NPFL Matchday 3: Sporting Lagos Claim Derby Glory as Bendel Insurance Hit Four

The 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League season is beginning to produce its first major storylines, and Matchday 3 delivered goals, late drama, a memorable Lagos derby and another statement victory at the top.

Doma United maintained their perfect start, while Sporting Lagos claimed local bragging rights against Inter Lagos. Bendel Insurance produced the biggest attacking display of the round with a 4-2 win over Kun Khalifat, and Barau FC left it late to defeat Ranchers Bees.

There was also plenty of drama in Umuahia, where Emeka Obioma's brace rescued Abia Warriors against Ikorodu City, while heavy rain interrupted Niger Tornadoes' clash with Plateau United before the remaining minutes were completed the following morning.

Doma United 2-0 Enyimba: Perfect Start Continues

Doma United continued their impressive return to the NPFL with a 2-0 victory over former champions Enyimba.

The result gave Doma a third win from three matches, keeping the newly promoted side at the summit with a perfect nine points.

Doma United Goalscorers

⚽ Sadiq Rilwan

⚽ Yusuf Fantami

Doma have quickly established themselves as the early team to beat, and their perfect record has given them an early advantage in the race at the top.

Sporting Lagos 3-0 Inter Lagos: Derby Bragging Rights

The first Lagos derby between Sporting Lagos and Inter Lagos in the NPFL in more than a decade ended in emphatic fashion.

Sporting Lagos dominated the occasion with a 3-0 victory at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, securing their first three points of the campaign and claiming the bragging rights.

Sodiq Ayoade opened the scoring inside seven minutes with a header from a free-kick.

Inter had an opportunity to level when they were awarded a penalty, but Uchenna Njoku struck the outside of the post.

Sporting took advantage after the break, with Aliyu Baba doubling the lead before Valentine Ugwu completed the scoring in stoppage time.

Sporting Lagos Goalscorers

⚽ Sodiq Ayoade — 7'

⚽ Aliyu Baba — 59'

⚽ Valentine Ugwu — 90+3'

Inter Lagos Goalscorers

❌ No goals

The victory gave Sporting an important psychological boost in a derby that returned to the NPFL after a lengthy absence.

Bendel Insurance 4-2 Kun Khalifat: Six-Goal Thriller in Benin

Bendel Insurance produced one of the most explosive performances of the matchday, defeating Kun Khalifat 4-2 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

The hosts needed only five minutes to break the deadlock through Alex Oweilayefa before Suraju Lawal doubled the advantage in the 19th minute.

Chinedu Nwosu then took control of the contest after the interval, scoring in the 47th minute before completing his brace in the 71st.

Kun Khalifat had opportunities to respond. After missing one penalty, Uchechukwu Onuoha converted another from the spot in the 68th minute.

Oghenetega Ebetomame added a second for the visitors late on, but Bendel Insurance had already done enough to secure the three points.

Bendel Insurance Goalscorers

⚽ Alex Oweilayefa — 5'

⚽ Suraju Lawal — 19'

⚽ Chinedu Nwosu — 47'

⚽ Chinedu Nwosu — 71'

Kun Khalifat Goalscorers

⚽ Uchechukwu Onuoha — 68' pen

⚽ Oghenetega Ebetomame — 85'

Nwosu's brace was the decisive contribution as Bendel responded strongly after their Matchday 2 defeat to Nasarawa United.

Kwara United 3-0 Katsina United: Harmony Boys Find Their Rhythm

Kwara United recorded their first victory of the season in convincing fashion, beating Katsina United 3-0.

The breakthrough came in the 32nd minute when Ali Ferinyaro's dangerous delivery took a decisive touch off Katsina United goalkeeper Francis Koroma and ended up in the net.

Kwara then took complete control after the interval.

Tosin Olawale doubled the advantage before Issa Adeshina Gata added the third to complete a comfortable afternoon for the Harmony Boys.

Kwara United Goalscorers

⚽ Ali Ferinyaro — 32'

⚽ Tosin Olawale — 53'

⚽ Issa Adeshina Gata — 64'

Katsina United Goalscorers

❌ No goals

Ferinyaro was also recognised for his overall contribution, having played a key role in the opening goal and helping Kwara United establish control.

Barau FC 3-1 Ranchers Bees: Late Double Changes Everything

Barau FC produced one of the most dramatic finishes of Matchday 3 to defeat Ranchers Bees 3-1.

Ahmadu Liman put Barau ahead in the 29th minute, but Ranchers Bees fought back and eventually equalised through Mohammed Rabiu Zulkifilu in the 80th minute.

With the match appearing destined for a draw, Barau found another gear.

Kennedy Energy Otunuya restored the hosts' advantage in the third minute of added time before Sugau Aliyu converted a penalty shortly afterwards to complete the comeback from the visitors' perspective and seal all three points.

Barau FC Goalscorers

⚽ Ahmadu Liman — 29'

⚽ Kennedy Energy Otunuya — 90+3'

⚽ Sugau Aliyu — 90+4' pen

Ranchers Bees Goalscorers

⚽ Mohammed Rabiu Zulkifilu — 80'

The victory moved Barau FC to seven points, keeping them among the early pace-setters behind Doma United.

Abia Warriors 2-2 Ikorodu City: Obioma Rescues a Point

Emeka Obioma was the hero for Abia Warriors as his brace secured a 2-2 draw against Ikorodu City.

The experienced forward opened the scoring in the 15th minute, but Ikorodu City responded quickly through Ilechukwu Junior seven minutes later.

The visitors then completed the turnaround when Akorede Adeoye made it 2-1 in the 31st minute.

Ikorodu City looked set to leave Umuahia with all three points until Obioma struck again in the 83rd minute to rescue a point for the hosts.

Abia Warriors Goalscorers

⚽ Emeka Obioma — 15'

⚽ Emeka Obioma — 83'

Ikorodu City Goalscorers

⚽ Ilechukwu Junior — 22'

⚽ Akorede Adeoye — 31'

The result leaves Abia Warriors still searching for their first victory, while Ikorodu City will feel they came close to claiming an important away win.

Niger Tornadoes 1-1 Plateau United: Rain Interrupts North-Central Derby

Niger Tornadoes and Plateau United shared the points in a match that was anything but straightforward.

Plateau United took the lead in first-half stoppage time through Jibrin Ibrahim, leaving the visitors ahead at the break.

Niger Tornadoes pushed for an equaliser and eventually found it through Bashir Musa in the 84th minute.

Heavy rainfall then forced the match to be suspended with the score at 1-1. The remaining minutes were completed the following morning, but neither side could find a winning goal.

Niger tornadoes goal scorer

⚽ Bashir Musa — 84'

Plateau United Goalscorers

⚽ Jibrin Ibrahim — 45+2'

The final result ensured the points were shared after an unusual two-part conclusion to the fixture

NPFL Matchday 3: All Results

🏆 Doma United 2-0 Enyimba

🏆 Inter Lagos 0-3 Sporting Lagos

🏆 Bendel Insurance 4-2 Kun Khalifat

🏆 Kwara United 3-0 Katsina United

🏆 Barau FC 3-1 Ranchers Bees

🏆 Abia Warriors 2-2 Ikorodu City

🏆 Niger Tornadoes 1-1 Plateau United

The Early NPFL Picture

After three matchdays, Doma United are the early pace-setters with a perfect nine points, while Barau FC have also made an impressive start with seven points.

Bendel Insurance's four-goal performance was the standout attacking display, while Sporting Lagos' derby victory could prove important for confidence as their campaign develops.

For Abia Warriors and Ikorodu City, the 2-2 draw showed how quickly momentum can change in the NPFL, while the weather interruption in Minna added another unusual chapter to Matchday 3.

There is still a long way to go in the season, but the early results suggest the 2026/27 NPFL campaign could develop into a highly competitive one.