NPFL 2019: Big teams crash on final day, Heartland, Abia Warriors escape relegation

By Harry Awurumibe, Abuja

 Enyimba International of Aba and Enugu Rangers were on the losing side today as curtains fall on the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) even as both still qualified for the proposed Super Six Play-off which will be staged later on.

‘The Flying Antelopes’ as Rangers are called lost 1-0 to Wikki Tourists away in Pantami stadium in Gombe while Enyimba, Two-time CAF Champions League winners, suffered a crushing 2-1 defeat in the hands of Katsina United at Mohammed Dikko Stadium in Katsina state.

However, struggling Heartland FC of Owerri and Oriental neighbours , Abia Warriors escaped relegation by whiskers courtesy of their big wins at home on the last day of the abridged league. Heartland who were relegated two seasons ago flirted with another relegation until they beat El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri 2-0 at Okigwe Stadium.

Abia Warrior also left it late to start picking points after a run of bad results a month earlier and had to find their scoring boots on the day by hitting Kano Pillars FC 3-0 at Umuahia Township Stadium. The result ensured that the club led by Pastor Emeka Inyama will still be part of Nigeria’s elite league.

Meanwhile, some of the traditional premier league campaigners like Niger Tornados, Kwara United, Insurance of Benin, Gombe United and El Kanemi Warriors amongst others have all been relegated to the second tier Nigerian domestic league next season.

The Full Results, Super Six and relegated teams    

Group A

Wikki Tourists 1-0 Rangers

Rivers Utd 1-0 Insurance

Remo Stars 0-0 Lobi Stars

Tornadoes 0-1 Kwara Utd

Katsina Utd 2-1 Enyimba

Sunshine Stars 4-2 MFM

*Qualified For Super 6*

Enugu Rangers

Lobi Stars

Enyimba

*Qualified for NNL

Bendel Insurance

Kwara United

Niger Tornadoes

Remo Stars

*Group B

Yobe Stars 1-2 Nasarawa Utd

Go Round 0-1 Gombe Utd

Delta Force 0-0 Plateau Utd

Abia Warriors 3-0 Kano Pillars

FC Ifeanyiubah 2-1 Akwa Utd

Heartland FC 2-0 El-Kanemi.

*Qualified For Super 6*

Akwa United

Kano Pillars

FC Ifeanyi Ubah

*Qualified for  NNL

Gombe United

Elkanemi Warriors

Go Round FC

Yobe Desert Stars