Sports Intel

NPFL Briefing: Talking Points From Match Week Three

Felix Egbomuche

Another game week have come and gone and we have witnessed another round of excitement in the NPFL. As usual we come with our weekly briefing on the biggest talking points from the game week.

Insurance At It Again

As was the case last season, Bendel Insurance have won their first two home games of the new NPFL campaign and have now shot to the top of the table despite having a game in hand. The Benin Arsenal defeated Plateau United 1-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to maintain their perfect start to the season.

Monday Odigie’s men are one of two sides who are yet to concede so far and their solid defense(the best last season) seems to have kept their stingy trait. The 2023 Federations Cup winners are looking to start just as good as they did last season and maybe compete for a first title since 1979(43 years).

All through last season, the Benin Arsenal topped the Group A standings of the abridged league, except for game week 3 when Remo Stars usurped them on goal difference. They however finished 5th in the championship playoffs.

Finally An Away Win!

After two game weeks without a single away win, Remo Stars finally got the first win by a traveling side. Adams Olamilekan early goal early and a second-half strike from Sikiru Alimi meant Okorie Ekeson’s late goal was only consolation for 10-men Bayelsa United.

Before Remo’s win, we were on track for the worst away start to the season for NPFL teams in 10 years. The 2014 season was the last time more than 2 game weeks were observed before an away victory.

The victory for Remo saw them get back to winning ways after the midweek defeat to Rivers United. That win will also boost confidence for the Sky Blue Stars ahead of the first South-West derby against Sporting Lagos.

Osho Already Under Pressure

It’s only 3 weeks into the season but Fatai Osho is already feeling the heat following Akwa United’s poor start. The Promise Keepers are languishing at the base of the table with just one point from their opening three games. Osho’s men fought hard in Aba on Sunday but still left the City with nothing as Somairi Alalibo’s 69th-minute free-kick won it 3-2 for Enyimba.

Off the pitch, fans are beginning to question if Osho is the right man for the job, and although it’s still early days, some within the club are hoping the former Remo and Enyimba gaffer will arrest the poor results on time.

Fatai Osho during an NPFL game.
Fatai Osho during an NPFL game.

Akwa United had hoped to be competing for the league title this season or at least the continental places after missing out last season but with grounds already being lost on those at the top, the 2021 champions will need to find their form fast to avoid further segregation between them and their targets.

NPFL Teams Rank On Twitter(X) Trends Table

Remo Stars, Enyimba, and Sporting Lagos all made it to the Nigeria trends table on the X app(formerly Twitter) while their teams were in action in Yenegoa, Onikan, and Aba. It’s the first time we have had three NPFL teams on the trend table in a single day this season.

Okay, I know there were no BBNaija or weekend European games to compete, so that would have given these teams more shot at making the trends table but still, it was nice to see these teams trend on organic conversations. It just confirms(for those who still need it) that there’s interest in this league.

It will be nice though if the buzz so far this season can be built on by the league organizers. Maybe an official hashtag for the season and games made a regular feature each week.

 

Big Names In Relegation Waters

It’s not uncommon to have a top team in the relegation zone after 3 match weeks into the season but what we don’t see often is 4 former league winners occupying the bottom four spots. Plateau United, Kano Pillars, Heartland, and Akwa United are surprisingly the worst teams so far.

Plateau and Pillars have both mustered 3 points this season having lost twice already. Heartland are one point worse despite losing only once, the Naze Millionaires have played draws against Lobi and Sunshine on either side of a defeat in Jos. Akwa United have just one point from playing against Bayelsa United, Sporting Lagos, and Enyimba. The Uyo-based side have been involved in 8 and 5-goal thrillers that ended in defeats while they failed to score at home against Sporting.

One would expect that these teams will fare better as the season progresses but with the quality between teams ever so close, we might just see another big name drop this season.

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