Enugu Rangers, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Sunday, defeated visiting Sunshine Stars of Akure 2-0 in one of the week 36 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matches that went down across the country. The victory was courtesy of Bobby Clement’s brace.

Consequently, the Flying Antelopes displaced erstwhile league leaders, Rivers United, who suffered a 0-1 loss to another title contender, Wikki Tourists, in Bauchi also on Sunday. The result leaves Wikki on 54 points from 35 matches. They are at the 3rd position on the log.

Rangers thus have 57 points from 35 matches, one point ahead of second-placed Rivers United on 56 points from the same number of matches.

Rangers opened the scoring in the 37th minute when Clement pounced on a loose ball inside Sunshine’s vital area and picked his spot to give his side the lead.

Clement made it two for the Flying Antelopes when he headed in Chisom Egbuchulam’s cross in the 49th minute.

Following the win, the league leaders have earned themselves N3 million from the Enugu State Government.

Recall that the state government, in order to ginger Rangers to break the 32-year-old trophy drought, promised the team N3 million for every win in their remaining three matches starting with the Sunshine tie.

Meanwhile, Ikorodu United of Lagos was officially relegated after they suffered a 0-1 defeat to Plateau United in Jos. The Lagos side, on 32 points from 35 matches, can only amass 38 points given that they win their remaining two matches against Rangers in Lagos and Wolves in Warri.

In other matches decided on Sunday, Abia Warriors defeated visiting Nasarawa United of Lafia 2-1 to make good their chances of escaping the drop at the end of the season. The result leaves the Umuahia side with 43 points from 34 matches and are now occupying the 15th spot on the log from their earlier 16th place.

In Makurdi, Lobi Stars dealt a blow to the aspiration of FC IfeanyiUba with a hard-fought 2-1 win. The Stars had to bank on Konayaya’s brace in the 34th minute and 73rd minute to defeat the Nnewi side, which scored their lone goal through Ismaila Gata in the 51st minute.

Warri Wolves piped Shooting Stars 1-0 in Warri while Enyimba ended it goalless against Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) of Lagos at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, the match involving Heartland and Niger Tornadoes in Owerri and Kano Pillars and El-Kanemi Warriors in Kano suffered postponement. (Independent)

•Photo shows Rangers players.

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