Chance To Go Top For Bendel Insurance
After a comfortable 2-0 win against Shooting Stars last weekend, Bendel Insurance can go top of the league with a win against Plateau United on Saturday. Monday Odigie’s men host the Peace Boys in Benin in what would be the third-ever meeting between both sides. The Benin Arsenal are undefeated against their visitors and would strive to keep it that way. The chances of that record remaining intact is very high with the 2023 Federation Cup winners unbeaten at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium since September 2021.
For United, they need to find their spark if they are to end their terrible away form. The 2017 champions have lost 15 of their last 20 road trips with just one win in that period.
Bendel Insurance v Plateau United, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.
Agagbe On The Wheel
After a fine start to the season, Eugene Agagbe has now been made the permanent head coach of Lobi Stars. The former youth team coach served in an interim capacity in the first two games after Bala Mohammed left his position barely two weeks before the start of the new season. With an opening weekend draw at Heartland and victory over Sunshine Stars last time out, the management of Lobi seems to have seen enough to suggest he is the right man for the job. Now it’s for him to start rewarding the faith, starting with the game against Katsina this weekend.
Katsina United have had a distracting week. The former board was dissolved on Wednesday and a new one was set up on an interim basis on Friday. Bolus and his men will have to put aside that distraction to get their second home win this season.
Lobi Stars v Katsina United, Lafia Township Stadium, Lafia.
Heartland Struggling To Step Up
After going the 2022/2023 season unbeaten and winning the NNL, Heartland have struggled on their return to the top flight. The Naze Millionaires had to battle from losing position to get a 2-2 draw in their first game before firing blank and losing to Plateau last Sunday. Another defeat for Christian Obi’s side could set panic in a squad that was already seen as poor by many. The Imolites have been tipped as one of four teams to drop and their early season form shows why.
Against a Sunshine team who they have never beaten in Akure, it would require something extra to get a result and they don’t seem to have it right now. Maybe they can hope for the occasional ‘bad day in the office’ that the Owena waves tend to have.
Sunshine Stars v Heartland, Akure Township Stadium, Akure.
First-Ever Sunday With Sporting In The NPFL
All through last season, Sporting Lagos made their games at the Onikan Stadium feel like a carnival for their fans. They are set to maintain that tradition with their home games this season. The ‘Noisy Lagosians’ host Doma United in one of seven games on Sunday and it promises to be a cracker. Paul Offor was absent from the touchline in Uyo as he was on a coaching course outside the country and it remains to be seen if he will be back for this game. Sporting might have relinquished the top spot before their game but they can reclaim their position with a win.
Like Sporting, Doma are relatively new to top-flight football. Last season was their first season in the NPFL and although they impressed in the abridged season, this is the first time they are involved in a 38-game season. The Savannah Tigers will be aware of the challenge before them in Lagos having watched their City rivals, Gombe United get beaten by Sporting on match week one. Akinade Onigbinde’s team have never picked an away NPFL win, could that change this Sunday with Sporting?
Sporting Lagos v Doma United, Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Lagos.
Gombe United To Fire More Tasers In Adamasingba?
Without any doubt, last weekend’s shock result was Gombe United’s 2-0 win over Enyimba. The Savannah Scorpions bounced back from an opening-day defeat to beat the champions at the Pantami Stadium. While they enjoyed their perfect day against the People’s Elephants, Shooting Stars got mauled by Insurance in Benin and that win against the 9-time winner will probably make them believe they can get a result against anyone. They must however be careful, especially at a ground where they lost 3-0 last season.
Shooting is unbeaten at home in the NPFL since their return in 2021, although, they have played 13 draws. A win over Gombe will be their first back-to-back home win since February this year.
Shooting Stars v Niger Tornadoes, Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan.
A Clash Of Titans In Aba
On paper, this is the biggest clash this weekend but it has not always delivered on the pitch. The 2021 league champions, Akwa United against the side they pipped to the title three seasons ago, Enyimba should make for good viewing but these two have made it a cagey affair in recent times. In the last 6 meetings, only 7 goals have been scored. Considering the attacking firepower they have both had in those games, that’s quite underwhelming. And that trend could continue with Enyimba yet to score this season and Akwa firing blanks in their last game.
Finidi George is out with the National team in Portugal for friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique, so one of his assistants will have to deputize in this game. The last time Finidi was absent in the dugout, it didn’t end well, let’s see how it goes this time.
Enyimba v Akwa United, Enyimba Stadium, Aba.
Can Remo Shake Off Rivers Defeat Before Bayelsa Trip?
After the disappointment of Port-Harcourt, Remo Stars need to pick themselves up before their game against Bayelsa United. The Sky Blue Stars risk losing back-to-back NPFL games for the first time since May 2022 if they put out the kind of display we saw against Rivers United. And at a ground where they failed to score in their two NNL visits, the odds are against them.
Bayelsa put five past Akwa United in their previous home game but they have conceded 5 times in 2 games. This game is delicately poised for a goal-fest and it would surprise me if we don’t see at least two.
Bayelsa United v Remo Stars, Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenegoa.
Rangers Can Go Top With A Win
When the fixture list was drawn up and handed to Rangers, surely, this was one game they must have highlighted for a potential 3 points. The Flying Antelopes have progressed a lot off the pitch but it is time to get success on it. A win on Sunday can take the 2016 champions to the top if results elsewhere go their way and that would be the perfect way to bounce back from the disappointment suffered in ikenne.
These two come into this game with a win and a loss from their first two games. Rangers beat Doma and lost to Remo while Tornadoes lost to Abia Warriors before beating Rivers United. A win for Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men would aid their push as they continue to chase their 8th league title.
Enugu Rangers v Niger Tornadoes, Awka Township Stadium, Awka.
Rivers To Bank On Home Comfort Against Kwara
Last season, Rivers United earned the most points at home, the season before, they were joint top on that chart. The Pride of Rivers are probably the most formidable side at home in the NPFL in the last couple of years. Their last defeat at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium was over 4 and a half years ago and against a Kwara side whose best result in Port-Harcourt has been a draw, that record looks set to be retained.
Rivers United v Kwara United, Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port-Harcourt.
Warriors Can Hurt Pillars Again
After losing 4 of their first 6 meetings without scoring a single goal against Kano Pillars, Abia Warriors have found their feet in this fixture in the last 12. 3 wins in the last 6, including a 3-2 victory the last time they met is how the Ochendo Babes go into this one. Add that to their 5-game winning streak at home stretching back to last season and you see why they might be confident about this game.
Pillars are coming off the back of a win in the North-east derby and that might give them an extra boost. Rabiu Alli is still orchestrating things for Sai Masu Gida in his 40s and he might prove instrumental again this weekend.
Abia Warriors v Kano Pillars, Umuahia Township Stadium, Umuahia.