NPFL 2026/27: Rivers United, Barau ,Doma United start season with wins as Rangers secure draw
The 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League season got underway with a busy opening weekend as defending champions Rangers needed a stoppage-time goal to avoid defeat, Enyimba fell in Minna, while Barau FC, Ikorodu City, Rivers United and Doma United began with victories.
Shooting Stars had set the season in motion on Friday with a 2-1 win over newly promoted Inter Lagos in Ibadan before nine other fixtures followed yesterday.
Across the opening round, home teams largely held their ground, although Katsina United and Kano Pillars came close to recording away victories before late equalisers denied them maximum points.
The Abia Warriors versus Kun Khalifat fixture was the only game not completed after heavy rain forced play to be suspended in the 73rd minute with the score still goalless.
Defending champions Rangers began their title defence with a 1-1 draw against Katsina United after Chibueze Oputa struck an own goal seven minutes into added time to level Luis Dadong’s 38th minute opener.
Niger Tornadoes made a winning start with a 2-1 victory over Enyimba in Minna.
Aliyu Goyi opened the scoring in the 40th minute to send Tornadoes into the break ahead at the Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna.
Enyimba fought back after the restart and drew level through Wonah Williams in the 71st minute, but their hopes of leaving Minna with at least a point were dashed when Michael Olalusi struck in the 83rd minute.
The late goal secured maximum points for Tornadoes and left Enyimba with an early setback.
Barau FC were among the biggest winners of Matchday One after beating Nasarawa United 3-1. The Maliya Boys defeated the Solid Miners 3-0 last season also in Kano.
This term, Joseph Atule opened the scoring in the 15th minute before Abubakar Abdullahi responded for Nasarawa United five minutes later.
The game remained level until the closing stages when Barau took control.
Al’Amin Umar restored their lead in the 78th minute before Sugau Aliyu added another four minutes later to complete the victory.
Ikorodu City had to come from behind before securing an impressive 3-1 victory over promoted Ranchers Bees at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
Ranchers Bees stunned the hosts when Chiedozie Okorie put them ahead after just seven minutes.
Ikorodu City responded through Umar Dan’Azumi, who equalised in the 30th minute, before Abayomi Ayodeji completed the first-half turnaround.
Farouk Salami then converted a penalty three minutes from time to put the result beyond Ranchers Bees, who finished the contest with 10 men.
The victory was particularly significant for Ikorodu City, who had failed to win their opening league fixture in each of their previous two NPFL seasons.
Last season’s runners-up Rivers United started with a comfortable 2-0 home victory over Plateau United.
Abdulrasheed Shehu Dabai opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Wasiu Falolu doubled the advantage in the 38th minute.
The two first-half goals proved enough as Rivers United protected their advantage after the break to collect all three points.
For Finidi George’s side, it was the kind of opening result they would have wanted as they begin another attempt to challenge for the NPFL title.
Doma United marked their return to the top flight with a 2-0 victory over fellow promoted side Sporting Lagos in Gombe.
Sadiq Rilwan gave Doma United the perfect start with the opening goal in the eighth minute.
Sporting Lagos attempted to find a way back into the contest, but Daniel Simon settled matters in the 75th minute with Doma’s second goal.
Bendel Insurance recovered from an early setback to defeat Warri Wolves 2-1 in Benin City.
Eventus Itolowo put Wolves ahead after only five minutes, but their advantage did not last long.
Kayode Oke brought Insurance level from the penalty spot in the 20th minute before Alex Oweilayefa completed the comeback two minutes after the restart.
The 47th -minute goal proved decisive as Insurance held on for an opening-day victory.
Kwara United produced one of the biggest comebacks of Matchday One, recovering from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Kano Pillars in Ilorin.
Shola Abdulraheem gave Pillars the lead in the 12th minute when he scored against his former club before veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali doubled the advantage in the 29th minute.
Kwara United responded immediately after the interval, with Alex Jerry reducing the deficit in the 47th minute.
Pillars remained in front until deep into added time when Jerry struck again in the 97th minute to complete his brace and rescue a point for the hosts.
Shooting Stars were the first winners of the new season after beating Inter Lagos 2-1 at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Friday.
Lucky Emmanuel opened the scoring in the 15th minute before Inter Lagos captain Uchenna Njoku equalised seven minutes later.
Sodiq Ibrahim restored Shooting Stars’ lead from the penalty spot in first-half added time, and the Oluyole Warriors protected their advantage throughout the second half. Shooting Stars were handed another penalty late in the game, but substitute Mustapha Adams Agba’a failed to convert.
The victory gave Shooting Stars their first opening-day NPFL win in three seasons.
The meeting between Abia Warriors and Kun Khalifat could not be completed after heavy rainfall left the playing conditions unsuitable.
The game was stopped in the 73rd minute with neither side having scored.
The remaining 17 minutes are scheduled to be played on Monday morning, meaning both teams will have to wait to discover how their opening fixture ends.
MATCHDAY ONE RESULTS:
Shooting Stars 2-1 Inter Lagos
Kwara United 2-2 Kano Pillars
Doma United 2-0 Sporting Lagos
Niger Tornadoes 2-1 Enyimba
Bendel Insurance 2-1 Warri Wolves
Barau FC 3-1 Nasarawa United
Rangers 1-1 Katsina United
Rivers United 2-0 Plateau United
Crédito: Link de origem