Kano Pillars took advantage of being the away team against El-Kanemi Warriors on home ground in Kano with a 3-1 win, to maintain its lead on top of the Nigerian Premier League with two matches left in the season.

Pillars went into the encounter a point ahead of Warri Wolves and two points ahead of Enyimba as the champions continued the quest for a third successive league title against the Maiduguri side.

Moses Ekpai got Pillars ahead after 27 minutes but El-Kanemi were back on level terms just a minute later through Ifeanyi Matthew who beat Pillars goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai with a long range effort.

Adamu Hassan however got Pillars back in front five minutes later while a goal from Muritala Adamu just after the hour mark sealed the win for the Premier League leaders.

The result allowed Kano Pillars; now with 62 points, open a two-point lead on Enyimba that rose to second place courtesy of Mfon Udoh who scored a second brace to secure a comeback 2-1 win at already relegated Nembe City.

In a match which saw the Aba Elephants miss a penalty while down to Musampa’s first half goal for Nembe, Udoh’s goals took his tally to 20 goals and saw him equal the league record for most goals scored in a season.

Udoh was joined on 20 goals by Emem Eduok who equalised for Dolphins at Bayelsa United but could do nothing to prevent the Port-harcourt side from losing 3-1 in Benin in a result that eased Bayelsa’s relegation worry.

Unlike Bayelsa, Crown FC and Kaduna United joined Nembe City in being relegated from the top flight, with Crown losing 1-0 at home to Abia Warriors while a late goal earned Kaduna United a 1-1 draw at home to Giwa FC.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Warri Wolves dropped three points behind leaders Kano Pillars in third place after being held 1-1 at Sharks in Port-harcourt while Rangers lost 1-0 at Gombe United and Heartland drew goalless with FC Taraba in Owerri.

Lobi Stars beat Akwa United by a lone goal while Nasarawa United barely remain in the title race, six points behind Pillars on fourth place, following a 2-1 win over Sunshine Stars in Lafia.