Enyimba took full advantage of the unfamiliar surroundings for nominal home side Sunshine Stars who were playing in Lagos following their banishment from Akure to inflict defeat on the Owena Whales at the Agege Stadium in Lagos on Thursday.

Samson Obi’s 55th-minute goal was enough to decide the encounter and extend Sunshine Stars’ miserable run to 10 games without victory. Sunshine Stars last won a game on 31 January, a 3-1 victory against Enugu Rangers.

The defeat ended a run of three consecutive draws for Gbenga Ogunbote’s side whose rotten run of form leaves them in 14th place but just one point above the relegation zone.

The visiting Aba Elephants were playing a Nigeria Professional Football League fixture for the first time since the 1-1 draw at Warri Wolves on 3 March, having been preoccupied with their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

They’d drawn their last three in the league prior to Thursday but did just enough to claim all three points in Lagos. The win lifts them to 5th on 27 points, just three points off the top but crucially, Fatai Osho’s side have four games in hand on their rivals.

Elsewhere on matchday 17, Isaac George scored the only goal as Dakadda rebounded from a 3-0 loss at Nasarawa United last time out with a narrow win against Plateau United in Uyo.

The win, Dakadda’s sixth straight at home moves them to 8th in the table on 26 points while Plateau United are 12th on 22 points.

The concluding fixture of the round saw Rangers dispatch Nasarawa United in Enugu with two early goals doing the damage at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

There were only two minutes on the clock when Godspower Aniefok struck for the hosts and Chinonso Eziewke doubled their lead six minutes later.

Rangers move level on 30 points with Kwara United but are second on goals difference in a crowded top that has Kano Pillars also on 30 points.

Nasarawa United would have gone joint top with a win but their first loss in four games leaves them stuck on 27 points in 6th place.