Four matches remain for all but one club in the abridged 2023 Nigeria Professional Football League season and the race for qualification out of Groups A and B continue to intensify as teams attempt to secure a top three position and move on to the championship stage. Bendel Insurance and Lobi Stars remain the leaders of Group A and B respectively despite less than ideal results for both teams over the weekend. Bendel played to a 1-1 draw at Remo Stars and remain four points clear at the top of Group A while Lobi Stars are three points ahead in Group B following a 3-0 defeat to Bayelsa United in rainy Yenagoa.
In Group A it is Enyimba who moved into second position with a 2-1 victory at Kwara United courtesy of Chijioke Mbaoma whose brace helped the People’s Elephant leap past Akwa United into second place. Ibrahim Mustapha’s penalty kick was the only goal in Akwa’s 1-0 defeat to Plateau United, moving Plateau into fourth place two points behind Akwa. Remo Stars are in fifth place on twenty points after being docked three points earlier this season.
Lobi Stars lead Group B but the club from Benue State will be feeling some pressure with Rivers United lurking three points behind. Rivers defeated Dakkada FC in a match played early on Monday to keep the club within three points of Lobi Stars in second place where they are comfortably in the race for the championship stage while preparing for the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals later this month. Only three points separate Rivers from fifth place with Doma United, Abia Warriors and Niger Tornadoes firmly in the hunt to advance.
Highlights from several of the weekend’s games are below following the full list of scores and tables from both groups.
Scores
Group A
Nasarawa United 1-1 Gombe United
Plateau United 1-0 Akwa United
Kwara United 1-2 Enyimba
Remo Stars 1-1 Bendel Insurance
El Kanemi Warriors 0-0 Shooting Stars
Group B
Abia Warriors 2-1 Sunshine Stars
Doma United 2-0 Wikki Tourists
Bayelsa United 3-0 Lobi Stars
Enugu Rangers 2-2 Niger Tornadoes
Rivers United 1-0 Dakkada FC
League Table
Group A
Group B
Highlights
Remo Stars 1-1 Bendel Insurance
Plateau United 1-0 Akwa United
Bayelsa United 3-0 Lobi Stars
Abia Warriors 2-1 Sunshine Stars
Nasarawa United 1-1 Gombe United
