The Nigeria Premier Soccer League (NPFL) returns this weekend and into subsequent midweek with Matchday 6, which guarantees mouthwatering encounters involving the large weapons, the undefeated sides, the brand new boys, and the strugglers.
Enyimba have already begun the season on an excellent notice – 5 matches performed and undefeated to this point (W3 D2). The opposite unbeaten aspect within the high division in the intervening time is Rivers United, who have been concerned within the CAF Champions League final weekend and have performed 4 league matches, successful two of these.
The champions, Remo Stars, loved a commanding efficiency within the Champions League towards Comoros Island’s US Zilimadjou final Sunday, cruising to a 4-0 win on the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, in what appears to be like like an assured passage into the subsequent spherical that may have South African aspect, Mamelodi Sundowns, ready for them.
However earlier than then, the NPFL titleholders will probably be again in motion for a tough journey to Abia Warriors on Independence Day.
The high-stakes matches
Enyimba and champions Remo Stars are up for video games with potential for them to drop all factors, contemplating the standard of their opponents in Ikorodu Metropolis and Abia Warriors, respectively. There may be additionally Taking pictures Stars Sports activities Membership (3SC), who simply notched up their first win of the marketing campaign after 5 matches and must face Warri Wolves.
The champions have had it so good of their head-to-head conferences with the Warriors since their promotion to the highest flight in 2017.
The Sky Blue Stars have suffered only one defeat in eight NPFL conferences with Abia Warriors (W5 D2 L1). Final season, on their solution to successful their first title, Daniel Ogunmodede’s males did the double over Warriors, together with successful 2-0 on this similar corresponding fixture with Jide Fatokun and Ismaila Sodiq scoring the targets.
Off the pitch, 3SC have carried out fairly some reforms, however the outcomes should not but reflecting on the board, although they received a respite with a 2-1 win over new boys Kun Khalifat FC to get their first win of the season.
Warri Wolves would supply a unique form of opposition on Sunday on the Southern Delta College Stadium in Ozoro. The Seasiders have an excellent house file within the NPFL towards Taking pictures Stars of their final eight conferences (W7 D1). It doesn’t look good for 3SC as they’ve struggled to this point for kind of their opening 5 matches (W1 D2 L2).
Unbeaten Individuals’s Elephant up for Metropolis activity
Desk-toppers Enyimba even have a recreation on their palms this weekend once they play on the Mobolaji Johnson Area in Lagos towards Ikorodu Metropolis. The Individuals’s Elephant are having fun with an unbeaten begin to the marketing campaign of their first 5 matches of the season for the primary time for the reason that 2009/10 season, once they went undefeated of their first 9 matches (W4 D5).
That good run will probably be put to the check on the Area, the place Metropolis have bullied even the largest hitters within the high division since their debut participation final season.
The Oga Boys have performed 21 matches at house within the NPFL since their promotion and have suffered simply two defeats on their turf to Rangers (0-1) and Nasarawa United (1-2).
Final season, they scored 48 targets of their 19 house matches, averaging 2.5 targets per recreation. Although they’re but to copy that scoring kind at house this time period, Enyimba are certain to return up towards a troublesome aspect.
Final season, Enyimba have been seconds away from turning into the third aspect handy Metropolis a defeat at house earlier than substitute Ayomide Cole popped up with a late purpose to degree the rating at 2-2 for a share of the factors.
Metropolis have fairly a formidable run at house since their 2-1 defeat to Nasarawa United final season and haven’t misplaced since then in 19 house matches (W16 D3).
Struggling newcomers go head-to-head
Within the midst of purple patches for a number of the massive boys like leaders Enyimba and co, on the different finish of the desk are the newcomers, Barau FC and Kun Khalifat FC. Each golf equipment sq. up this Sunday with the latter taking part in hosts at their adopted house floor, the Enyimba Stadium in Aba. It’s an early-season relegation six-pointer for the 2 sides.
Lada Bosso’s Barau FC go into this fixture as the one aspect with out a win within the division after 5 matchweeks (D2 L2). One thing the previous Nigeria U20 males’s head coach will hope adjustments after this match. It’s the first time each groups are assembly within the NPFL, and their rankings within the kind information desk exhibits they’re within the backside three, and will probably be a recreation of who blinks first.
[Credit: NPFL]
Different fixtures
Matchday 6 will start this Saturday with two fixtures in Jos and Benin Metropolis, the place Plateau United play hosts to El-Kanemi Warriors and Bendel Insurance coverage face Bayelsa United, respectively.
Eight-time winners Rangers, who’ve began the marketing campaign poorly, will make the journey to the house of Wikki Vacationers, the place they’ve averted defeats 10 instances in 19 conferences, together with successful as soon as (W1 D9 L9).
There will probably be a top-four assembly between second-placed Nasarawa United and Katsina United in fourth place on the Lafia Metropolis Stadium.
The Stable Miners have received their final two matches towards Wikki Vacationers and Bayelsa United and can intention so as to add Katsina United to that record to copy three straight for the primary time for the reason that tail finish of final season, once they defeated Heartland, Lobi Stars and Enyimba. Katsina United have misplaced all of their final six matches at Nasarawa United.
Three matches involving golf equipment in CAF competitions have been rescheduled. Abia Warriors and champions Remo Stars go head-to-head whereas Rivers United will probably be eager to maintain their unbeaten begin to the season going once they play hosts to Niger Tornadoes. Each matches will probably be held on 1 October.
The match between four-time winners Kano Pillars and Cup holders, Kwara United, have been moved to eight October owing to the latter’s involvement within the CAF Confederation Cup recreation towards Asante Kotoko this weekend.
READ ALSO: FIFA U-20 Girls’s World Cup Qualifier: Nigeria’s Falconets eye subsequent spherical
MATCHDAY 6 FIXTURES
Saturday, 27 September
Plateau United v El-Kanemi Warriors
Bendel Insurance coverage v Bayelsa United
Sunday, 28 September
Wikki Vacationers v Rangers
Warri Wolves v 3SC
Kun Khalifat FC v Barau FC
Ikorodu Metropolis v Enyimba (5:30pm)
Nasarawa United v Katsina United
Wednesday, 1 October
Abia Warriors v Remo Stars
Rivers United v Niger Tornadoes
Wednesday, 8 October
Kano Pillars v Kwara United
