The 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League season got off to an entertaining start, with defending champions Rangers International forced to settle for a draw, while Kano Pillars surrendered a two-goal advantage in stoppage time,Trybal News reports.
- Rangers 1-1 Katsina United
- Kwara United 2-2 Kano Pillars
- Niger Tornadoes 2-1 Enyimba
- Barau FC 3-1 Nasarawa United
- Ikorodu City 3-1 Ranchers Bees
- Rivers United 2-0 Plateau United
- Doma United 2-0 Sporting Lagos
- Bendel Insurance 2-1 Warri Wolves
- Shooting Stars 2-1 Inter Lagos
- Abia Warriors vs Kun Khalifat — Match Suspended
- Matchday One Results
Shooting Stars opened the new campaign with a 2-1 victory over newly promoted Inter Lagos on Friday, before eight more completed fixtures followed over the weekend.
There were victories for Barau FC, Ikorodu City, Rivers United, Doma United, Niger Tornadoes and Bendel Insurance, while Enyimba suffered an early defeat in Minna.
Katsina United and Kano Pillars both came within minutes of claiming impressive away victories, only to concede late goals. The Abia Warriors versus Kun Khalifat encounter was the only fixture that could not be completed after heavy rainfall forced the game to be suspended with 17 minutes remaining.
Rangers 1-1 Katsina United
Defending champions Rangers International were forced to settle for a point in their opening match after a dramatic late own goal denied Katsina United a famous away victory.
Luis Dadong put Katsina United ahead in the 38th minute, leaving Rangers with plenty of work to do in their title defence.
The visitors looked set to hold on for all three points until the seventh minute of added time, when Chibueze Oputa inadvertently turned the ball into his own net to rescue a point for the champions.
Rangers avoided an opening-day defeat, but the result represents a frustrating start for the reigning champions as they begin their defence of the NPFL title.
Kwara United 2-2 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars looked set to begin the season with a valuable away victory before a dramatic late collapse allowed Kwara United to snatch a point in Ilorin.
Shola Abdulraheem gave Pillars the lead in the 12th minute 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 pulling one back in the 47th minute.
Pillars remained ahead until the seventh minute of added time, when Jerry struck again to complete his brace and rescue a 2-2 draw for the hosts.
Niger Tornadoes 2-1 Enyimba
Niger Tornadoes began their campaign with a hard-fought victory over Enyimba in Minna.
Aliyu Goyi broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, sending Tornadoes into half-time with the lead.
Enyimba restored parity through Wonah Williams in the 71st minute and appeared on course for a share of the points.
Michael Olalusi, however, had other ideas, scoring in the 83rd minute to secure all three points for the hosts and hand Enyimba an early setback.
Barau FC 3-1 Nasarawa United
Barau FC made an impressive start to life in the new campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Nasarawa United in Kano.
Joseph Atule opened the scoring after 15 minutes, but Nasarawa United quickly responded through Abubakar Abdullahi five minutes later.
The game remained level until the final stages, when Barau took control.
Al’Amin Umar restored the hosts’ lead in the 78th minute before Sugau Aliyu added a third four minutes later to complete an impressive opening-day victory.
Barau had also defeated Nasarawa United 3-0 in Kano last season and once again proved too strong for the Solid Miners on home soil.
Ikorodu City 3-1 Ranchers Bees
Ikorodu City came from behind to defeat promoted Ranchers Bees 3-1 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
The visitors stunned the hosts when Chiedozie Okorie opened the scoring after just seven minutes.
Ikorodu City responded strongly, with Umar Dan’Azumi equalising in the 30th minute before Abayomi Ayodeji completed the turnaround before half-time.
Farouk Salami then converted from the penalty spot three minutes from full-time to secure the points for Ikorodu City.
Ranchers Bees also finished the match with 10 men.
The victory ended an unwanted run for Ikorodu City, who had failed to win their opening league fixture in either of their previous two NPFL seasons.
Rivers United 2-0 Plateau United
Rivers United made a confident start to their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Plateau United.
Abdulrasheed Shehu Dabai gave the hosts an early advantage in the sixth minute before Wasiu Falolu doubled the lead in the 38th minute.
The two first-half goals proved enough as Rivers United controlled the game after the break to secure maximum points.
For Finidi George’s side, the result provides an ideal start to another campaign in which they will be looking to challenge for the NPFL title after finishing as runners-up last season.
Doma United 2-0 Sporting Lagos
Doma United marked their return to the NPFL with a 2-0 victory over fellow promoted side Sporting Lagos in Gombe.
Sadiq Rilwan gave the hosts the perfect start by opening the scoring in the eighth minute.
Sporting Lagos struggled to find a way back into the contest, and Daniel Simon eventually put the result beyond doubt with Doma United’s second goal in the 75th minute.
It was a memorable return to the top flight for Doma United, who immediately picked up maximum points.
Bendel Insurance 2-1 Warri Wolves
Bendel Insurance came from behind to defeat Warri Wolves 2-1 in Benin City.
Eventus Itolowo gave Warri Wolves an early lead after just five minutes, but Insurance responded through Kayode Oke, who converted a penalty in the 20th minute.
Alex Oweilayefa completed the comeback two minutes after half-time, putting Insurance ahead in the 47th minute.
The hosts successfully defended their advantage to begin the campaign with three points.
Shooting Stars 2-1 Inter Lagos
Shooting Stars became the first winners of the 2026/27 NPFL season after defeating newly promoted 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.
The Oluyole Warriors protected their advantage throughout the second half, although they were given another opportunity to extend their lead late in the game. Substitute Mustapha Adams Agba’a missed the resulting penalty.
Despite the miss, Shooting Stars held on to secure their first opening-day NPFL victory in three seasons.
Abia Warriors vs Kun Khalifat — Match Suspended
The only fixture yet to be completed is the meeting between Abia Warriors and Kun Khalifat.
Heavy rainfall made the playing conditions unsuitable and forced the match to be suspended in the 73rd minute with the score still 0-0.
The remaining 17 minutes are scheduled to be played on Monday morning, meaning both sides must wait a little longer before their Matchday 1 points tally is confirmed.
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
- Abia Warriors 0-0 Kun Khalifat — suspended in 73rd minute
