Title favourites Akwa United, Plateau United and Kano Pillars maintained their early season lead by scoring a combined 11 goals in a frantic match-day seven in the Nigeria Professional Football League.
Akwa United 4-0 Wikki Tourists
Akwa easily dispatched of Wikki Tourists to maintain their slender lead atop the standings, while the visitors dropped into the bottom half and are two points above the drop zone. Despite going behind to an early Ubong Friday strike, Wikki defended resolutely for almost an hour before it all fell apart in the final 24 minutes. Victor Mbaoma doubled the lead from Friday's assist in the 66th minute -- his fourth goal of the season -- and two goals late on from Michael Ibe and substitute Christian Pyagbara secured a comfortable home win for the Promise Keepers.
Plateau United 5-0 Sunshine Stars
Plateau romped to a one-sided win against Sunshine Stars, an outcome which keeps the champions within a point of leaders Akwa. It was also Stars' biggest league defeat in 18 years as they dropped to fifth. Kennedy Boboye's team came into the game seeking the Stars' scalp for a third successive time, and the tie was all but over as a contest within the opening 20 minutes. Tosin Omoyele scored the first of his brace in the second minute, before Sunday Ingbede doubled the lead from Omoyele's assist, and Emeka Umeh netted a third in the 20th minute. Omoyele grabbed his brace in the 76th minute, before Mafeng Pam completed the scoring three minutes from time.
Kano Pillars 2-0 MFM FC
Pillars stayed third-place thanks to a home win against MFM FC. After a quiet first half, Junior Lokosa netted from the spot in the 52nd minute after a hand ball from Uwaga Chuka. Adamu Hassan then made an instant impact off the bench, scoring with his first touch to wrap up Pillars' fourth home win of the season.
El-Kanemi Warriors 0-0 Enyimba
Bello Kofarmata's missed spot-kick summarised Warriors' frustration against Enyimba as they dropped to 14th on the back of a four-game winless run. Isiaka Oladuntoye fouled Kofarmata in the box to give away the penalty just before the break. Despite sending Fatau Dauda the wrong, Kofarmata placed his effort wide, extending a wretched goal drought for the team to 360 minutes.
Rivers United 1-0 Go Round FC
Oche Salefu was the match-winner for Rivers late on against Go Round FC in the league first-ever Rivers derby between both teams. The inexperienced visitors were content to sit back and attempt to catch Rivers on the break, but their hard work was undone when Salefu netted a late penalty.