Remo Stars defeated Shooting Stars 1-0 in a tense South West derby played in Ikenne on Sunday. Samuel Anakwe scored the only goal in the 49th minute, finishing past the goalkeeper after a swift move down the left flank initiated by Victor Mbaoma's dummy run inside the box. The win lifted Remo Stars to 17th on the NPFL table, easing their early-season struggles with a hard-fought victory over their regional rivals. In Enugu, Rangers returned to the summit despite being held to a goalless draw by Barau FC at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Warri Wolves handed Rivers United their first defeat of the matchday with a 2-0 win at the Okporo Stadium in Ozoro. Igbunu Evwierhurhoma converted a penalty in the 12th minute, and Othuke Egbo sealed the result with a goal in the 90th minute. The loss dropped Rivers United to second place. At the Lafia City Stadium, fourth-placed Nasarawa United suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Kun Khalifat FC, with Stanley Otu scoring in stoppage time.
Kano Pillars delivered the day's most dominant performance, overpowering Bendel Insurance 4-0 at the Sani Abacha Stadium. Mustapha Jibrin, Chiedozie Okorie, Muhammad Aminu, and Bernard Ovoke each found the net. Kwara United also enjoyed a comfortable outing, defeating El-kanemi Warriors 3-0 in Ilorin through goals from Junior Aimufua, Samsudeen Mohammed, and Abdulsalam Abdulsalam. Katsina United edged Niger Tornadoes 1-0 thanks to a 65th-minute strike by Elijah Akanni.
Samuel Anakwe's 49th-minute goal wasn't just the difference in the derby — it exposed how finely balanced matches between Remo Stars and Shooting Stars have become, where one moment of clarity outweighs prolonged possession. While Rangers sit top, their goalless draw suggests their edge may be slipping despite the table position. The real shock lies in Nasarawa United's stoppage-time collapse, proving no lead is safe against a determined underdog like Kun Khalifat FC.
