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The win further strengthened their position at the summit of the EuroMatch NPFL, moving one point above second placed Rivers United, who boast 15 point after seven games. The flying Antelopes have now amassed 16 points from seven matches and have sent a clear statement of Intent to the rest of the league that they are serious contenders to reclaim the title they last won in the 23/24 season.
Meanwhile, in Aba, nine times Nigerian champions Enyimba International finally found some breathing space and secured their second win of the season, earning three valuable points that lifted them out of the relegation zone and eased the immense pressure on coach Stanley Eguma.
And at the other end of the table, the nightmare continued for newcomers Kun Khalifat FC, whose difficult run continued on Sunday as they suffered a narrow but painful 1-0 defeat to Niger Tornadoes in Minna. The setback leaves them rooted to the bottom of the standings and increases the pressure on the team to turn their fortunes around quickly.
Matchday 7 of 26/27 NPFL season has delivered drama, goals and major shift at both ends of the table.
RANGERS 3-1 ABIA WARRIORS: THE FLYING ANTELOPES SOAR TO THE TOP
The headline fixture of the day was undoubtedly at the Cathedral in Enugu, where Enugu Rangers hosted Abia Warriors in the highly anticipated Oriental Derby.
Rangers came into this game in red hot form. Under the tactical guidance of coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, who mastermind their title win two seasons ago, the Flying Antelopes had won three of their last four games, including an impressive 2-0 away win at Bayelsa United in midweek.
Abai Warriors, on other hand, led by former Super Eagles assistant coach Imama Amapakabo, had also been decent, sitting in mid table and known for their stubborn defensive organization and quick counter attack led by their star strike Sunday Megwo.
But on Sunday, there was only one team in it from the start
Rangers started with incredible intensity, pressing high and moving the ball quickly. The Cathedral was packed to the rafter with over 22,000 fans creating an intimidating atmosphere. And it took only 12 minutes for the home side to take the lead.
It was a moment of brilliance from their captain and talisman, Chidiebere Nwobodo. Nwobodo, who has been in sensational form this season with 4 goals already, picked up the ball in midfield, drove past two Abia Warriors midfielders, and unleashed a thunderous left footed strike from 25 yards that flew past Abia Warriors goalkeeper Johnson Nmecha into the top corner. 1-0 to Rangers and the Cathedral erupted.
Abia Warriors tried to respond, and they had a good chance in the 24th minute when Megwo headed over from close range from a cross by Emmanuel Ogbuagu. But Rangers were in control.
Their second goal came in the 38th minute and it was a beautifully worked team goal. Left back Effiong Ndifon overlapped and delivered a low cross into the box, which was cleverly dummies by Rangers striker Godwin Obaje, allowing the onrushing winger Kaz33m Ogunleye to slam the ball home from 10 yards. It was Ogunleye third goal of the season, and it showcased the fluid attacking football Ilechukwu has instilled in this Rangers side.
2-0 at halftime, and the game looked over as a contest.
After the break, Abia Warriors came out fighting. Amapakabo made two substitutions, bringing on former Rangers man Isaac Saviour and Paul Samson to add more attacking threat. And they got a lifetime in the 61st minutes. A defensive mix up between Rangers defender Ifeanyi Onyebuchi and goalkeeper Lucky Abdullahi allowed Sunday Megwo to pounce and slot into an empty net to make it 2-1. It was Megwo 5th goal of the season and it briefly silenced the Enugu crowd.
For about ten minutes, Abia Warriors pushed for an equaliser. They had Rangers on the ropes, with Megwo and Saviour both having half chances.
But Rangers showed their championship mentality. Instead of panicking, they regained control and killed the game off in the 79th minute.
Substitute Chinemerem Ugwueze, who had only been on the pitch for 5 minutes, sealed the victory with a clinical finish. A quick counter attack saw Ogunleye break down the right, his cross found Ugwueze unmarked at the back post, and the young forward made no mistake, volleying home to make it 3-1.
The final whistle confirmed Rangers fourth win in five games and took them to the top of the table with 16 points. They are now one point above Rivers United, who surprisingly drew 0-0 at home to Bendel Insurance on Sunday, and two points above Remo Stars who have a game in hand.
The Flying Antelopes have enjoyed a strong spell in recent games and their latest victory has taken them to the summit. Their attacking football has been a joy to watch, they have now scored 12 goals in 7 games, the second highest in the league. Their defense marshalled by Onyebuchi and Ugochukwu Ugwuoke, as also been solid, conceding only 5.
Speaking after the game, coach Fidelis Ilechukwu was delighted bury cautions. "I am happy with the performance of my boys. We showed character, we showed quality. To score three goals against a good side like Abia Warriors is not easy. But this is just Matchday 7. We have 31 more games to go. We will stay humble, keep working hard and take it one game at a time. Our goal is to be at the top at the end of the season, not just today ".
Rangers will now be hoping to maintain their consistency as they look to stay at the top and build momentum for the rest of the campaign. Their next fixture is a tricky away trip to Katsina United, followed by a home game against Kano Pillars, a potential title six pointer.
ENYIMBA 2-0 PLATEAU UNITED
At the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, there was a huge sense of relief as Enyimba secured their second win of the season, earning three valuable points that lifted them out of the relegation zone.
Before Sunday, Enyimba season had been nothing short of disastrous. The ninth time champions, the most successful club in Nigerian football history, had won only one of their first six games, drawn 2 and lost 3. They went into Matchday 7 sitting in 18th position, inside the relegation zone, with just 5 points. Pressure was mounting on veteran coach Stanley Eguma, who replaced Finidi George at the start of last season, with fans calling for his sack.
Their opponents, Plateau United, were not pushover. The former champions themselves were sitting in 8th with 9 points and had just come off a 1-0 win over Lobi Stars.
Eguma knew he needed a win and he made bold changes. He dropped underperforming striker Alade Balogun and handed a start to former Kwara United forward Wasiu Alalade alongside Ekene Awazie.
The change worked perfectly.
Enyimba started like a team possessed, cheered on by their faithful supporters in Aba. They dominated possession and created chances from the start.
The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute. A corner kick from former Super Eagles midfielder Joseph Atule was not cleared properly by the defender. The ball fell to the experienced defender Imo Obot on the edge of the box, who smashed a low volley through a crowded area into the net. 1-0 to Enyimba and the stadium breathed a sign of relief.
The Elephants continued to push and doubled their lead in the 54th minute with a goal that showcased their quality. A brilliant counter attack led by Atule saw him find Awazie on the right wing. Awazie cut inside and delivered a perfect cross for Wasiu Alalade, who rose highest to head home powerfully past Plateau United goalkeeper Adams Abubaker. It was Alalade first goal for Enyimba and a crucial one.
2-0 and Enyimba were cruising. Plateau United tried to fight back but Enyimba's defence, led by captain Somalia Alalibo, held firm. Goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo made two good saves late on to preserve the clean sheet Enyimba's first clean sheet of the season.
The final whistle was met with wild celebrations in Aba. The result provided a much needed boost for the Aba based side, who have struggled to find consistency since the start of the season. The win takes them from 18th to 14th on the table with 8 points from seven games. Still not where a club of Enyimba stature should be, but out of the drop zone and with momentum.
Coach Stanley Eguma, speaking after the game, was relieved, "This win is very important for our confidence. We have been working hard in training but results were not coming. Today the boys showed character and fought for every ball. We Enyimba, we cannot be in relegation. This is just the beginning of our revival. We have the quality to be at the top ".
Following their second win of the season after last week 1-0 win over Niger Tornadoes, Enyimba will be looking to build on the victory when they travel to Katsina to take on Katsina United in their matchday 8 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League next Sunday. It will be another tough away game, but if they can replicate their Aba performance, they can climb into the top half.
For Plateau United, the loss ends their two-game unbeaten run and leaves them in 10th with 9 points. Coach Mbwas Mangut will be disappointed with his side's defending but will hope to bounce back at home to Kwara United next weekend.
NIGER TORNADOES 1-0 KUN KHALIFAT: THE BOTTOM SIDE'S MISERY CONTINUES
At the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna, the contrasting fortunes of both clubs were evident as Niger Tornadoes secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over bottom placed Kun Khalifat FC.
Kun Khalifat tried to respond but lacked quality in the final third. Their best chance fell to their striker Chukwuebuka Anene in the 84th minute, but his shot from close range was brilliantly saved by Tornadoes goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo.
The setback leaves Kun Khalifat rooted to the bottom of the standings with just 4 points from 7 games. They have scored only 3 goals all season, the worst attack in the league, and conceded 11.
Their form guide makes for grim reading. Kunkhalifat have managed just one victory in their last seven games, that was a surprise 1-0 win over Kwara United on Matchday 3, with the remaining encounters ending in four draws and two defeats before Sunday's loss. Actually let me correct: they have 1 win, 1 draw and 5 defeats in 7 games. Their latest loss further highlights their struggles and the need for an immediate response.
Coach Obinna Uzoho, who led them to promotion, is under immense pressure. After the game, he admitted his team is struggling to adapt to the NPFL "The NPFL is a very tough league. We are a young team, many of our players are playing in the top flight for the first time. We are learning. But we need to start picking up points quickly or we will be cut adrift. I believe in my boys, we will fight ".
For Niger Tornadoes, the win takes them to 11 points and up to 6th place, just two points outside the top three. They have now won three home games in a row and are establishing their home ground as a fortress.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: WHAT MATCHDAY 7 TELLS US
After seven games, the NPFL table is beginning to take shape.
At the top, Enugu Rangers lead with 16 points, followed closely by Rivers United with 15, Remo Stars with 14 and a game in hand, and Shooting Stars with 13.
Rangers rise to the top is a testament to consistency, good recruitment and tactical stability. With players like Nwobodo, Ogunleye and Obaje firing, they look like genuine title contenders.
For Enyimba, the win over Plateau United could be the turning point. The Elephants have too much quality to be in a relegation battle. If they can build on this and go on a run, they will quickly climb the table. But they need to solve their away form, they have lost all three away games so far this season.
At the bottom, Kun Khalifat are in serious trouble. Alongside them in the relegation zone are Lobi Stars with 5 points, El-Kanemi Warriors with 6 points, so it is still very early, but Kun Khalifat must quickly find a way to stop their slide and begin collecting points if they are to climb away from the bottom and avoid an immediate return to the NNL.
For Rangers, the focus will now be on protecting their position at the summit. They have shown they can score goals and win derbies. The challenge now is to handle the pressure of being top.
Enyimba, meanwhile, will hope their latest victory can spark a revival that can take them from relegation battlers to title contenders, as they have done so many times in their illustrious history.
And for Kun Khalifat, every game is now a cup final. They travel to face Abia Warriors next Sunday in another oriental derby, a game they simply must not lose.
Matchday 7 has shown that the 26/27 EuroMatch NPFL season will be one of the most competitive in years. With Rangers flying, Enyimba awakening and Kun Khalifat struggling, there is drama at every end of the table
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