Akin Ayomide
Matchday nine of the Nigeria Premier Football League produced high drama and shock results across several centres, with away teams stealing the spotlight as Warri Wolves and Kun Khalifat recorded stunning victories on the road, while Niger Tornadoes’ Abdulaziz Dalhatu struck a sensational hat-trick in Minna.
At the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, Warri Wolves silenced the home crowd with a 2–1 win over Enyimba, ending the People’s Elephants’ four-match unbeaten home run.
The visitors took the lead in the 18th minute through an own goal by Mohammed Hussaini before Edidiong Ezekiel restored parity for the hosts ten minutes later. However, Tejiri Emonena’s 67th-minute strike sealed an emphatic win for the visitors, marking Enyimba’s second successive league defeat and pushing them down to eighth place on the table with 13 points.
In Yenagoa, Bayelsa United also suffered heartbreak as Kun Khalifat continued their resurgence with a 2–1 triumph.
Uche Moses put the visitors ahead in the 54th minute before Jawad Mustapha levelled from the spot just past the hour mark. But Olubode Hassan’s 77th-minute winner condemned the hosts to their fourth loss of the season and propelled Khalifat to 14th with 11 points, easing them out of the relegation battle.
The biggest result of the weekend came in Minna, where Niger Tornadoes crushed Plateau United 4–0 in a one-sided encounter. Abdulaziz Dalhatu was the undisputed star of the day, netting a hat-trick in the 13th, 52nd, and 69th minutes, while Terdoo Shimagande added a fourth deep into stoppage time.
Across the league, Nasarawa United’s lead at the summit was trimmed to four points following their slip-up in Lagos. Shooting Stars and Abia Warriors both closed in with 15 points apiece, while Niger Tornadoes, Ikorodu City, and Warri Wolves all sit just one point behind in a tight top-six battle. At the opposite end, Insurance remain bottom on six points, with Barau, Pillars, and Wikki Tourists hovering dangerously above the relegation zone.
The two remaining fixtures involving Remo Stars and Rivers United were postponed due to their continental commitments. Both sides endured a difficult weekend on the African stage, with Remo Stars losing 5–1 and Rivers United falling 1–0 in their respective Champions League ties.
As the league heads into Matchday ten, Nasarawa United will aim to return to winning ways to maintain their lead, while resurgent teams like Kun Khalifat and Tornadoes continue their climb in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive NPFL seasons in recent years.