Remo Stars, Rangers International, and Kano Pillars all picked home wins, with Shootings Stars recording the only away victory on matchday 16 of the Nigeria Professional Football League, Soccernet.ng reports.
Rivers United dropped to second place, albeit on goal difference, after suffering a slim 1-0 defeat in Enugu against Rangers International FC.
Finidi George’s men had not lost any of their last four matches but Collins Ugwueze’s 15th-minute strike was enough to condemn the Pride of Rivers to their third defeat of the campaign.
Reigning champions Rangers rose to third place on the log following that win inside the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Remo Stars are the new leaders of the NPFL after they turned Ikenne into a slaughterhouse for visiting El-Kanemi Warriors. First-half goals from Peter Onuoha and Kwame Mawuena lifted Remo Stars to a convincing 2-0 win over the FA Cup holders.
After an excellent run of six games without defeat, a streak that included five wins, Ikorodu FC finally met their waterloo inside the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa where homers Bayelsa United powered to a 1-0 victory.
Fans inside the Jos International Stadium arguably witnessed the best game of the weekend as Plateau United edged to a 3-2 win over visiting Heartland FC.
Heartland led 2-1 midway into the second half after Tobi Iyanda’s quickfire brace overturned Sunday Anthony’s early strike for Plateau United.
However, Anthony completed his double in the 69th minute to equalise for the hosts before Pam Mafeng’s stoppage-time winner ensured Emmanuel Amunike and his men returned to Owerri empty-handed.
In other matches, Kano Pillars claimed a 1-0 win over Katsina United at the Sani Abacha Stadium while Niger Tornadoes fell to a 2-1 defeat at Abia Warriors.
Earlier on Saturday, Otakho Aghahowa’s sucker punch was all Shooting Stars needed to knockout Sunshine Stars in the Southwestern derby.
The win lifted the Oluyole Warriors to fifth place on the league table, level on points with fourth place Ikorodu City and five shy of leaders Remo Stars.