Enugu Rangers have won the Nigeria Premier Football League for the ninth time after a dramatic final day 2-1 victory over Ikorodu City in Lagos on Sunday, while Remo Stars were relegated after failing to beat Bendel Insurance in Benin City, The PUNCH reports.
The Flying Antelopes went into the decisive fixture knowing only a win would guarantee the championship, with intense pressure also coming from challengers Rivers United, who were in action simultaneously in Port Harcourt on the final day.
Despite the tension, Rangers responded with a composed and clinical performance, taking control through Chidiebere Nwobodo, who struck twice in the 30th and 52nd minutes to put the visitors in command in Lagos.
Ikorodu City, who had been strong at home throughout the season, reduced the deficit through Moses Ali in the 58th minute, setting up a tense finale.
However, Rangers showed defensive discipline and game management in the closing stages to hold on and secure the win that ultimately sealed the title on 68 points.
In Port Harcourt, the Finidi George-led side did everything within their control to apply pressure in the race, producing a dominant 3-0 victory over Katsina United.
Despite that emphatic win, Rivers United finished second on 67 points, just one behind Rangers, in a finish that pictured how small the margins were at the top of the table.
The combination of Rangers’ efficiency in Lagos against an Ikorodu City team that had been unbeaten at home throughout the season and Rivers United’s strong but insufficient response elsewhere defined a dramatic conclusion to the campaign.
The triumph marks another milestone in Rangers’ storied history, adding to previous league successes in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, 2016 and 2023/24, cementing their status as one of Nigerian football’s most decorated clubs.
Meanwhile, former champions, Remo Stars were relegated to the second tier on Sunday after their 1-1 draw against Bendel Insurance in Benin City.
Remo initially looked on course for survival when experienced striker Victor Mbaoma gave them the lead against Bendel Insurance on the stroke of half-time.
At that stage, the defending champions appeared safe and positioned to avoid the drop.
However, the situation changed dramatically deep into added time when Chijioke Akuneto equalised for Bendel Insurance after the 90th minute to secure a 1-1 draw in Edo.
The result pushed Remo Stars into danger, dropping them from 12th to 16th position as attention shifted anxiously to the delayed fixture between Kun Khalifat and Wikki Tourists.
The match, delayed by heavy rainfall, eventually kicked off under floodlights and finished three hours after the other NPFL fixtures had ended.
Remo’s survival hopes depended on Khalifat failing to win, but the newcomers produced a spirited display to defeat Wikki Tourists 3-1, climbing from 17th to 13th in the final standings and condemning the Sky Blue Stars to relegation.
They became the first defending NPFL champions to suffer relegation since Bayelsa United in the 2009/10 season.
They also became only the fourth reigning league champions to drop into the second tier during a title defence campaign after Stationery Stores in 1993 and Shooting Stars in 1999.
Enugu Rangers were crowned champions after securing their ninth league title, while Rivers United finished runners-up to claim a place in next season’s CAF Champions League.
Joining Remo Stars in relegation to the Nigeria National League are El-Kanemi Warriors, Bayelsa United and Wikki Tourists as another dramatic NPFL campaign came to an end.
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