Rangers and Shooting Stars will trade tackles to close the gap on Rivers United and Remo Stars in contest between the third and fourth spots in the league while Rivers United, Remo Stars, Plateau United and Heartland are in must-win situations to stay in reckoning, writes TUNDE LIADI…
After the razzmatazz of last weekend which produced exciting results across the country in Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 17 games, lovers of the domestic league will have plenty to cheer about as Matchday 18 fixtures are decided between today and Monday.
The real action spots this weekend will be in Jos where two former league champions, Plateau United and Enyimba will lock horns as they look to revive their season while Rangers International FC will trade tackles with Shooting Stars in another tough duel that should rekindle age long memories in Enugu.
The Matchday 18 fixtures start with three games billed for today. In Benin, Insurance will face Lobi Stars in a tie between two struggling teams. The Edo Arsenals picked important draws in their last two away games against Akwa United and Heartland in Uyo and Owerri respectively and will climb up the ladder with a home win against bad travellers, Lobi Stars.
Kano Pillars will host Niger Tornadoes today also at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano. Sai Masu Gida lost 2-0 to Shooting Stars in Ibadan in their last game but they must be at their best to beat Ikon Allah Boys who whitewashed Sunshine Stars 4-1 just last weekend.
The third game billed for today will see Sunshine Stars in combat with El Kanemi Warriors who dispatched Abia Warriors 3-0 in Maiduguri in their last game. The game holds in Ijebu Ode. The Owena Whales have found it difficult to win games in recent times but they expect the acquisition of new head coach, Abubakar Bala to turn the tide from this game.
Six games would be on offer tomorrow with the peak of the pack being the encounter in Jos between Plateau United and Enyimba.
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Enyimba are winless in the past eight games in all competitions and they were mauled 3-0 in Maputo by Black Bulls in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage tie last weekend.
A lot of negatives have come from their trip to Maputo including travelling in batches which made some players to arrive barely one hour to the kick-off of the game despite having sufficient time to prepare for the trip. They have just arrived from the journey and must embark on the trip to Jos irrespective of fatigue that might have set in for them.
They will be up against a more prepared Plateau United who are 16th on the log with 18 points and desperately need the maximum points to move out of the relegation zone. Enyimba have three games at hand and have slipped up the top three due to the accumulated games.
In another top duel, 17th – placed Nasarawa United will lock horns with Rivers United in a game both teams need to get maximum points to either leave the drop zone or remain atop the table. The Solid Miners would be fresh ahead of this tie with their last weekend tie with Enyimba shifted because of the latter’s CAF Confederation Cup tie in Maputo.
Rivers United on their part laboured to a 2-1 win over Kwara United in Port Harcourt last weekend but the allure of remaining at the apex of the table should propel them to go for an away win.
Ikorodu City have gone two games without a win and have also lost their six game unbeaten streak following the 1-0 loss to Bayelsa United in Yenagoa two weeks ago. They will hope to return to positive result when they face Imama Amapakabo’s erratic Abia Warriors tomorrow. The Umuchineke Boys collapsed to a 3-0 defeat to El Kanemi Warriors last weekend in Maiduguri. They have been presented with a chance to redeem their dented image with the fixture with the Oga Boys. Will they seize the chance?
In Ilorin, Kwara United will hope to secure a positive result when they host Katsina United on Sunday. Both teams had contrasting results last weekend with the Harmony Boys losing 2-1 in Port Harcourt to Rivers United despite scoring first in the game while the Changi Boys were held to a goalless draw at home by Rangers International FC.
In Ikenne, Remo Stars will seek to overtake Rivers United at the top if they can beat Bayelsa United while it will be a battle between the third and fourth teams on the log in the topflight when Rangers International FC do battle with Shooting Stars in Enugu. Both teams are separated by one point but it could be widen if the Flying Antelopes win or the Oluyole Warriors overtake their host in third spot if they shock them in Enugu.
Meanwhile, the last game of the weekend comes up in Uyo on Monday between Akwa United and Heartland FC.
Akwa United are last on the log with 16 points from 17 games and will be under immense pressure to win at home to close the gap on their visitors, Heartland who are two points better. The Naze Millionaires may plunge into the bottom four if they fail to make hay in the game in Uyo and their visit to Lafia as guests of Lobi Stars next weekend.
NPFL Matchday 18 Fixtures
Insurance vs. Lobi Stars
Nasarawa United vs. Rivers United
Kano Pillars vs. Niger Tornadoes
Abia Warriors vs. Ikorodu City
Plateau United vs. Enyimba
Kwara United vs. Katsina United
Remo Stars vs. Bayelsa United
Akwa United vs. Heartland FC
Enugu Rangers vs. Shooting Stars
Sunshine Stars vs. El Kanemi