The ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) playoffs penultimate matchday fixtures were decided on Friday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos state, with the fates of Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars sealed.

There is no hope of winning the league title or securing one of the three available continental football tickets for Sunshine Stars after the Owena Whales were thrashed by Enyimba while Lobi Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Remo Stars.

Both teams sit bottom of the Championship Playoffs table with two points apiece and are yet to win a game in the tournament so far. 

Enyimba secured a massive victory against Sunshine Stars as they push for their ninth league title and first since 2019. Mbaoma Chijioke, who stepped in for sick Emeka Obioma, scored the fastest goal of the playoffs so far to put Enyimba upfront in the third minute.

Five minutes later, the forward scored again to grab his brace of the night and doubled the lead for the Peoples’ Elephant. The scoreline remained the same until the 67th minute when Ikenna Cooper put the ball into the back of the net against his former club from a freekick to seal the win for Enyimba.

They sit top of the table on the same points (8) with Rivers United, who earned a deserved 2-1 win over Bendel Insurance. The latter only pip the former to the top spot thanks to superior goal difference.

Against Bendel Insurance, Morice Chukwu broke the deadlock for the reigning champions late in the first half. In the 89th minute, Rivers United doubled its lead through Joseph Onaja.

However, new Super Eagles invitee Divine Nwachukwu scored a consolation for Insurance with a brilliant header in stoppage time. The defeat brought Benin Arsenal’s 21-game league unbeaten run to an end.

Remo Stars are edging closer to their second continental appearance thanks to a 2-0 win over Lobi Stars, which is the Ikenne-based club’s first victory in the playoffs as they move to third on the table with six points.

One goal apiece in the first half from Junior Lokosa and a powerful curler by Nigeria junior international Adams Olamilekan earned the victory for the Sky Blue Stars. A draw against fourth-placed Insurance in their last game of the playoffs will confirm their place in continental football.

Both Enyimba and Rivers United have picked up continental tickets but the race for the league title still remains open for aforementioned clubs and third-placed Remo Stars going into the final matchday of the playoffs.

Enyimba and Rivers United tango each other in their final match of the Championship. A win for either club will see them emerge champions of the 2022/23 NPFL abridged season. 

A draw against Rivers may also do the job for Enyimba, given Remo Stars fail to win by more than a two-goal margin. However, Remo Stars may shockingly clinch the title if they win by more than a two-goal margin and Enyimba and Rivers United’s game end in a draw.