Nigeria Premier Football League leaders Rivers United head into the mid-season break with a five-point cushion at the top after edging Rangers International 1–0 in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

A 53rd-minute strike from centre-back Bolu Sholumade settled the Matchday 19 contest for Finidi George’s side, whose advantage was further boosted by second-placed Nasarawa United’s heavy 3–0 defeat away to Kano Pillars.

Rivers’ closest challengers came unstuck at the Sani Abacha Stadium, where Pillars marked their return from a five-match home ban with a commanding performance. The Solid Miners were unable to cope with the hosts’ intensity as the Sai Masu Gida recorded their sixth win of the campaign.

Mustapha Umar put Pillars ahead in the 23rd minute before second-half goals from Chiedozie Okorie and Jibrin Mustapha completed a convincing victory that reshaped both ends of the table.

The result lifted Kano Pillars from the bottom to 18th place on 19 points, while the pressure deepened on Kun Khalifat and Plateau United, who remain rooted in the relegation places.

Kun Khalifat suffered a fifth home defeat of the season, losing 1–0 to Katsina United in Owerri, while Plateau United’s woes continued with a 1–0 home loss to Abia Warriors — their third defeat at the New Jos Stadium this term.

In Aba, nine-time champions, Enyimba rounded off the year in style with a 3–0 win over Shooting Stars. Chinedu Ufere opened the scoring in the 16th minute before late goals from Edidiong Ezekiel, and Chidera Michael sealed the points.

Elsewhere, Niger Tornadoes closed to within a point of the top three after a 2–0 home win over relegation-threatened Barau FC. Abdulaziz Dalhatu struck in the 35th minute, and Rickson Mendos added a stoppage-time goal to secure the victory.

Barau FC, who had briefly climbed out of the bottom four, slipped back into the relegation zone on 21 points after 19 matches. The NPFL resumes on January 7 with Matchday 20 fixtures, while the mid-season transfer window runs from January 1 to January 30, 2026.