Home Teams Shine As NPFL Matchday 31 Delivers Crucial Results

Matchday 31 of the Nigeria Premier Football League continued on Sunday with several decisive fixtures across the country, as home sides secured vital victories in the race for continental spots and survival.

At the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Shooting Stars delivered a spirited performance but were left frustrated after conceding in the 65th minute, with Elijah’s strike handing the hosts a narrow but important win.

In Ikenne, Remo Stars produced an impressive display to defeat Kwara United 3-1. Ibrahim Yahaya opened the scoring in the 34th minute before Ahmed Akinyele doubled the lead four minutes later. Kwara United pulled one back through Hadi Haruna in the 70th minute, but Victor Mbaoma restored the cushion just three minutes later to seal the victory.

Rangers International also recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over El-Kanemi Warriors, with Godwin Obaje netting a brace in a commanding performance.

At the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano Pillars secured a 2-0 victory against Enyimba International. Chidozie Okorie gave the hosts an early lead in the 11th minute, while veteran forward Ahmed Musa added the second goal late on.

In one of the most entertaining fixtures of the day, Kun Khalifat and Ikorodu City played out a thrilling 2-2 draw. Joseph Arumala equalised for Ikorodu City in the 24th minute before Temitope Folarin put the visitors ahead, only for Uchechukwu Onuoha to rescue a point for the hosts with a stoppage-time strike.

Plateau United edged Bayelsa United 1-0, thanks to Farouk Umar’s decisive goal in the 50th minute.

Meanwhile, Warri Wolves were held to a goalless draw by Bendel Insurance in Ozoro, as both sides failed to convert their chances.

The results further tighten the competition across the NPFL table as teams intensify their push for continental qualification and top-flight survival.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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