Reigning champion Enugu Rangers were beaten 2-0 at home by oriental rivals Heartland in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Afrosport reports.
Suraju Lawal and Isaac Nassy scored in the 21st and 58th minute to secure the victory.
Victory moved the Naze millionaires to 16th on 41 points, while the Flying Antelopes are eighth on 46 points.
Meanwhile second-placed Rivers United were beaten 2-0 by Abia Warriors with goals from Emmanuel Ogbuagu and Antoine Ijoma.
With the result, Abia Warriors remain third on the NPFL table with 53 points from 33 matches and are still in contention for a CAF Champions League slot.
Leaders Remo Stars were denied the opportunity of opening a nine-point gap after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Katsina United in Ikenne.
Despite the draw, the Sky Blue Stars maintain top spot on 62 points, seven ahead of Rivers United in second place.
In Ilorin, Bendel Insurance secured maximum points at Kwara United after a 1-0 win, courtesy Kayode Oke’s 33rd minute strike, while Ikorodu City thrashed Niger Tornadoes 3-0 with Ayomide Cole scoring a brace, and Shola Adelani registering his name on the scoresheet.
Elsewhere, Rabiu Ali and Auwalu Ibrahim netted as Kano Pillars defeated Lobi stars 2-0 at the Sani Abacha stadium.
Defeat for Lobi stars means they become the first team to officially get relegated from the NPFL this season.
33 down
5️⃣ more to go#NPFL25 pic.twitter.com/ImntzwM7af
— NPFL (@NigeriaPFL) April 13, 2025
In other games, Elmer Arunta and Waheed Adebayo scored for Sunshine Stars, who defeated Enyimba 2-1, while Nasarawa United edged Plateau United 3-2, and El-Kanemi Warriors held Akwa United to a 1-1 draw in Uyo
