The antepenultimate Matchday of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season confirmed Heartland FC’s relegation, following a 4-1 loss to Remo Stars in Ikenne on Wednesday.
A brace from Stanley Joseph and strikes from Franck Mauwena and Jide Fatokun gave the Sky Blue Stars an emphatic victory, as they moved to the second place on the log, disposing of Enyimba who played a 1-1 draw against Bayelsa United in Aba.
The draw presents itself as a huge setback to the People’s Elephants’ title chase, following their catastrophic outing against Rangers International at the Cathedral last Sunday.
Despite being awarded three points and three goals from the abandoned Oriental Derby, Rangers failed to leverage the advantage as they lost 1-0 to Shooting Stars in Ibadan.
Christian Pyagbara’s 13th-minute header was enough to secure all maximum points for the Oluloye Warriors, as they kept their ninth straight clean sheets, whilst keeping the title race open for the top four teams ahead of the last two matchdays.
NPFL newbie Sporting Lagos remains on the verge of relegation following a 2-1 loss to Plateau United at the Onikan Stadium. Chimezie Izuchukwu and Bernard Mundi’s first-half strikes were enough despite Jonathan Alukwu’s 79th-minute strike, as the Lagos-based team suffered their first home loss.
Other results saw relegated Gombe United suffer a 3-1 home loss to Abia Warriors, as Akwa defeated Katsina United 3-1. Kwara United secured a 2-0 victory over Kano Pillars whilst Naija Tornadoes were 2-0 victors over Lobi Stars.
Although the heavy rainfall in Benin halted the fixture between Bendel Insurance and Rivers United, Insurance held on for their 2-1 win over Rivers to wrap up NPFL Matchday 36 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
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