The race for the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title has been blown wide open after Rivers United suffered a 3–1 defeat to Nasarawa United at the Lafia Township Stadium on Monday.
The result sees Rivers United drop to second place, now two points behind Enugu Rangers, who climbed to the top of the table following a 2–0 victory over El Kanemi Warriors at the Cathedral on Sunday.
Rivers, who had been leading the standings with three games in hand due to their CAF Champions League group stage commitments, are now enduring a poor run of form. The Port Harcourt side have lost their last four matches, slipping to second with just seven games left in the season.
Their hopes of a positive result in Lafia were dashed early, as Nasarawa United raced into a commanding lead with three goals in the opening 16 minutes.
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Ngei Oluka-Efor opened the scoring in the third minute, before Abubakar Abdullahi doubled the advantage in the seventh minute. Izuchukwu Chimezie added a third in the 16th minute, leaving Rivers United stunned. Taiwo Abdulrafiu pulled one back for the visitors in the 25th minute, but it proved to be only a consolation.
Tensions flared after the restart, with security officials stepping in to restore calm before play resumed. Nasarawa United later sealed the victory in the 56th minute through Jofrank Istifanus, ensuring all three points for the hosts.
The win lifts the Solid Miners to third place on the table, leapfrogging Ikorodu City. They now sit two points behind Rivers United and four points off leaders Enugu Rangers, further intensifying the title race.
Elsewhere, Abia Warriors secured a 2–1 victory over Niger Tornadoes to climb to fifth position. Suraj Lawal gave the hosts an early lead in the seventh minute, while Casmir Azubuike doubled the advantage in the 65th minute. Joseph Godfrey pulled one back for Tornadoes in the 81st minute, but it was not enough to prevent defeat.
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