A full round-up of NPFL Matchday 4, where defending champions Rangers International kept winning, Inter Lagos claimed a historic first top-flight victory at Enyimba, and Abia Warriors finally got off the mark.
NPFL Matchday 4 delivered plenty of drama across the weekend, and the headline story is that defending champions Rangers International kept up their title defence with a 4-2 win away at Kun Khalifat FC. Meanwhile, Enyimba’s difficult start to the season got even worse.
Rangers International continued their title defence with a comfortable 4-2 win at Southeast rivals Kun Khalifat FC at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri. Winger Chimobi Igwilo scored twice, including a brilliant individual finish in stoppage time, while Temitope Folarin and Waheed Adebayo got the other goals for the champions, according to the official NPFL match report.
The result made it back-to-back wins for Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side in Owerri, following a 2-1 victory over Nasarawa United in midweek. Rangers took a 2-1 lead into the break, with Kun Khalifat’s Preye Seikorowei sandwiched between Folarin and Adebayo’s strikes, before Igwilo’s second-half brace settled it. Ayuba Umar got a late consolation for the hosts.
It’s the latest step in a busy September for Rangers, who also progressed in the CAF Champions League on penalties this month.
The biggest shock of the round came in Aba, where newly promoted Inter Lagos beat nine-time champions Enyimba 1-0 on a rainy Sunday evening. Ezekiel Moses headed home the winner in the 18th minute after a mix-up between Enyimba goalkeeper Kelvin Ogunga and defender Peculiar Iheme, as confirmed by NPFL’s official report on the match.
Enyimba head coach Emmanuel Deutsch made three substitutions after the break in search of an equaliser, and Ifeanyi Ihemekwele’s low strike came back off the crossbar, but the hosts couldn’t find a way through. The defeat leaves Enyimba as the only side without a point after three matches played, a stark result for a club with nine league titles to their name. For Inter Lagos, it was their first-ever win in the Nigerian top flight.
It’s a result few would have predicted after our Matchday 4 preview of the fixture, and it continues a tough run for Enyimba that started with a 2-0 defeat to Doma United in Matchday 3.
Abia Warriors finally got off the mark for the season with a 2-0 win away at Sporting Lagos, played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan. Late goals from Ikoi Ettah and Emeka Obioma were enough to seal Imama Amapakabo’s side’s first win of the campaign. They’re back on the road in midweek, travelling to Kano to face an in-form Barau FC.
Kwara United suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Warri Wolves in Ozoro after Eventus Itolowo converted a free-kick inside the opening eight minutes. The Harmony Boys dominated large spells of the game through Philip Ozor and Toyeeb Gidado but couldn’t find an equaliser, even after Ashifat Suleiman’s second-half changes nearly paid off. Kwara United host Nasarawa United in midweek looking to bounce back, while Warri Wolves travel to face Niger Tornadoes.
Doma United sit top after Matchday 4 despite the 4-1 defeat to Kano Pillars, on the back of three wins from their first three games. Barau FC and Kano Pillars follow close behind, while Rangers’ win moved them into the top six as they chase back-to-back titles. At the other end, Enyimba prop up the table without a point, and Kun Khalifat and Sporting Lagos are also still searching for their first win of the season.
For the full breakdown of standings, see the official NPFL table, or check our own NPFL table and fixtures tracker.
Several sides are back in action in midweek, including Rangers hosting Abia Warriors’ opponents Barau FC, Kwara United against Nasarawa United, and Warri Wolves away at Niger Tornadoes. Enyimba, still searching for their first points, host fellow Lagos side Sporting Lagos in Aba.
For more on how Matchday 4 lined up before kick-off, see our full Matchday 4 fixtures guide, and catch up on how the league looked after the previous round in our Matchday 3 results round-up.
As always, our editorial team will be tracking the NPFL table and squad news closely — check back for match previews and our AI prediction tracker as Matchday 5 approaches. 18+. Bet responsibly and only with what you can afford to lose.
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