The 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League campaign began with defending champions Rangers escaping with a stoppage-time draw, Enyimba losing in Minna, and Barau FC, Ikorodu City, Rivers United and Doma United all claiming opening-round victories.
Opening weekend sets the tone
Shooting Stars launched the season on Friday by defeating newly promoted Inter Lagos 2-1 in Ibadan, with nine further fixtures played the following day.
Home advantage generally prevailed during the first round. Katsina United and Kano Pillars both appeared capable of winning on the road, but late equalising goals forced them to settle for draws.
The only match that failed to reach its conclusion was Abia Warriors against Kun Khalifat. Torrential rain brought the contest to a halt in the 73rd minute, with the score still 0-0.
Rangers held late as Tornadoes defeat Enyimba
Rangers’ defence of the championship began with a 1-1 stalemate against Katsina United. Luis Dadong gave the visitors the lead in the 38th minute, but Chibueze Oputa turned the ball into his own net seven minutes into stoppage time to rescue a point for the champions.
Niger Tornadoes, meanwhile, opened with a 2-1 success against Enyimba in Minna.
- Aliyu Goyi broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, sending Tornadoes into half-time ahead at Bako Kontagora Stadium.
- Enyimba restored parity through Wonah Williams in the 71st minute.
- Michael Olalusi struck in the 83rd minute to give Tornadoes the winning goal.
Olalusi’s late finish delivered all three points to the hosts and handed Enyimba an early defeat.
Barau and Ikorodu City complete comebacks
Barau FC were among the standout winners of Matchday One, beating Nasarawa United 3-1. The Maliya Boys had also defeated the Solid Miners 3-0 in Kano last season.
Joseph Atule put Barau in front after 15 minutes, but Abubakar Abdullahi levelled for Nasarawa United five minutes later. The teams remained tied until Barau surged ahead during the final stages.
- Al’Amin Umar restored Barau’s advantage in the 78th minute.
- Sugau Aliyu added a third four minutes later to seal the victory.
Ikorodu City also had to overturn an early deficit before beating promoted Ranchers Bees 3-1 at Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
Chiedozie Okorie stunned the home crowd by giving Ranchers Bees a seventh-minute lead. Umar Dan’Azumi equalised in the 30th minute, and Abayomi Ayodeji then completed Ikorodu City’s first-half turnaround.
Farouk Salami converted a penalty three minutes before full time to make the result safe for Ikorodu City. Ranchers Bees finished the match with 10 players.
The result was especially notable because Ikorodu City had not won their opening league match in either of their previous two NPFL seasons.
Strong starts for Rivers United and the promoted clubs
Rivers United, last season’s runners-up, began their campaign with a convincing 2-0 home triumph over Plateau United.
Abdulrasheed Shehu Dabai scored in the sixth minute, while Wasiu Falolu extended the lead in the 38th. Those two first-half strikes were enough, as Rivers United defended their advantage after the interval and secured maximum points.
For Finidi George’s team, the result provided the ideal opening to another attempt to challenge for the NPFL title.
Doma United celebrated their return to the top division with a 2-0 win over fellow promoted club Sporting Lagos in Gombe.
Sadiq Rilwan gave Doma United an eighth-minute lead. Sporting Lagos tried to respond, but Daniel Simon ended their hopes of a comeback by scoring Doma’s second in the 75th minute.
Bendel Insurance also recovered from conceding first to defeat Warri Wolves 2-1 in Benin City.
- Eventus Itolowo put Wolves ahead after five minutes.
- Kayode Oke equalised for Insurance from the penalty spot in the 20th minute.
- Alex Oweilayefa completed the turnaround two minutes after half-time, with his 47th-minute effort proving decisive.
Insurance held on from there to begin the season with a victory.
Late drama in Ilorin and Friday’s opening win
Kwara United produced one of the round’s most dramatic recoveries, coming from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Kano Pillars in Ilorin.
Shola Abdulraheem scored against his former team to give Pillars a 12th-minute lead, and veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali made it 2-0 in the 29th minute.
Kwara United reduced the deficit immediately after the restart when Alex Jerry scored in the 47th minute. Kano Pillars remained in front until the seventh minute of added time, when Jerry found the net again in the 97th minute to complete his brace and earn the hosts a point.
Shooting Stars had already become the first winners of the new campaign with their 2-1 victory over Inter Lagos at Lekan Salami Stadium on Friday.
Lucky Emmanuel opened the scoring in the 15th minute, but Inter Lagos captain Uchenna Njoku equalised seven minutes later. Sodiq Ibrahim restored the Oluyole Warriors’ lead from a penalty in first-half stoppage time.
Shooting Stars successfully defended their advantage throughout the second half. They were awarded another late penalty, but substitute Mustapha Adams Agba’a was unable to convert it.
The win marked Shooting Stars’ first opening-day NPFL victory in three seasons.
Heavy rain also prevented the Abia Warriors-Kun Khalifat fixture from being completed after the pitch became unplayable. The referee suspended the match in the 73rd minute, with no goals scored.
The final 17 minutes are due to take place on Monday morning, leaving both clubs waiting for the full outcome of their first league fixture.
