Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Remo Stars, suffered their 10th defeat of the campaign when they lost at home 3-2 to Bendel Insurance in one of Sunday’s fixtures.
The titleholders have been off-colour this season and that form came to the fore as Bendel Insurance forged ahead at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta the adopted home of Remo Stars.
Wisdom Udom handed the Benin Arsenals the lead on 14 minutes before Chinedu Nwosu added a second on 28 minutes leaving the champions on the ropes.
In the 30th minute, Olalekan Adeleke gave the champions what seemed to be a lifeline as they threw everything at Kennedy Boboye’s side in a bid to get back on level terms.
The Sky Blue Stars further fell behind when Henry Onyia’s long throw-in was turned into the net by Chigozie Iwuoha in the 40th minute as Bendel Insurance restored their two-goal lead to go into the break in the driving seat.
Remo Stars revved into action immediately from the second 45 minutes and on 61 minutes, Victor Mbaoma trimmed Bendel Insurance’s lead to one.
Boboye’s men switched into game-management mode and did well to keep off the champions and secure a huge win on the road – their second of the season.
The early kickoff of the festive fixtures also produced five goals between El-Kanemi Warriors and Enyimba with the former winning by the odd goal.
El-Kanemi races into a two-goal lead through Daddy Abdulrahman’s spot kick and Jonas Emmanuel on 29 and 37 minutes respectively.
Mohammed Hussaini scored two minutes before halftime for Enyimba to make the scoreline respectable.
Seven after the resumption of the second half, Jonas was on hand to restore El-Kanemi’s two-goal lead before Onyebuchi Nwaorisa came off the bench to score in the 76th minute for the game to end 3-2 on favour of El-Kanemi.
Enyimba’s city rivals, Abia Warriors left it late at the Umuahia Township Stadium to edge past Warri Wolves 1-0 in a tight contest.
Abia Warriors needed a 96th minute penalty scored by Sunday Megwo to see off Wolves and move into third place on the standings.
Ikorodu City who began the matchweek in third place slipped to fourth after a 2-1 defeat at Rangers International.
Godwin Obaje and Chidiebere Nwobodo netted for Rangers on 34 and 75 minutes respectively while Rasheed Owolabi’s goal on 95 minutes turned out to be consolation for City.
Bottom-placed Kano Pillars out life back into their race for survival with a 2-1 win over Plateau United. Mohammed Baba Ganaru’s side had to come from behind to win with goals from Mustapha Jibrin (45′) and Ahmed Musa (48′) to render Wisdom Ndon’s strike for Plateau United irrelevant.
Before the turnaround for Kano Pillars, Rabiu Ali missed a spot kick in the first half that should tied the score after Ndon’s goal.
Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) moved one place up from seventh to sixth after their 2-1 win over Niger Tornadoes.
Gbolagade Adelowo opened scoring from the spot on the stroke of halftime and Promise Awosanmi doubled the lead in the 66th minute before substitute Kufre Ebong got a goal in added time of second half for Tornadoes.
Two second half goals from Babatunde Bright and Ini Emmanuel proved enough for Kwara United to defeat Bayelsa United 2-0 at the Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin.
The match between Wikki Tourists and Kun Khalifat FC produced no goals as both sides shared the points.
The festive fixtures for Matchday 18 continue on Monday and Tuesday when title contenders, Nasarawa United and Rivers United will be involved.
League leaders Rivers United play on the road on Monday at Katsina United while Nasarawa United will be at home to Barau FC, two days before Christmas Day.