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The Bauchi Elephants returned to the summit of the Nigerian top flight, after the Flying Antelopes slipped at home to Lobi Stars.
Enugu Rangers 1-1 Lobi Stars
Title chasers Enugu Rangers were held to a 1-1 tie by 10-man Lobi Stars at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in the match day 28 of the Nigeria Professional Football League.
After a barren opening 20 minutes, both teams came back with more urgency to score. However, it was Rangers who turned this into reality in the 23rd minute. Ocheme Edoh scrambled home a Chidiebere Okolie's cross from the flank.
The goal seemed to have woken up the visitors from a slumber as they pinned suddenly their opponents in their own half with great ball juggling skills and tearing open Rangers' defence time and again.
In the 62nd minute, Kingsley Eduwo netted the visitors' equaliser.
Rangers were urged on by their fans to grab the match winner.
Despite the 73rd minute red card issued to Sunday Akleche, the Flying Antelopes failed to unlock the stubborn Lobi Stars defense at the home stretch.
Wikki Tourists 2-0 Abia Warriors
Wikki Tourists' intent to win their first league title remained well on course after silencing Abia Warriors 2-0 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.
The win pushed the MA Boys to the top of the table on goal-difference after previous leaders Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw by Lobi Stars.
Wikki's goals were scored in each half through Ibrahim Alhassan and Godwin Obaje as Abdul Maikaba's charges moved to 47 points.
Alhassan netted the opener with 24 minutes played though Abdullahi Musa's pass.
Young striker Obaje doubled the score with a low shot in the 67th minute after he beat Emmanuel Olowo to the ball. It was the striker's 14th goal of the season.
With the result, Wikki Tourists are on top of the table with 47 points, tied with Rangers but have a better goal difference of +20 as against the Flying Antelopes' +8.
Kano Pillars 1-0 MFM FC
Gambo Mohammed grabbed the match winner as Kano Pillars pipped MFM FC at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
The home side needed Gambo's second half header to pick up the maximum points at stake.
Pillars started the game brightly as they neatly passed the ball around but they had it difficult in breaking the away side's defence.
The Olukoya Boys began to warm themselves into the game by pinning the home side with long balls.
MFM FC neutralised Pillars' midfield, forcing the Kano giants to defend deep at times.
Baba Ganaru's wards were the better side in terms of possession in the first half.
The opening minutes in the second half was even as both sides had the fair share of possession but Pillars looked very dangerous whenever they have the ball.
Kano Pillars broke the deadlock in the 61st minute - Gambo nodded the ball beyond MFM goalkeeper Nasumu Emmanuel.
The away side after the goal threw a lot of bodies upfront but their attackers were kept at bay.
Chances were far and few as the former league champions held on to win the game.
Shooting Stars 3-1 Niger Tornadoes
Niger Tornadoes wasted the chance to ease their relegation woes, dropping a crucial three points in a 3-1 defeat to Shooting Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium.
Shooting Stars dominated for most of the game and took their chances when it mattered most.
It was Tornadoes' 13th loss of the campaign while Shooting Stars zoomed off from the relegation zone to 15th spot after their ruthless performance.
Shooting Stars surged at the start and rewarded for their handwork.
Talented attacking midfielder Tayo Adebogun scored the curtain raiser for the Oluyole Warriors seven minutes into the tie.
Desperate for three points to avoid the drop, Shooting Stars doubled the scoreline thanks to Sunday Adetunji goal from Adebogun's assist.
There was one more goal from Adetunji and he got a brace for himself in the 37th minute.
Tornadoes pulled a face saving goal back in the 82nd minute courtesy of Musa Mustapha's cross which deceived goalkeeper Charles Tambe.
Heartland FC 0-0 FC Ifeanyi Ubah
Heartland FC and FC Ifeanyi Ubah settled for a 0-0 draw in the Oriental Derby at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, a game that set off at 4pm local time.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah's goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa played a key role in the match especially in the second half to keep the Anambra Warriors in the match making crucial saves on several occasion.
The game started in a possessive style as both teams controlled the ball from the centre of the pitch with limited dangerous attacks at both opponents goals.
The first clear chance of the match was in the 23rd minute. Omo Johnson curled in a shot but Ezenwa's fine save denied the former Kano Pillars winger.
A poor clearance allowed Bright Ejike to shoot in the 31st minute. Ezenwa however, gained composure just in time to block the effort with a fingertip save.
For the second time Johnson's dipping strike long rage effort did trouble Ezenwa. The forward unleashed a rasping shot forcing the outstretched ex Heartland goalie to parry out for a corner.
The teams came back in the second half and both coaches seeking to win the battle.
Chinedu Efugh came close to giving Heartland the lead after being set up by Zoumana Doumbia. However the skipper's header failed to trouble Ezenwa.
Heartland's dominance continued with the influence of new entrant Emeka Ogbugh and Doumbia being visible.
Man-of-the-match Ezenwa was at his best to deny Oghugh late in the tie as the pace of the game reduced and much of the playtime with a content FC Ifeanyi Ubah seemingly falling back to defend the barren draw.
Warri Wolves 3-1 Akwa United
Warri Wolves rallied from a goal down to defeat Akwa United after a thrilling 3-1 victory at the Warri City Stadium on Sunday morning.
The brilliant result ended Wolves' poor run of four games without a win in the league.
Wolves now have 34 points from 27 games, while Akwa United have 37 points from the same number of matches.
It was all systems go from the first minute as coach Mansur Abdullahi's Wolves showed determination to pick the three maximum points at stake.
It was the Promise Keepers, however, who went in front in the 34th minute, Fortune Omoniwari shocked the home team.
The lead lasted ten minutes, Sikiru Adewale Alimi easily dispatched his spot kick to the back of the net.
Wolves were in front in the 60th minute. Former Golden Eaglets winger King Osanga finished off a move he started.
And Mansur's side further increased their advantage seven minutes later, as Kelvin Itoya was on hand to register his name on the score sheet.
The referee added on three minutes stoppage time for all of the delays, but there was no further goals and Wolves were dancing at the final whistle.
Ikorodu United 2-2 Nasarawa United
It was two goals apiece as Ikorodu United drew with Nasarawa United at the Onikan Waterfront on Sunday.
Paul Duke opened the scoring in the 36th minute, before Abdulrahman Bashir levelled the scores.
Oluwole Balogun Johnson gave Ikorodu United the lead, before central defender Samson Gbadebo earned Nasarawa United the point.
It was a perfect first half for the Oga Boys when Muyiwa Lawal passed to Duke who showed class as he superbly applied the finishing touch to make it 1-0.
Bashir levelled the scores for the away side in the 46th minute.
Ifeanyi Nweke provided a pin-point pass to find Bashir inside the box and the former ABS player made no mistake with a clinical finish to make it 1-1.
The Solid Miners dominated proceedings, but they failed to take their chances in front of goal and were made to pay dearly when they went behind for the second time in the 60th minute.
Kabir Balogun whipped in a cross and Oluwole rose highest to head the ball home to give Ikorodu the lead.
The slim advantage only lasted four minutes as Gbadebo found the back of the net.
With the result, Nasarawa United ended a 12-game losing streak on the road.
Plateau United 2-0 Enyimba FC
Plateau United gave their supporters something to cheer about on Sunday afternoon as they put up a spirited performance to defeat Enyimba International FC 2-0 at the Rwang Pam Stadium.
The performance of Plateau United against the Aba side gave the Jos outfit hope in their quest to escape relegation.
The game as expected started on a high note.
It was Plateau United who took control winning most of possession and as well as creating great goalscoring opportunities, most of which was wasted by the strikers made up of Kabiru Umar, Joshua Obaje and Benjamin Turba.
The Jos fans were given something to cheer about when Obaje kept his composure to fire home the first goal in the 37th minute. It was a great goal by all standards. Umar cut a pass across into the path of the on rushing Obaje who coolly picked his spot to fire past Theophilus Afelokhai in post for the People's Elephants.
Abu Azeez had the chance to level matters for the reigning champions but he failed to apply the finish despite Danladi Isa at his mercy.
In the 70th minute, Bright Silas after ghosting past two defenders set up substitute Sunday Ingbede who slotted home the second goal, much to the delight of the fans. Plateau United managed to hold on till the final whistle that saw them beat the CAF Champions League campaigners 2-0.
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