The EuroMatch NPFL has turned up the volume in Matchday Two — and the early season is already producing heroes, heartbreak and plenty of reasons to keep watching.
With the defending champions Rangers International, Rivers United and Shooting Stars away on continental duty, the spotlight shifted to the rest of the division. And they did not disappoint.
Read Also: EuroMatch NPFL: Doma United Keep Perfect Start Alive as Inter Lagos Fall at Home
The weekend has already produced a five-goal thriller in Kano, narrow victories in Jos and Lafia, a goalless battle in Owerri and another statement performance from Doma United, who now sit alone at the top of the table with six points from six.
Doma United: Two games, two wins, no goals conceded
The biggest early story belongs to Doma United.
After defeating Sporting Lagos 2-0 on Matchday One, the returning side travelled to Lagos and defeated Inter Lagos 1-0 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, with Sadiq Rilwan scoring the decisive goal.
It is a perfect start for the Savannah Tigers: six points, three goals scored and zero conceded.
For Inter Lagos, however, the learning curve continues. The newcomers have now lost their opening two matches, but their presence adds another fascinating dimension to a season featuring three Lagos clubs.
Pillars survive a five-goal Kano classic
If there was one match that delivered pure entertainment, it was at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
Kano Pillars 3-2 Niger Tornadoes was a game of momentum swings, with the hosts racing into a three-goal lead before Tornadoes mounted a furious comeback.
Ubong Friday opened the scoring in the 40th minute before Fabian Nworie struck twice — in first-half stoppage time and again nine minutes after the restart — to put Pillars 3-0 ahead.
But Tornadoes refused to disappear.
Godfrey Joseph pulled one back in the 73rd minute before Wasiu Jimoh made it 3-2 late on. Pillars survived the final push to claim their first victory of the campaign.
Nworie therefore walks away as one of Matchday Two’s standout performers, while Pillars move to four points after two matches.
Plateau United finally have lift-off
At the New Jos Stadium, Plateau United 1-0 Kwara United gave the Peace Boys their first points of the season.
Alex Aghahowa Otakho supplied the decisive moment, scoring in the 29th minute to settle a tightly contested encounter.
After losing 2-0 to Rivers United on opening weekend, Plateau United have responded immediately — a reminder that the NPFL season is a marathon, not a verdict after one match.
Nasarawa United answer back
There was also redemption in Lafia.
Nasarawa United, beaten 3-1 by Barau FC on Matchday One, returned home and defeated Bendel Insurance 1-0.
Pam Samuel scored the winner in the 55th minute to give the Solid Miners their first three points of the season.
For coach Mbwas Mangut, it is exactly the kind of response he would have wanted after describing the opening-day defeat as an unlucky result and calling for his players to regroup.
Akuchie and Barau share the spoils
In Owerri, Kun Khalifat and Barau FC played out a 0-0 draw at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.
It was a particularly interesting contest after Barau’s explosive 3-1 opening-day victory over Nasarawa United, where Joseph Atule announced himself with the first goal of the season before Al’Amin Umar and Sugau Aliyu completed the win.
This time, however, Kun Khalifat’s defence stood firm, while goalkeeper Akuchie Obinna — who impressed on his NPFL debut with a clean sheet against Abia Warriors — had another opportunity to demonstrate why he is becoming one of the early goalkeeping stories of the campaign.
The point leaves Kun Khalifat unbeaten after two matches, with two draws and two clean sheets.
One match still to come
The Ranchers Bees–Abia Warriors fixture did not go ahead as originally planned and has been moved after the unavailability of the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium.
The three continental-duty fixtures involving Rangers, Rivers United and Shooting Stars were also postponed, while Sporting Lagos versus Ikorodu City has been moved to September 30.
That means Matchday Two has not yet told the whole story.
The table is beginning to take shape
After the completed Matchday Two games, Doma United lead with six points, while Barau FC and Kano Pillars have four points each. Ikorodu City, Rivers United and Shooting Stars remain on three points from one match, with several clubs still having postponed fixtures to play.
But beyond the table, something even more important is happening.
The players are becoming the personalities of the league.
Sadiq Rilwan is giving Doma United a dream start. Fabian Nworie has produced a two-goal performance. Alex Aghahowa Otakho has delivered a match-winning moment. Pam Samuel has answered for Nasarawa United. Joseph Atule remains one of the names to watch. Akuchie Obinna continues to build his story between the posts.
And that is what makes the EuroMatch NPFL increasingly attractive — every matchday creates another player, another performance and another story for Nigerian football fans to follow.
Matchday Two has raised the temperature. Matchday Three now has to raise it even higher.
Results and league-position details checked against the NPFL’s official fixtures/table and current Matchday Two reports.
