It was an intriguing day in the NPFL with leaders Rangers and Enyimba staying close to each other with wins while Barbie Boy was the hero in Lagos.
In the Nigerian Premierl Football League (NPFL), the top teams continued to jockey for position at the summit, with some surprise results adding to the excitement.
The headline story of the day came in Lagos, where Jonathan Alukwu, affectionately known as "Barbie Boy," emerged as the hero for Sporting Lagos.
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NPFL Results
The super-sub came off the bench to score a brace and inspire his team to a thrilling 4-2 victory over Abia Warriors.
Alukwu's heroics saved the day for Sporting Lagos manager Abdullahi Biffo, who was facing his former club Abia Warriors in his first home match in charge of the "Tech Boys."
Elsewhere, league leaders Rangers continued their steady march at the top with a routine 2-0 win over Plateau United in Enugu. The Flying Antelopes scored once in each half to maintain their position at the summit.
Defending champions Enyimba also kept pace with the leaders, grinding out a narrow 1-0 victory over Katsina United in Aba. The win ensured the People's Elephant remained within touching distance of the top.
The shock of the day came in Gombe, where Lobi Stars suffered a stunning 3-1 defeat to the bottom-placed team. This result dealt a significant blow to the Pride of Benue's title aspirations.
Elsewhere, Shooting Stars continued their impressive run of form, securing a 2-0 win over Sunshine Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. The Oluyole Warriors turned on the style in the second half to overcome their 10-man opponents to break into the top four.
In Uyo, Akwa United moved out of the relegation zone for the first time in weeks with a dominant 3-0 thrashing of Kano Pillars. The Promise Keepers put on a commanding performance to secure a much-needed victory.
Overall, it was a day of high drama and unexpected results in the NPFL, with the top teams showcasing their resilience and the underdogs causing some major upsets.
As the season progresses, the race for the title and the battle to avoid relegation promise to be an enthralling one.
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