NPFL FOCUS: Warlords Enyimba, Rangers lock horns in dicey Oriental derby
The headline fixture for the weekend games is the battle between the last two winners of the Nigeria Premier Football League while there are also interesting ties in Owerri, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Maiduguri, writes TUNDE LIADI.
For the second consecutive week, it is another Oriental derby that headlines this weekend’s fixtures as Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 15 are played across 10 cities nationwide.
It was Heartland versus Enugu Rangers that took centrespread last weekend with the countdown to the encounter the talk of Owerri metropolis and its environs.
The game later ended goalless despite the tie being action packed and thrilling from start to the finish.
This term, it is the turn of the winners of the Nigeria Premier Football League for the past two seasons. Enyimba, 2013 champions will lock horns with reigning champions, Rangers International FC at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba on Tuesday.
The clash should have held this weekend but it was shifted to next week because Enyimba were involved in CAF Confederation Cup fixture on Wednesday in Egypt and are expected back in Nigeria by the weekend.
The last fixture between both teams ended inconclusive on the pitch after Enyimba abandoned the tie when a controversial penalty kick was awarded to Rangers International FC in the 97th minute of the encounter. The Flying Antelopes later won the fixture in the boardroom with three points and goals. No one expects the scene of last season witnessed in Enugu again in Aba this term.
Another fixture that will generate enthusiasm is the encounter between Rivers United and Kano Pillars in Port Harcourt. It brings the second placed team against eighth-placed Sai Masu Gida at the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium.
The Pride of Rivers were held to a 1-1 draw by Sunshine Stars in Ijebu Ode midweek and may return to the top if they beat Pillars with first spot Remo Stars facing Niger Tornadoes in Minna. Only goals differences separate the first and second spots who both have 26 points.
The fixture will also bring up former head coach of the Super Eagles, Finidi George against his former coaching colleague in the senior national team, Usman Abd’Allah, and it promises to be another thriller in Port Harcourt.
In Benin, Insurance will slug it out with Plateau United hoping for another home win after their narrow loss to Nasarawa United in Lafia on Wednesday.
The Edo Arsenals are last on the log with 12 points and they need a win against stubborn Plateau United to gradually steer clear of the drop zone. The Peace Boys are desirous of a positive outcome too.
Heartland will return to Owerri to face Nasarawa United knowing that they are under compulsion to claim the three points and shut any drop zone discussion with only two points separating 12th placed Naze Millionaires from the relegation zone. The Solid Miners are not equally save as they are presently in the drop zone in 18th spot with 15 points.
The Owerri side should have picked at least a point in Ilorin but poor marksmanship aided by poor officiating marred Heartland’s desire to pick a positive result and having returned home, the boys are aware that only a home win would placate their expectant fans.
Lobi Stars will square up with Kwara United in another North Central derby while Katsina United will try to dim Sunshine Stars light at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina.
Shooting Stars were beaten in successive South West derby against Ikorodu City and Remo Stars. They will battle Abia Warriors hoping to win another home game while El Kanemi Warriors will face Bayelsa United in Maiduguri barely a few days after the loss to Ikorodu City in Lagos. Will they have shaken off the fatigue following a long road trip back to their base?
In the last fixture of the weekend, in-form Ikorodu City will try to add to the woes of Akwa United at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos on Sunday.
The Oga Boys pinned El Kanemi Warriors 2-0 on Wednesday to move to the fifth spot with 21 points in their debut season in the topflight and another unlikely home win this weekend will plunge the Promise Keepers deeper into the relegation zone while Ikorodu City may soar to as high as the third spot if other results favour them.
