NPFL Matchday 8: Rangers stay top, Katsina stun Enyimba and Plateau hit Pillars for four

Matchday 8 did not change who is in front, but it told us a lot about who is in trouble. Rangers International needed a 90th-minute goal to stay top. Rivers United, the only unbeaten side in the league, could not find a way through in Umuahia. And Enyimba, two-time African champions, conceded four in Katsina.

Here is every result, the table as it stands and the four games that mattered most. If you missed our preview, the Matchday 8 Weekend Board set out what was at stake.

Barau FC 2-2 Rangers: the champions survive

Rangers went ahead through Ifeanyi Okechukwu in the 38th minute and looked comfortable until two penalties changed the afternoon. Joseph Atule scored from the spot in the 56th minute, and Aliyu Sugau converted a second penalty 12 minutes later to put Barau in front.

Chidiebere Nwobodo equalised in the 90th minute. Without that goal, Rivers United would have had the chance to go top. With it, Rangers stay first on 17 points from eight games. Last season's title was decided by a single point, so late goals like this one tend to matter in May.

Abia Warriors 0-0 Rivers United: two points dropped, or a good point?

It depends on who you ask. Abia Warriors coach Imama Amapakabo called the goalless draw two points dropped for his side. On the Rivers United side, Naija News reported that Finidi George hailed the team's away form.

Both readings make sense. Rivers United are still unbeaten and have the best goal difference in the league at +11. They are one point behind Rangers. But a title challenger expects to win in Umuahia against a side that started the weekend in the bottom half, and Abia had lost 3-1 at Rangers a week earlier.

Katsina United 4-2 Enyimba: the slide goes on

The game in Katsina on Friday night was over almost before it started. Enyimba defender Emeka Onyema turned the ball into his own net in the sixth minute, and Mubarak Sani made it 2-0 six minutes later. Luis Dadong added a third on the hour.

Enyimba did fight back. Chidera Michael scored in the 67th minute and Charles Egbe made it 3-2 in the 75th, but Umar Rabiu settled it for Katsina United in the 80th. The defeat ended a three-game unbeaten run for Enyimba, who had beaten Plateau United 2-0 the week before.

Premium Times summed it up: the former African champions have seven points from eight matches and sit deep in the relegation zone. On the NigFooty table, that is 19th of 20. For a club with Enyimba's history, October is early, but it is not that early.

Plateau United 4-0 Kano Pillars: the statement result

Pillars came to Jos unbeaten and left with their heaviest defeat of the season. Paul Samson scored in the third minute, Ekundayo Ojo added a second in first-half stoppage time, Samuel Ayanrinde made it three in the 82nd minute and Nenrot Silas scored a penalty in the 90th.

Plateau United move up to third on 14 points, three behind Rangers. Kano Pillars drop to 10th on 11.

The rest of the round

• Sporting Lagos 2-1 Bendel Insurance: Bendel's Kayode Oke scored after 18 seconds, but Victor Samuel and Gafar Olaniyan turned it around for Sporting Lagos.
• Nasarawa United 2-0 Doma United: Sunday Dapman and a Jofrank Istifanus penalty beat the side that started the round third.
• Ikorodu City 2-0 Kwara United: Kwara's Saheed Olaniyi was sent off in the 86th minute.
• Ranchers Bees 0-0 Niger Tornadoes: Habibu Yakubu was sent off, and eight minutes of added time were played.
• Warri Wolves 3-1 Inter Lagos and Kun Khalifat 2-0 Shooting Stars complete the round.

The NPFL table after Matchday 8

Matchday 9 so far

Matchday 9 started on Friday. Shooting Stars ended a five-game winless run with a 3-1 win over Ranchers Bees at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. Desmond Ojietefian, Damilola Akinola and substitute Qamar Adegoke scored for the home side, and Isah Ndala Aliyu replied for Ranchers Bees.

Saturday brought two 1-1 draws. In Ilorin, Ali Ferinyaro put Kwara United ahead in the 34th minute and Emmanuel Nnaji equalised for Abia Warriors in the 53rd. In Gombe, Kun Khalifat took the lead in the 54th minute before Tijani Azeez levelled for Doma United four minutes later.

Six more games were scheduled for Sunday, including Rivers United against Barau FC, Enyimba against Warri Wolves and Kano Pillars against Katsina United. Rangers' home game against Bendel Insurance was postponed. Sunday's results are in our Matchday 9 round-up.