Rivers United, Enugu Rangers and Nasarawa United are all on 17 points at the top of the NPFL, and Rivers host Rangers on Sunday 1 November in the pick of the Matchday 11 fixtures.
In the Nigerian Matchday table, Rivers United lead on goal difference of +10 from 10 games. Enugu Rangers are second on +5 with two games fewer played, eight, and Nasarawa United are third on +3 after 10. Plateau United and Barau FC follow on 15 points each, level with Bendel Insurance, Sporting Lagos, Kano Pillars and Niger Tornadoes.
Rivers lost 2-1 at Bendel Insurance on Sunday 25 October, as Soccernet covered in its NPFL results roundup. Nasarawa United moved up with a 1-0 win over Enyimba, while Niger Tornadoes won 1-0 at Abia Warriors and Kun Khalifat beat Inter Lagos 1-0. Warri Wolves and Kano Pillars drew 0-0, Ikorodu City and Shooting Stars drew 2-2, Barau FC and Kwara United drew 1-1, and Katsina United and Plateau United drew 2-2.
Soccernet previewed that game in Bendel Insurance host Rivers United.
Matchday 11 fixtures to watch
Niger Tornadoes host Barau FC on Friday 30 October, listed for 15:00 WAT, and Doma United meet Ikorodu City on Saturday. Most of the round is listed for Sunday 1 November at 16:00 WAT:
- Rivers United vs Enugu Rangers
- Kano Pillars vs Nasarawa United
- Kwara United vs Bendel Insurance
- Katsina United vs Sporting Lagos
- Plateau United vs Warri Wolves
- Shooting Stars vs Abia Warriors
- Enyimba vs Kun Khalifat
- Inter Lagos vs Ranchers Bees
Analysis: Rangers have the games in hand, Rivers have the goals
The table is tighter than the standings suggest. Rangers have 17 points from eight games, so a win in either of their games in hand would put them ahead of Rivers, which gives Sunday’s meeting extra weight for both sides. A Rivers win would put them three points clear of Rangers, though Rangers would still have those games to play, while a Rangers win would give them three points over Rivers and the head-to-head edge.
Behind them, the bunching is the real story: six clubs are on 15 points, and Kano Pillars’ trip to Nasarawa United on the same day could decide whether Nasarawa stay in the top three.
