NPFL: Rangers held in Minna as Ikorodu City break new ground in Aba

Enugu Rangers were held 1-1 by Niger Tornadoes in Minna on Sunday, a result that keeps them top of the NPFL but leaves Kano Pillars three points behind, while Ikorodu City won away for the first time this season with a 1-0 victory over Enyimba in Aba.

All six of Sunday's Matchday 13 games kicked off at 16:00 WAT. Rangers move to 25 points from 12 games, three clear of second-placed Kano Pillars, who have played one more after Saturday's derby win over Ranchers Bees.

Sunday's results

• Inter Lagos 2-1 Abia Warriors (Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan)
• Kwara United 1-1 Rivers United (Kwara State Stadium)
• Enyimba 0-1 Ikorodu City (Enyimba Stadium)
• Niger Tornadoes 1-1 Rangers (Bako Kontagora Stadium)
• Katsina United 2-1 Nasarawa United (Muhammadu Dikko Stadium)
• Warri Wolves 2-1 Sporting Lagos (Southern Delta University Stadium)

Ikorodu City finally win on the road

Ikorodu went to Aba with three draws and three defeats from their six away games, and came back with all three points. The win lifts them to 18 points from 13 games, and it repeats the 1-0 scoreline from their last visit to Aba in February.

For Enyimba, it is an eighth league defeat in 13 games, and the nine-time champions stay on 11 points. Every one of their three wins this season had come at home, as Soccernet noted in the preview of the game, so losing in Aba hurts twice.

A point apiece for Rangers and Rivers

Niger Tornadoes, who move to 17 points, took a point off the leaders on their own ground. Rivers United also drew in Ilorin and are now on 19 points from 12 games, while Nasarawa United's defeat in Katsina leaves them on 20 after 13.

Analysis: Why one point in Minna still suits Rangers

A draw away from home is no disaster, and the table is kinder to Rangers than the result. They still have a game in hand on Kano Pillars, Bendel Insurance and Barau, so the three-point gap could become six without anyone else dropping points. Apart from Kano, the chasing pack dropped points this weekend: Bendel Insurance lost at Shooting Stars, Barau drew, Nasarawa lost and Rivers drew.

The bigger story may be at the other end. Ikorodu's win removes the one gap in their record, and Enyimba's home ground no longer looks like a guaranteed source of points. If the Aba side cannot win there, the climb out of the bottom places becomes far steeper.

Matchday 13 still has Plateau United against Kun Khalifat to come later in the round, and Kano Pillars visit Ikorodu City next in what now looks like one of the round's stronger tests.