The early stages of the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League season continue to produce an interesting battle at the top, with Rivers United, Barau FC and Kano Pillars among the teams yet to taste defeat.
All three sides extended their unbeaten runs during Matchday 6, although none could secure maximum points. Rivers United were held to a goalless draw by Ranchers Bees, while Barau FC played out a 1-1 draw away to Sporting Lagos. Kano Pillars also shared the points after a 0-0 draw against Enyimba.
Rivers United remain one of the strongest early performers in the campaign after avoiding defeat in their first five completed league matches.
The Port Harcourt club opened the season with a 2-0 victory over Plateau United before recording another 2-0 win against Warri Wolves. They then drew 1-1 away to Nasarawa United and followed that result with a 5-0 demolition of Kun Khalifat.
Their latest fixture produced a different result as Ranchers Bees held them to a 0-0 draw at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
The point kept Rivers United unbeaten and moved their tally to 11 points from five matches. They had also kept three clean sheets during that run before the Ranchers Bees encounter.
Rivers United’s start is particularly notable considering their involvement in continental football. The club have shown that they can remain competitive domestically while dealing with the demands of a busy schedule.
Their next league fixture will be another away test against Katsina United on September 30.
Barau FC are also making a strong impression following their promotion to the NPFL.
The Kano-based club began their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Nasarawa United before playing out a 0-0 draw against Kun Khalifat. They then defeated Ranchers Bees 3-1 and followed that result with another goalless draw against Ikorodu City.
A 2-0 victory over Abia Warriors on Matchday 5 further strengthened their position before Sporting Lagos ended their winning momentum with a 1-1 draw in Lagos.
Joseph Atule gave Barau the lead from the penalty spot in the first half, but Sporting Lagos responded after the break to secure a share of the points.
Despite dropping two points, Barau remain unbeaten and have collected nine points from their opening six matches.
Their consistency has been one of the early stories of the campaign. Rather than struggling to adapt to top-flight football, the newcomers have already shown that they can compete against established NPFL sides.
Barau’s next major test will come on October 4 when they travel to face Bendel Insurance.
Kano Pillars also preserved their unbeaten record after playing out a goalless draw against Enyimba at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
The result ended a difficult run for Enyimba, who had lost their opening four league matches and were still searching for their first point of the season.
Kano Pillars entered the match in strong attacking form, having already scored nine goals in their first four league games. They had recorded a 2-2 draw with Kwara United, defeated Niger Tornadoes 3-2, beaten Doma United 4-1 and drawn 1-1 with Inter Lagos.
However, they could not find a way past an Enyimba defence that showed greater resilience.
Enyimba goalkeeper Dede Dare was particularly important, making several saves to keep his side in the contest. The Aba club also had goals ruled out for offside during the match, but eventually secured a valuable point.
For Pillars, the draw means they remain unbeaten after five matches, with three wins and two draws giving them nine points.
Their next league assignment will be against Sporting Lagos on October 3.
The opening six matchdays have shown that maintaining an unbeaten record in the NPFL is not necessarily straightforward.
Rivers United have combined victories with disciplined defensive performances, while Barau have shown the ability to collect points consistently despite being newcomers.
Kano Pillars, meanwhile, have produced some of the league’s more entertaining attacking displays but were unable to break down Enyimba in their latest outing.
The three clubs have taken different routes to their unbeaten starts, but the common factor is their ability to avoid costly defeats.
With the league still in its early stages, the challenge will now be maintaining that consistency when the pressure increases.
The early table is already showing signs of a competitive campaign.
Rivers United’s 11 points from five matches have placed them among the leading teams, while Barau FC and Kano Pillars have nine points each. The gap remains small enough for other clubs to quickly move into contention.
Doma United, who started the season strongly, have suffered two defeats in their last three matches, including a 2-1 loss to Katsina United on Matchday 6. Rangers also suffered a 2-0 defeat to Ikorodu City, while Plateau United defeated Inter Lagos 2-0.
The results underline how quickly the picture can change in the NPFL.
For Rivers United, Barau FC and Kano Pillars, however, the immediate priority is clear: continue collecting points without suffering their first defeat of the season.
As the campaign moves into another round of fixtures, their unbeaten records will come under fresh pressure. Rivers United face Katsina United, Barau FC travel to Bendel Insurance, while Kano Pillars welcome Sporting Lagos.
The coming fixtures will provide another test of whether the three sides can maintain their impressive starts and remain among the early contenders in the 2026/27 NPFL season.
