Goals, red cards, and new leaders: The weekend NPFL exploded into life

The NPFL is often called a maraton, but the past weekend felt more like a chaotic, decisive sprint.

Across eight match centres, the NPFL served a cocktail of high drama and entertainment, with 16 goals, three red cards and a reshuffling of the hierarchy that saw a new king crowned at the top.

From the sun-baked pitches of Bauchi to the vocal stands in Lagos, the story of week 25 was one of resilience, clinical finishing and football lessons delivered where they were largely unexpected.

The Bauchi Marathon: A match that refused to end

If you want to understand the madness of the NPFL, look no further than what happened at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa stadium.

What started on a Sunday evening as a clash between Wikki Tourist and Katsina United didn’t find its conclusion until Monday morning.

In a breathtaking eight-goal thriller that featured a clinical hattrick from obvious Player of the Week, Uche Collins, the match swung like a pendulum.

Wiki started brightly as expected and took the lead, lost it and regained and eventually found themselves locked in a 3-3 battle. However, the drama wasn’t just the six goals, but a late red card and crowd disturbances that forced a suspension, with the final 12 minutes played out the following day, on Monday morning.

When the dust finally settled, Wiki took the lead again to make it 4-3, but eventually settled for a share of the spoils as United hit back late on for a 4-4 draw in the end before Collins was sent off.

The Oga Boys take the throne

While chaos reigned in the North, Ikorodu City were busy handling business with the cold efficiency of a champions-in-waiting.

Playing at their Mobolaji Johnson Arena fortress, the Oga Boys dismantled an otherwise stubborn Niger Tornadoes 2-0.

Joesph Arumala was the hero and star of the show, scoring two goals, including a nerve-shredding late penalty, to ensure Ikorodu climbed to the top of the NPFL table.

With 41 points and a goal difference that keeps them ahead of the chasing pack, Ikorodu have officially signalled that they are the team to beat in 2026.

The lesson in Owerri

Perhaps the most shocking result of the weekend came in Owerri, at the Dan Anyiam Stadium. Kun Khalifat, a team that had recently dominated the headlines for their threatened withdrawal from the Football League, decided to let their football do the talking.

Facing Shooting Stars, 3Sc, side with genuine continental ambitions, the NPFL rookies put aside off-pitch distractions to deliver a masterclass performance.

Goals from James Ekebuike and Blessed Iyamu condemned the Oluyole Warriors to a 2-0 defeat. It was a sobering evening for the visitors, 3SC, who were taught new football lessons by the team many had written off days earlier.

The league now heads into a crucial week, with former leagues, Rivers United, who have four games in hand, set to return after crashing out of the CAFCL in embarrassing fashion.

But with Ikorodu looking down from the top at the moment, the key question is, can they hold their nerve or will the unpredictable nature of this season produce another twist?