦1 million for failure to provide adequate security (Rule B13.52)
- ₦1 million for failing to control supporters who harassed the away team and officials (Rule C9)
- ₦1 million for objects thrown onto the pitch (Rule B13.18)
- ₦1 million for bringing the league into disrepute (Rule C1.1)
- ₦2 million for assault on the away team and officials
- ₦2 million as compensation to Shooting Stars players
- ₦1.5 million as restitution to assaulted match officials
In addition to the sanctions on Kano Pillars, the NPFL has written to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Match Officials Appointment Committee recommending a review and possible downgrade of five referees.
The affected officials include centre referee Mohammed B. Tuta (Adamawa), assistant referees Bem Japhet (Benue) and Shehu Isah (Adamawa) from the Pillars vs. Shooting Stars match, and centre referee Ikechukwu Taiwo (Rivers) along with assistant referee Usman Opeyemi Edward (Osun) from the Nasarawa United vs. Rangers fixture.
Davidson Owumi, the NPFL’s Chief Operating Officer, reaffirmed the league’s zero-tolerance policy for violence.
“We will invoke the rules wherever and whenever required to keep bad behaviour of fans, players, and officials out of the league,” he declared.
Kano Pillars have been given the right to appeal the sanctions, although failure to overturn the decision could lead to additional penalties.
The Sani Abacha Stadium will remain closed to fans for the remainder of the 2025 season.
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The management of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has condemned the violent scenes that followed Sunday’s Matchday 8 encounter between Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), describing the incident as disturbing and unacceptable.
In a statement signed by the league’s Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the NPFL said it had noted with concern the reports and viral video clips showing fans invading the pitch at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, shortly after the final whistle.
“We condemn in the strongest terms any act of violence, intimidation, or misconduct directed at players, match officials, or fans,” the statement read.
Owumi assured that the NPFL had already reached out to the Match Commissioner, Referees, and officials of Shooting Stars, confirming that their safety had been secured.
The league body stated that it is awaiting the official match reports and full video evidence from the Match Commissioner and Referees before taking disciplinary action but stressed that the incident would be treated with “utmost seriousness.”
“The NPFL is assuring all stakeholders and football lovers that this isolated incident is being handled decisively, and appropriate actions will follow upon review of the full reports,” Owumi said.
He reaffirmed the NPFL’s commitment to discipline, safety, and professionalism at all league venues nationwide, warning that violence of any kind will not be tolerated in the domestic league.
“We reaffirm our commitment to maintaining discipline, safety, and professionalism at all league venues across the country,” the statement concluded.
The Sunday incident in Kano has since sparked outrage among fans and officials, with many calling for stricter sanctions to deter future acts of hooliganism in Nigerian football.
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Former Super Eagles’ skipper and now Kano Pillars General Manager, Ahmed Musa, has tendered a public apology following the violent scenes that marred his club’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture against Shooting Stars Sports Club on Sunday evening.
In a heartfelt statement posted on his official X handle, the Super Eagles captain described the incident as “heartbreaking, shameful, and completely unacceptable,” stressing that it does not reflect the true values or proud history of Kano Pillars.
The scene after the Kano Pillars versus Shooting Stars match.
“What transpired against Shooting Stars is heartbreaking, shameful, and completely unacceptable. It does not represent the true values, identity, or proud history of Kano Pillars,” Musa wrote.
He expressed deep regret to Shooting Stars players, coaches, officials, match referees, NPFL board members, GTI partners, and football fans across the country who witnessed the ugly scenes, promising that those responsible would be brought to book.
“Violence has no place in football. It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and goes against everything this beautiful sport stands for. Football is meant to unite, to inspire, to bring joy. When it turns into scenes of chaos and harm, we must not pretend it away — we must confront it head-on,” he stated.
Musa assured that Kano Pillars would work closely with relevant authorities to identify and punish those behind the riot, adding that the club would take firm internal measures to prevent a recurrence.
“We understand that apologies alone are not enough. Words must be followed by action. We will take huge steps internally to ensure that something like this never happens again,” he said.
Addressing the club’s supporters directly, Musa urged them to show their passion through respect and discipline rather than violence.
“True support is shown not through violence, but through respect, passion, and discipline. This must be a turning point for us,” he appealed.
The former Leicester City and Al Nassr forward concluded by taking full responsibility on behalf of the club and promising to restore trust and respect for Kano Pillars and Nigerian football.
“We take full responsibility and will do everything necessary to restore trust, respect, and the true spirit of football in Kano and across Nigeria,” he said.
The NPFL and its partners are expected to launch an investigation into the incident, with potential sanctions looming for Kano Pillars, whose fans were reportedly involved in violent conduct following the match against the Ibadan-based Shooting Stars.
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