Rangers’ NPFL lead could become a six-point advantage

Enugu Rangers begin Matchday 13 at the top of the NPFL with 24 points, having played one match fewer than every club immediately below them.

The league’s decision to move Plateau United’s fixture with Kun Khalifat from Sunday to Tuesday has added to an already uneven schedule, making the table difficult to assess without considering games played.

Rangers have taken 24 points from 11 matches. Bendel Insurance are second with 21 points from 12 games, followed by Nasarawa United on 20. Barau FC and Kano Pillars have 19 points each, while Rivers United are sixth on 18 and have also played 11 matches.

The leaders’ advantage is therefore both narrower and greater than it first appears, depending on whether the table is read by points or by matches played.

Plateau United fixture moved

Plateau United’s home match against Kun Khalifat, originally scheduled for Sunday, 15 November, will now take place on Tuesday, 17 November.

According to a report published by Leadership on 11 November, the Nigerian league made the change because an All Progressives Congress presidential campaign rally is due to be held at the New Jos Stadium on the original date.

The remainder of Matchday 13 will be played over the weekend. The round begins on Friday evening, when Shooting Stars host Bendel Insurance in Ibadan.

Plateau United, managed by Gbenga Ogunbote, are eighth in the table with 16 points. They were beaten 3-1 by Nasarawa United in their most recent league match.

Kun Khalifat sit 15th with 13 points and drew 1-1 with Kano Pillars in their previous game.

Rangers’ opportunity at the top

A match in hand offers only the possibility of gaining points; it does not guarantee them. If Rangers win both of their outstanding fixtures, they would move nine points clear of Bendel Insurance’s current total.

Two draws, however, would leave the leading group within one victory of Rangers, underlining how quickly the position could change.

The contest is unusually congested this season. Five teams are separated by five points at the top of the standings, while Rivers United are also within reach and have the division’s best defensive record.

The rearranged schedule could become significant later in the campaign. Plateau United must now play on a Tuesday while most of their rivals follow a normal weekly programme, and teams with postponed fixtures often face the consequences of those extra dates later in the season rather than immediately.

Rangers travel to Niger Tornadoes on Sunday. They are one of three teams among the leading contenders playing away this weekend.

Away victories have been rare in the NPFL this season, meaning the results of those matches could have a major impact on the shape of the table.