Football
Dami Ugbane, Special to ESPN 6y

NPFL review: Junior Lokosa strikes late for Kano Pillars

Kano Pillars moved to the top of the table and Rivers United picked up a first away league win of the season during a dramatic NPFL matchday 10 this weekend.

Here's how the action went down in the pick of the fixtures across the Nigerian top flight.

Enugu Rangers 1 - 1 Kano Pillars

Junior Lokosa struck in the 87th minute, his ninth league goal of an impressive full debut league campaign, to salvage a point for a bereaved Kano Pillars side away to Enugu Rangers.

Pillars approached the clash less than a week after the death of star defender Chinedu Udoji in a car crash, but were determined to do some justice to his memory.

However, it was Enugu Rangers who took the lead through captain Godwin Aguda in the 41st minute, with the skipper saving the blushes of Ifeanyi George who had missed a sitter moments earlier.

The away team could smell blood in the second half due to the failure of the Flying Antelopes to extend their lead, and they duly took advantage with Lokosa's late strike, a goal which extended Pillars' unbeaten run to seven games and ultimately took them to the top of the league standing.

Enyimba 2 - 1 Sunshine Stars

Ifeanyi Anaemena was decisive at both ends of the field, but his crucial winner ensured Enyimba moved into second after the People's Elephant secured maximum points against Sunshine Stars.

Stephen Chukwude handed Enyimba a dream start after 12 minutes, handing the home team a deserved first-half lead. However, Sunshine Stars drew level five minutes after the restart, when Anaemena turned the ball into his own net.

The big central defender would atone for his error by netting the match-winner via a header in the 70th minute, completing a truly memorable day.

On the other hand, Sunshine Stars' abysmal away record to Enyimba was extended to 11 defeats in their last 12 successive games.

Kwara United 0 - 1 Rivers United

Rivers United earned a first away win of the season at Kwara United thanks to Chikere Osita's goal with virtually the last kick of the game.

Stanley Eguma's side were on the back foot for the duration of the game, rather preferring to absorb the pressure from Kwara United, who were unlucky not to have gone ahead through Michael Ohanu's goal attempts.

A few seconds before the end of the game, Osita popped up to net a winner for Rivers United.

It was their first away goal of the season, and sends them into fourth on the log, while Kwara United slipped back into the bottom spot.

Wikki Tourists 1 - 1 Katsina United

Martins Usule proved to be an inspired substitution for seventh-placed Katsina United, his late goal earning his team an impressive away draw against Wikki Tourists in Bauchi.

Shammah Tanze headed in Isaac Giwa's 25th-minute free kick to hand Wikki the lead as they looked on course for a fifth successive home win. However, they were denied by Usule's leveller, his first touch of the ball after he'd barely been on the pitch for 60 seconds.

Yobe Desert Stars 2 - 0 El-Kanemi Warriors

First-half goals from Williams Ukeme and Chidiebere Ajoku handed Yobe Desert Stars a vital win which took them up to fifth against North-East rivals El-Kanemi Warriors in the derby played in Kano.

Aliyu Ali's cross was diverted in by Ukeme for an own goal, before Chinedu Ohanachum provided Ajoku with an assist to seal a victory which piles more pressure on the relegation-threatened Warriors.

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