Plateau United have been crowned champions of the 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) following a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Enugu Rangers.
Goals from Emeka Umeh and Benjamin Turba were enough for the Jos-based outfit to clinch their first league title in history.
Top of the log from matchday one, Plateau needed to avoid defeat at the Rwam Pam Stadium on Saturday to crown their fairy-tale campaign.
With MFM FC precariously on their neck, trailing by just a single point, Plateau were condemned to win against the reigning champions.
They did exactly that in grand style.
After dominating play from the first blast of the whistle, the Jos-based outfit broke the duck thanks to a beautiful strike from Umeh in the 38 minutes.
It appeared as though that Rangers were aiming to spoil their party as the Flying Antelopes took the game to their host.
However, Turba’s strike just two minutes to the end of regulation time ended Rangers’ slim hopes of a comeback.
The result, however, made whatever happened in Maiduguri between El Kanemi and MFM a mere formality with the hosts emerging 2-1 victors.
In other games, Enyimba cemented third spot with a slim 1-0 win over Katsina United while Akwa United settled for fourth despite thrashing Kano Pillars 3-0.
On the rear of the log, 3SC and ABS FC joined already relegated Remo Stars and Gombe United to exit the elite division.
Full matchday 38 results
Plateau Utd 2-0 Rangers
Enyimba 1-0 Katsina Utd
Gombe Utd 0-1 Wikki
Abia Warriors 4-1 Rivers Utd
Nasarawa Utd 2-1 ABS
El-Kanemi 2-1 MFM
Akwa Utd 3-0 Pillars
Niger Tornadoes 2-0 3SC
FC IfeanyiUbah 1-1 Lobi
Remo Stars 0-1 Sunshine Stars
