- Heartland host El Kanemi in Owerri
Two traditional teams, Enyimba and Shooting Stars, will today slug it out in Aba in the top fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 26.
Both teams played a goalless draw in an entertaining game played in Ibadan and the Oluyole Warriors have settled down in Aba hoping for a positive result to exorcise the double losses suffered to the People’s Elephant last season.
Shooting Stars were beaten 2-1 in Owerri by Heartland in their last away trip before they stuttered to a 2-2 draw at home to Lobi Stars while Enyimba pipped Rangers 1-0 in their last home game before they were pegged back 2-1 in Katsina by the Chanji Boys.
It promises to be a tough clash because Enyimba who were league champions in the 2022-23 season, have fallen to the 11th spot with 34 points while Shooting Stars (41 points) are desperate to retain their second spot with Rivers United and Abia Warriors (39 points each) on their trail.
In other games, Rangers who have slipped to the sixth spot with 38 points, will welcome Sunshine Stars in Enugu while in Owerri, Heartland will trade tackles with El Kanemi Warriors.
The game ended goalless in the first leg and the Naze Millionaires will be eyeing the maximum points to move further away from the drop zone. The Borno Army’s too who are presently eighth with 36 points knows that getting a positive result would improve their league fortunes on the log.
Elsewhere, Kano Pillars will welcome Akwa United to the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano. Sai Masu Gida narrowly edged Barau FC 3-2 in the final of the Kano FA Cup but they know only a home win would move them closer to the top four as they are seventh on the log with 36 points at present.
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It is however win or bust for Akwa United who are 19th on the log with 24 points. They need positive results from their remaining away games to stand any chance of league survival. With the club’s chairman, Paul Bassey now made the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Sports, can the Promise Keepers welcome his reign with a win?
Tenth-placed Kwara United will hope to continue their recent impressive form at home when they host fourth positioned Abia Warriors at the Main bowl of Rasheed Yekini of the George Innih Stadium in Ilorin while Lobi Stars and Niger Tornadoes will slug it out in Bauchi in a North Central derby.
In Lafia, Nasarawa United have a date with Remo Stars while Plateau United will host Bayelsa United in Jos.
The remaining two fixtures are fixed for tomorrow with Rivers United hosting Katsina United in a must win tie if they are to retain third spot while Bendel Insurance will strive to maintain their impressive home form when they host Ikorodu City in a night game.
Remo Stars are still atop the league table with 51 points while Shooting Stars, Rivers United, Abia Warriors and Ikorodu City occupy the top five while Sunshine Stars, Nasarawa United, Akwa United and Lobi Stars are in the drop zone after Matchday 25 games.