Wikki Tourists scored two late goals in Bauchi on Wednesday to hand Enyimba a 3-1 Nigeria Professional Football League defeat, the People’s Elephant’s first loss in 10 games. In another rescheduled NPFL clash on Wednesday, El-Kanemi beat Enugu Rangers 2-0 to prevent the Flying Antelopes from moving up the table. Enyimba were looking to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games but they were behind on 18 minutes when Abubakar Lawal headed past Enyimba goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai. The champions were back on level terms just three minutes later, however, as another superb Chima Akas freekick proved unstoppable. Enyimba held on in the face of relentless Wikki pressure and appeared to have sustained their impressive streak, until the hosts struck twice in two minutes. Wikki went back ahead in the 89th minute through Idris Guda’s shot from long range, and sealed the win a minute later as Godwin Obaje converted a penalty he had won when tripped in the Enyimba box.
Wikki went top of the NPFL table with the win on 31 points, while Enyimba dropped to third with a game in hand.
In Maiduguri, El-Kanemi scored once in each half to further dent Rangers’ title ambitions.
Hussaini Bata tapped in from close range to open the scoring in the fourth minute, while Ibrahim Mustapha finished Rangers off from the penalty spot after a Rangers player handled the ball in the box.
Rangers, who had started the season impressively, are now fifth in the table, two points off the top.