Glory chasers Remo Stars and Rivers United both stumbled in the Nigeria Premier Football League title race on Sunday, failing to win either of their matches with seven points still separating them in the table with five games to go, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
There were six points between both sides coming into match-day 33 with Remo Stars hosting crisis-hit Katsina United in Ikenne while Rivers United were in Umuahia to face the continental-ticket chasing Abia Warriors.
In Umuahia, Abia Warriors continued in their newly found form and blazed to a 2-0 win over former champions Rivers United.
Emmanuel Ogbuagu opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime before Antoine Ijoma added the second for Imama Amapakabo’s side in the 76th minute.
It was their 16th win of the season and it took them within two points of the second spot but they are still one point above the chasing pack for the third continental spot through the league.
Rivers United’s defeat meant they would not close the gap on leaders Remo Stars, but the Sky Blue stars also failed to cover themselves in glory, playing out a goalless draw against Katsina United.
The visitors were at the receiving end of a 6-0 mauling in midweek against Ikorodu City in Lagos – which also led to the sack of their management team – but they were not going to go down again in back-to-back games in the Southwest.
Meanwhile, Ikorodu City produced another second half show, storming to a comprehensive 3-0 win over Niger Tornadoes at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
Second half substitute Ayomide Cole bagged a brace to take his tally to 10 goals this season while Shola Adelani was also on target with his 11th of the campaign.The result moved the NPFL new boys to fourth in the table with 52 points, within one point of the CAF Confederation Cup spot while Bendel Insurance are also in contention in fifth place with 49 points after 33 games.
