Enyimba have one hand on the Nigeria Professional Football League trophy with yet another brilliant performance on Sunday defeating local rivals, Abia Warriors 1-0 at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
With 68 points, six points above second-placed Warri Wolves, the Peoples Elephants are firmly on course for their seventh domestic crown – needing just a single point from two games to clinch the title.
Last season’s top scorer, Mfon Udoh, rose from the bench to give Kadiri Ikhana’s team their first win over their Oriental brothers.
Enyimba dominated the game and were denied a goal in the 29th minute when captain Chinedu Udoji’s penalty was saved by Chinedu Anozie in goal for Abia Warriors.
Following a goalless first half, Ikhana brought in Udoh for Kingsley Sokari and Musa Najare for the injured Ezekiel Bassey.
Udoh put his side in front in the 69th minute, coolly slotting the ball past Bassey Akpan who replaced the injured Anozie in the first half.
Wolves kept their slim hope of winning a first title alive with a 4-0 thumping of relegation-bound Bayelsa United in Warri.
Gbolahan Salami put the hosts in front in the ninth minute from the spot to record his 15th goal of the campaign. He is now joint top scorer alongside Nasarawa United’s hitman, Esosa Igbinoba.
Oghenekaro Etebo notched a brace, while Osadiaye Joseph scored the other goal.
In Owerri, Heartland put an end to Giwa FC’s unbeaten streak by edging out the Jos outfit 3-2 with Emeka Ogbuh scoring the winning goal in the 77th minute.
Mubarak Umar grabbed a brace as Wikki Tourists beat Dolphins 2-0 in Bauchi, while Kwara United revived their hopes of securing their top flight status with a 1-0 win against fellow strugglers, Taraba United, in Ilorin with John Chukwudi grabbing the only goal on 25 minutes.
Shooting Stars sent FC IfeanyiUbah back to their base empty handed by handing them a 2-1 defeat.
At the Karkanda Stadium, Katsina, Ibrahim Mustapha struck from the spot on 33 minutes to help El-Kanemi Warriors seal a 1-0 win against defending champions, Kano Pillars.
Rangers and Akwa United shared the spoils in Enugu with the game ending in a 2-2 draw.
The game between Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars was disrupted in the 77th minute with the visitors leading 1-0.
Sharks players also abandoned their game against Nasarawa United following a controversial penalty awarded to the hosts with scoreline at 2-2.
Full Week 36 results
Abia Warriors 0 – 1 Enyimba
Rangers 2 – 2 Akwa United
Warri Wolves 4 – 0 Bayelsa United
Kwara United 1 – 0 Taraba
3SC 2 – 1 Ifeanyi Ubah
El-Kanemi 1 – 0 Kano Pillars
Wikki Tourists 2 – 0 Dolphins
Heartland 3 – 2 Giwa FC
