It means Remo Stars will still retain their top position on Thursday night irrespective of their match-day 25 duel with visiting Kwara United.

Second-placed Shooting Stars failed in a bid to drastically narrow the gap separating the legacy outfits as they only managed to force a 2-2 draw in their home game with Lobi Stars.

Enugu Rangers, who were initially in the third position, tumbled down the ladder to the sixth position after a 1-0 loss to Abia Warriors.

In the aftermath, Abia Warriors, with 39 points, climbed to the fourth position. Rivers United, though back in the third position, could have had a quantum leap had they not dropped points in their duel with Akwa United.

They had shot into the lead in the 9th minute of their away match with Akwa United when Paschal Onunza found the net. But in the 57th minute, Akwa United battling against relegation levelled up through Mare Abson.

Results

• Abia Warriors 1-0 Enugu Rangers
• Shooting Stars 2-2 Lobi Stars
• Akwa United 1-1 Rivers United
• Ikorodu City 2-1 Plateau United
• Sunshine Stars 1-1 Kano Pillars
• Niger Tornadoes 2-1 Heartland
• Bayelsa United 2-2 Nasarawa United
• El Kanemi 0-0 Bendel Insurance

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For Remo Stars, it turned to a hattrick of second place in all league competitions this year. They were runners-up to Bendel Insurance in the Group A of the abridged league. In the Super 6 Playoff, they were runners-up to Enyimba in a contest that could have seen them emerging champions if they had doubled their lead in their last match against Bendel Insurance.

On Sunday, it was the same tale. They were runners up to the home-team of the NaijaSuper 8 League, Sporting Lagos.

The Nigeria Premier League looks like potentially a thriller if the fall-out of the Najai-Super 8 is anything to go by. There will be thrilling South West derbies involving four teams as new arrical to the stage, Sporting Lagos look like providing tough encounters when they engage the ‘Stars’ of the West – Remo Stars, Shooting Stars and Sunshine Stars.

On Sunday, It was indeed football coming home as for the first time in decades, a football arena was filled, almost beyond official capacity in clubsides’ duel.

The capacity crowed was not disappointed as they soak the excitement provided by the two clubs powered by private initiatives.

After a goalless first half, it was the home team that broke the deadlock in the 53^rd minute. Remo Stars fought back gamely and got an equaliser in the 86^th minute through Adams Olamilekan.

But it was controversially ruled offside. As the clock ticked down in the added eight minutes, Olamilekan struck again to deadlock score lines at 1-1. In the consequent lottery of penalty shootout, Sporting Lagos had the better nerves, point to the fact that they were better prepared for any eventuality that often follows a knock-out stage competition.

Incidentally, the first blood in the shootout was from Junior Lokosa who last month was one of the propelling players that helped Remo Stars. This time, he was playing against the Ikenne Side and appeared to have good knowledge of Remo Stars goalkeeper,  Kayode Bankole.