Enugu Rangers climbed to the top of the 2025/26 NPFL table on Matchday 28 as the title race tightened dramatically, while Alex Oweilayefa’s first career hat-trick powered Bendel Insurance to a stunning 4-0 dismantling of former leaders Ikorodu City.
Rangers Seize Top Spot as the Title Race Heats Up
Enugu Rangers are back on top of Nigerian football. Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side ground out a composed 2-0 win over Nasarawa United at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu on Sunday, and that was enough to push them to the summit of the 2025/26 NPFL standings with 47 points from 28 matches.
Godwin Obaje broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, and Chidiebere Nwobodo doubled the advantage just eight minutes later to settle any nerves. It wasn’t the most breathtaking performance of the weekend, but the Rangers don’t need to be breathtaking right now. They need to be reliable. On Sunday, they were exactly that.
The win nudges them one point ahead of Rivers United (46 points), who suffered a shock 1-0 defeat away to Bayelsa United in Yenagoa, courtesy of an early own goal by Temple Emekayi in the 13th minute. That result, combined with the Rangers’ win, has shifted the title race meaningfully. Rivers United have been the pace-setters for much of this season. Now they’re chasing.
Oweilayefa Steals the Show in Benin City
If Rangers’ victory was a statement, Bendel Insurance’s performance in Benin City was a spectacle. Alex Oweilayefa scored his first career hat-trick as the Benin Arsenal dismantled Ikorodu City 4-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, in one of the most emphatic results of the 2025/26 NPFL season.
Oweilayefa struck in the 15th, 27th and 59th minutes, with Wisdom Udom adding a fourth in the 24th minute to complete a dominant afternoon for Coach Kennedy Boboye’s side. It was merciless from start to finish. Ikorodu City, which sat top of the table as recently as Matchday 25, had no answers.
- Abdulaziz Dalhatu (Niger Tornadoes) — vs Plateau United, Matchday 8
- Second hat-trick scorer (Season record)
- Alex Oweilayefa (Bendel Insurance) — vs Ikorodu City, Matchday 28
The defeat drops Ikorodu City to third place with 45 points, two behind Rangers. For a team that had shown real title credentials earlier in the campaign, this was a humbling afternoon. Coach Ali Kandil will have some serious thinking to do before Matchday 29.
Matchday 28: All the Results
| Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Bendel Insurance | 4 – 0 | Ikorodu City |
| Enugu Rangers | 2 – 0 | Nasarawa United |
| Remo Stars | 2 – 0 | Katsina United |
| Niger Tornadoes | 0 – 0 | Warri Wolves |
| Bayelsa United | 1 – 0 | Rivers United |
| Enyimba | 1 – 1 | Kun Khalifat |
| Shooting Stars | 2 – 1 | Kano Pillars |
| El-Kanemi Warriors | 2 – 0 | Abia Warriors |
| Kwara United | 1 – 0 | Wikki Tourists |
| Barau FC | vs | Plateau United (Mon, March 2) |
Updated NPFL Standings (Top 5, After Matchday 28)
| Pos | Club | Pld | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enugu Rangers | 28 | 47 |
| 2 | Rivers United | 26* | 46 |
| 3 | Ikorodu City | 28 | 45 |
| 4 | Abia Warriors | 28 | 43 |
| 5 | Bendel Insurance | 28 | 41 |
*Rivers United have two games in hand
The Rest of the Weekend’s Story
Enyimba dropped two costly points at home. The reigning champions were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-placed Kun Khalifat at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba. James Ekebuike put the visitors ahead in the 38th minute before Ekene Awazie salvaged a point for the People’s Elephant. Kun Khalifat remains 20th with 29 points, but this result will sting Enyimba badly.
Remo Stars had a much-needed afternoon in Ikenne, beating Katsina United 2-0 thanks to a brace from Haruna Hadi in the 60th and 62nd minutes. Back-to-back goals inside two minutes. The Sky Blue Stars remain in the relegation zone in 18th position with 30 points, but at least they’re fighting.
Shooting Stars returned to winning ways in Ibadan, beating Kano Pillars 2-1. Goals from Sodiq Ibrahim and Qamar Adegoke put the Oluyole Warriors in control before Mustapha Jibrin grabbed a late consolation. Shooting Stars sit seventh with 41 points, while Kano Pillars are in serious trouble in 17th place with 32 points.
In Maiduguri, El-Kanemi Warriors beat Abia Warriors 2-0. A first-half penalty from Daddy Abdulrahman and a late strike from Bashir Musa did the job. El-Kanemi are eighth with 41 points.
Can Anyone Stop Rangers?
This is the question the 2025/26 NPFL title race is now asking. Ilechukwu’s side won the title in 2023-24, their eighth championship in club history, and they’re chasing a back-to-back here. With 47 points from 28 matches, they sit in the driving seat, but Rivers United remain the most dangerous challenger. The Pride of Rivers have two games in hand on Rangers, which means this lead could evaporate quickly.
For those tracking the three-way battle between Rangers, Rivers United, and Ikorodu City, the Bet9ja YOHAIG promotion code is worth knowing about if you’re building accumulators around these title-deciding fixtures. The three-team gap of just two points across the top three makes every remaining matchday a potential betting event.
📋 Analysis: What Matchday 28 Tells Us
Rangers’ consistency is their biggest weapon. They’re not always spectacular, but they keep winning. A 2-0 win without breaking a sweat is exactly what title-chasing teams need to do.
Rivers United’s defeat is a warning sign. Losing to Bayelsa United, a side in the bottom half, shows vulnerability. The games in hand mean nothing if they keep dropping points against teams they should be beating.
Ikorodu City’s 4-0 collapse is alarming. They were genuine title contenders three weeks ago. A heavy home defeat, combined with Rangers and Rivers United staying above them, has damaged their momentum at the worst possible time.
Bendel Insurance are dark horses. Kennedy Boboye has them playing with real confidence. Oweilayefa’s hat-trick is a reminder that Insurance has quality in attack. Don’t write them off for a top-three finish.
What Comes Next
Matchday 28 wraps up on Monday, March 2, with Barau FC hosting Plateau United in Kano. That result will complete the picture of this weekend’s standings before preparations for Matchday 29 begin.
With roughly ten matchdays remaining in the 2025/26 season, every result now carries serious weight. Rangers lead, Rivers United lurk with games in hand, and Ikorodu City need to respond quickly. Nigerian football fans haven’t had a title race this tight in years. Enjoy it.
📌 Did You Know?
- Alex Oweilayefa’s hat-trick against Ikorodu City on Sunday was the first of his professional career, making him only the third player to score a hat-trick in the 2025/26 NPFL season.
- Enugu Rangers won their eighth NPFL title in the 2023-24 season under coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, who rewarded Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah with a title that earned the club a ₦50 million reward from the state government.
- Bayelsa United’s 1-0 win over Rivers United on Sunday completed a league double over the Pride of Rivers this season, making them one of very few sides to take six points off the title challengers.
- Kun Khalifat’s 1-1 draw at Enyimba was one of the biggest shocks of the weekend. The bottom-placed side now has 29 points, only three fewer than the clubs directly above them in 16th to 19th position, making the relegation battle as tight as the title race.
- Coach Kennedy Boboye of Bendel Insurance previously won the NPFL title with Plateau United in the 2016-17 season, making him one of the most experienced title-winning coaches still active in the league.
- Remo Stars won the NPFL title in 2022-23 but are currently 18th in the standings. Their dramatic fall from champions to relegation candidates in under three seasons is one of the most remarkable stories in recent Nigerian football history.
- Rivers United have two outstanding games compared to Rangers and Ikorodu City. If they win both, they would leapfrog Rangers back to the top, meaning the title race standings today could look completely different by midweek.
