Finidi George, former Super Eagles coach and handler of Rivers United was given the red card 80 minutes into a near misadventure by the Port Harcourt side who rallied to a 1-1 draw at home in Monday’s Nigeria Premier League match against Plateau United.

The home side were trailing 1-0 in a failed catch-up bid for the top position on the league log when Finidi and his Plateau United counterpart, Mbwas Mangut were sent to the stands by the referee, Olawale Fawole after booking them for dissent.

Rivers United were aiming for a win which would have put them at par on points with leaders, Remo Stars and then hoped for a high scoreline that could have given the Port Harcourt side the top position at the end of the first stanza of the league.

Remo Stars are therefore the leaders at the end of the year and the first stanza. 

Vincent Temitope put the Plateau United ahead after 51 minutes. Handsome Surveyor rescued a point for the home side who are now two points behind Remo Stars.

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After a hard-fought 2-1 win over Akwa United, Remo Stars remain atop the Nigeria Premier Football League. They could have their leadership position rolled into 2025 if Rivers United fail to make mincemeat of visiting Plateau United in the last Match Day 19 duel scheduled for this Monday in Port Harcourt.

Remo Stars have 36 points. If they beat Plateau United in the last NPFL match of the year, Rivers United can also score 36 points.

But to upstage Remo Stars at the summit, Rivers United will need a heavy goal margin against Plateau United owing to the goal-difference advantage currently in favour of Remo Stars.

In their match with struggling Akwa United in Ikenne on Sunday, Remo Stars had a dream start. After just three minutes, they were already a goal ahead. Opening the game with a ferocious attack, they earned a penalty kick when a defender of Akwa United handled the ball in the penalty box.

Shuaibu Ibrahim made no mistake in converting the spot kick. They continued to pile pressure but could not double the lead.

Late into the first half, Akwa United fought back with a fantastically taken free kick that could go on television exhibition.

A little outside Remo Stars’ penalty box, a player feigned, before Kabir Osoba curved the ball past the defensive wall and beat outstretched goalkeeper Serge Obassa in goal.

Remo Stars had to dig deep before it could secure a 2-1 win against Akwa United through Raymond Tochukwu.

Defending Champions, Enugu Rangers are on the front foot after last week’s defeat at home as they nicked in a lone goal win away at Niger Tornadoes in Minna on Sunday.

After enduring its second home defeat in the ongoing season against eternal rival, Shooting Stars of Ibadan last week, it was Bashiru Usman’s lone strike in the 34^th minute that erased the memories of his penalty miss in Enugu and put the team back in front line for the title with 31 points from 19 matches.

In Ibadan Shooting Stars extended their fifth-match winning run with a lone goal win against visiting Kwara United of Ilorin.

The only goal of the match came off the boot of Adam Mustapha on the dot of half-time.

In Lagos, Ikorodu City played its first of the two mandatory matches without fans, which they had to endure until late in the match. Nevertheless, they secured a 2-1 win against Sunshine Stars at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.

It was Shola Adelani who opened the score for the home side in the 39^th minute but the lead was cancelled in the 45^th minute. However, with time running out, the home side won a penalty deep into injury time which was converted again by Adelani.

El-Kanemi Warriors returned to winning ways with a lone-goal win over Kano Pillars. Umar Al Amin scored the only goal of the match in the 38^th minute and the win thus pushed the side to fifth position with 29 points.

Azeez Faolu’s late goal in the 79^th minute assured Katsina United the maximum points against Nasarawa United. Lobi Stars had to endure a goalless draw at home against Heartland FC and the result of the match did not have any meaningful impact on their respective position on the log.

Earlier on Saturday, Bayelsa United missed the opportunity to improve their position on the log as they were beaten by a lone goal by visiting Abia Warriors of Aba.

Kennedy Sheddy’s 35th-minute goal gave the side their first away win of the season.

This evening, former champions, Rivers United will attempt a catch-up at the top as they welcome Plateau United to Port Harcourt home ground.

Enyimba FC has announced that it has parted ways with head coach Yemi Olarenwaju. The club has been winless in eight consecutive matches in all competitions. It is their longest winless streak in 20 years.

The club thanked Coach Olarenwaju for his services and wishes him the best in his future endeavours.

Olanrewaju who took over from Finidi George when the latter moved to the Super Eagles had his last match on Boxing Day when Enyimba played a goalless draw with Plateau United.

Almost immediately, after his departure, Enyimba announced former Rivers United coach, Stanley Eguma as the latest man on the saddle.