Matchday nine results of the 2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season. Nigeria Professional Football League (giants) Kano Pillars and Enyimba played out a 1-1 draw at Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano in one of the match-day nine fixtures played on Sunday, February 18. Both teams came into the game on the back of five-match unbeaten runs and it was Kano Pillars who took the lead before Enyimba equalised. NPLF leading top scored Junior Lokosa put Pillars in the lead in the 36th minute which was his eighth goal of the season. Enyimba fought back immediately and four minutes later, they levelled following an own goal by Pillars’ defender Emmanuel Anyanwu. Following the draw, Kano Pillars remain in the third position while Enyimba move up one place to fourth. Rivers United, Heartland, Abia Warriors winIn other NPFL matchday nine fixtures, Rivers United beat Niger Tornadoes 2-0 in Port Harcourt. Chikere Osita put hosts Rivers United in the lead in the 16th minute before Emeka Ogbugh, just back from the African Nations Championship (CHAN) netted in the 28th minute to double the lead for Rivers United. In Owerri, Heartland bounced back from matchday eight’s 2-0 loss away at IfeanyiUbah FC to beat Wikki Tourists 2-1. The visitors Wikki took the lead in the 10th minute through Abubakar Umar but Nnamdi Ebgujor equalized for the home side just six minutes later. Heartland dug deep to grab the winner in stoppage time through Kenneth Ikwugbado. Six goals were scored in a thriller at the Lafia City Stadium in Lafia as visitors Kwara United fought back to grab a 3-3 draw against Nasarawa United. Seun Sogbeso put Nasarawa United in the lead in the 20th minute. Kwara United equalised through Stephen Alfred 64th minute.Nasarawa went into a 3-1 lead courtesy of two quick goals by Nojeem Olukokun. There was still time for Alfred and Micheal Ohanu to score two goals to complete a hattrick and earn Kwara United their first away point of the season. Abia Warriors defeated Yobe Desert Stars 3-1 in In Umuahia. Ndifreke Effiong netted two goals for the host before Obi Samson added another. Manika Usman netted Yobe Desert Stars’ only goal of the game.FC IfeanyiUbah suffered their third defeat in five games as they were thrashed 3-0 away at Katsina United. Eric Dufegha, Tasiu Lawal and Destiny Ashadi netted for the home side.
