Matchday nine of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) delivered plenty of excitement, surprises, and drama, as away teams stole the show with impressive wins — notably Warri Wolves and Kun Khalifat — while Niger Tornadoes’ Abdulaziz Dalhatu grabbed headlines with a sensational hat-trick in Minna.
At the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, Warri Wolves stunned the home crowd with a 2–1 victory over Enyimba, ending the People’s Elephants’ four-game unbeaten run at home. The visitors went ahead in the 18th minute after a Mohammed Hussaini own goal, before Edidiong Ezekiel equalised for Enyimba 10 minutes later. But Tejiri Emonena’s 67th-minute strike sealed all three points for Wolves — their first away win of the season — and left Enyimba slipping to eighth on the table with 13 points.
Over in Yenagoa, Bayelsa United suffered another heartbreak as Kun Khalifat continued their fine form with a 2–1 victory. Uche Moses put the visitors in front early in the second half, before Jawad Mustapha levelled from the penalty spot. Olubode Hassan’s 77th-minute winner, however, ensured Khalifat walked away with all three points — their second consecutive win after beating Enyimba last weekend.
The standout result came in Minna, where Niger Tornadoes demolished Plateau United 4–0 in a one-sided affair. Abdulaziz Dalhatu was the hero of the day, scoring a hat-trick in the 13th, 52nd, and 69th minutes, while Terdoo Shimagande added a late fourth to complete the rout. The emphatic win moved Tornadoes up to fourth place with 14 points and a growing sense of confidence in front of goal.
In Ibadan, Shooting Stars continued their strong home form with a 2–0 win over Abia Warriors. Ayobami Junior opened the scoring in the 21st minute, while Qamar Adegoke’s late goal sealed the result. The victory extended 3SC’s unbeaten run to five matches and pushed them up to second place on the log with 15 points, just behind Nasarawa United.
League leaders Nasarawa United endured a reality check in Lagos, where Ikorodu City defeated them 2–0. Chidera Oparaocha opened the scoring in the 14th minute, and Joseph Arumala doubled the lead in the second half. Despite the loss, Nasarawa stayed top with 19 points, while Ikorodu City climbed to fifth with 14 points and extended their unbeaten home run to an impressive 22 games — ironically, their last home defeat came against Nasarawa in 2024.
In Ilorin, Kwara United edged Katsina United 2–1 thanks to an 80th-minute winner from Ibrahim Yahaya. The result moved Kwara into the top half of the table with 12 points, while Katsina dropped to 11th despite four wins this season.
El-Kanemi Warriors continued their dominance at home, beating Wikki Tourists 2–1 in Maiduguri. Jonas Emmanuel and Samaila Bello both scored early for the hosts, before Usman Abdullahi pulled one back for Wikki before halftime. The win pushed El-Kanemi to seventh with 14 points.
At the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, Barau FC pulled off a remarkable comeback to defeat Kano Pillars 2–1 in a fiery derby played behind closed doors. Rabiu Ali gave Pillars the lead in the 20th minute, but Yahaya Ibrahim equalised five minutes into the second half before Stanley Oganbor’s 76th-minute strike sealed it for Barau. The loss leaves Pillars in 18th place with eight points, while Barau climbed off the bottom to 19th.
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Across the league, Nasarawa United’s lead at the top was cut to four points following their defeat in Lagos. Shooting Stars and Abia Warriors now trail closely behind with 15 points each, while Niger Tornadoes, Ikorodu City, and Warri Wolves all sit just one point further back in a fiercely contested top-six battle. At the bottom, Bendel Insurance remain rooted to last place with six points, while Barau, Kano Pillars, and Wikki Tourists hover dangerously above the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, fixtures involving Remo Stars and Rivers United were postponed due to their continental engagements. Both sides endured tough weekends in Africa, with Remo losing 5–1 and Rivers United falling 1–0 in their CAF Champions League ties.
As the NPFL heads into Matchday 10, all eyes will be on Nasarawa United to see if they can bounce back and maintain their lead, while in-form teams like Kun Khalifat, Warri Wolves, and Niger Tornadoes continue to shake up what’s shaping up to be one of the most competitive NPFL seasons in years.
