It was shared points at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin, as Shooting Stars of Ibadan secured their first point of the 2025/2026 league season after the home team, Insurance forced them to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Ismail Ayodele put Shooting Stars ahead in the 5th minute of the game before Insurance responded through Alex Oweilayefa in the 13th minute as both sides finished the first half one goal apiece.
It was however a tactical second half with both sides looking for the winner while also trying their best not to concede as the game ended 1-1.
While the Oluyole Warriors lost their first game of the season at home against Bayelsa United, the away point will put them in good form ahead of their next game at home against Ikorodu City.
Meanwhile, matches continue on Sunday across various centres with teams looking to maintain a solid position on the table.
The champions, Remo Stars, will also be looking to claim their first win of the season after the 1-1 draw at home to Rivers United in the first game of the season. The titleholders will have to face newcomers, Kun Khalifat FC at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, which they have adopted as home ground owing to renovation at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.
Ikorodu City started their season with a 0-0 draw at Kwara United despite featuring nine NPFL debutants and a new head coach in Ali Kandil after the departure of Aweroro to Shooting Stars. Ikorodu City will now shape up for their first home game against El-Kanemi Warriors in this season’s first Sunday night fixture at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan in Lagos. El-Kanemi, on the other hand, started with a 2-0 win over Insurance at home.
On the opening round of the season, the big boys found it difficult to eke out results and this time will have to do so in front of their supporters or else the pressure begins to pile up from here on. Enyimba, Kano Pillars, Plateau United and Rivers United all play on Sunday against Niger Tornadoes, Wikki Tourists, Katsina United and Cup holders, Kwara United, respectively.
All four clubs will hope to make playing at home count to get their first wins of the season.
