Mohammed Rabiu Zulkifilu leads the early Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) scoring race after a hat-trick helped Ranchers Bees beat Abia Warriors 4-0.
The striker scored three times at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina on Monday, moving to three goals after the opening two matchweeks of the season.
Zulkifilu made his first start of the campaign and took full advantage of the opportunity, quickly establishing himself at the top of the scoring standings.
Before his three-goal performance, Doma United forward Sadiq Rilwan had been the leading scorer after finding the net against both Sporting Lagos and Inter Lagos.
Rilwan remains the only player to have scored in each of the two matchweeks completed so far.
He began the season with a goal in Doma United’s 2-0 victory over Sporting Lagos before scoring the decisive goal against Inter Lagos. Those results have helped Doma United maintain a perfect start to the campaign.
Kano Pillars defender Fabian Nworie has also emerged as an early contender, despite his usual role at centre-back.
The former Remo Stars player scored twice in Kano Pillars’ 3-2 victory over Niger Tornadoes on Sunday. It was the first time Nworie had scored twice in one match and the first goals of his top-flight career.
With only two matchweeks played, the early contest for the NPFL Golden Boot is beginning to take shape. Zulkifilu currently leads the standings, while Rilwan’s consistency and Nworie’s unexpected contribution have placed both players among the early pace-setters.