Rivers United have launched themselves to the top of the log at the end of the match day 5 of the Nigeria Premier League. The Port Harcourt side beat Akwa United 2-1 to go afloat after initial leaders, Remo Stars crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.

It was Remo Stars’ first defeat in the season. Rivers United are now with 13 points. Stephen Mayo put Rivers United ahead after  31 minutes. But it turned a temporary lead as Akwa United bounced back almost at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the second half.  

Friday Apollos levelled up for Akwa United before Ndifreke Effiong Udo scored the winner in the 85^th minute.

Sunday Results

• Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
• Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
• Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
•  Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
• Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
•  Rivers United 1-1 Akwa United
•  Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
•  Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United

Heartland finally got into winning ways on Sunday after the Owerri side secured a 2-0 win over Niger Tornadoes.

 The club, under former Super Eagles’ assistant coach, Emmanuel Amuneke had gone four matches without a win, finding themselves swimming in the murky waters of relegation.

A brace by Michael Ogu has lifted the club which climbed up to the 16^th position. They had begun the season badly losing at home to Enyimba and failing to win any of the subsequent three matches.

Sunday Results

• Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
• Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
• Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
•  Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
• Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
•  Rivers United 1-1 Akwa United
•  Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
•  Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United

Home to the best sports camping facilities in Nigeria, Ikenne is to host Nigeria’s U-20 sides, Flying Eagles as the players prepare for  WAFU B U20 Championship in Togo. The team will be camped at the Remo Stars Stadium which also boasts a hotel, gymnasium, indoor swimming pool and an array of football pitches ranging from natural grass to hybrid artificial turf.

 It is also the base of the Beyond Limit Football Academy. According to a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation, the Flying Eagles who are the 2023 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists will camp at the high-grade Remo Sports Institute for a week before departing for Lome, where they tackle Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire in a three-team Group B, in their quest to defend the title they won in Niger Republic two years ago.

Hosts Togo will battle Ghana, Benin Republic and Niger Republic in Group A of the competition that is scheduled for 17^th – 31^st October.

The championship in Togo is the qualifying tournament for next year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations, from where the top-placed four teams will qualify to fly Africa’s flag at next year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Chile.