Plateau United, Rivers In Titanic Battle

The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) will witness some great matches this weekend with as many as eight games on the card. It is matchday 18 games across all centres.

The games, Warri Wolves against Enyimba, and that of Rangers versus Katsina United are postponed due to their continental engagement of Enyimba and Rangers.

Akure-based Sunshine Stars, who were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Kano Pillars will take on Heartland FC of Owerri in Okigwe with the home side smarting from the 1-3 loss they suffered on the road against Akwa United last time out.

Akwa United have looked steady since the appointment of Kennedy Boboye following the resignation of John Obuh, and that form that saw them thrash Heartland FC 3-1 is what they will be hoping to re-enact when they travel to Nnewi to keep a date with FC Ifeanyi Ubah who are 10th on the log despite losing 0-1 to Katsina United away in Katsina. 18th placed Jigawa Golden Stars are under a new coach in Gilbert Opana, who took over from Rabiu Tata, but his reign started on a losing note when they were thrashed 0-2 by Dakkada FC in Uyo.

They will be facing an uphill task when they play host to league leaders, Lobi Stars, who are hoping to consolidate on the 2-1 win they enjoyed against Nasarawa United.

In Kano, home side, Kano Pillars will stake their 12-matche unbeaten run against visiting Adamawa United, who are 19th on the log and struggling to beat the drop to the Nigeria National League (NNL). The last time Pillars were beaten in the league was on November 20 when they lost 1-0 to Jigawa Golden Stars.

Kwara United return to the NPFL has not gone as smooth as they would have hoped, and after last week’s 1-2 loss away at Adamawa United, they will be fired up for the visit of MFM FC, who were held to a barren draw by Plateau United in their last game played at their home ground.

Bottom of the table, Nasarawa United, will play host to Abia Warriors who are 7th on the log, thanks to their 1-0 win over Warri Wolves, same matchday when Nasarawa United were beaten 1-2 by their close door neighbor, Lobi Stars in Makurdi.

A chance to go top of the table is what Plateau United will be eyeing when they take on Rivers United. A win will see them go top provided Lobi Stars don’t win against Jigawa Golden Stars.

Standing against them is the hard-fighting Rivers United, who are on same point with Plateau United, but one spot behind them solely on goal difference. Rivers can also go top with a win away in Jos.Dakkada FC will travel to Bauchi to take on a rejuvenated Wikki Tourist side, who are unbeaten in three games since the appointment of Usman Abdallah as coach. Wikki have picked two draws away from home and a win at home over from Garba Ibrahim three weeks ago.