By Daily Sports on March 13, 2016

Niger Tornadoes return to the Confluence Stadium on Sunday against stylish Rivers United with no other option but to win or else they might find themselves involved in a relegation battle.

The Match Day six encounter in the Nigeria Professional Football League gets underway at 4pm.

Niger Tornadoes lost 1-0 to CAF Champions League campaigners Warri Wolves courtesy of Ewenike Achibi's fourth-minute effort at the Warri City Stadium last weekend.

Fifth-placed Rivers United edged Nasarawa United 1-0 in their last league encounter staged at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium on Sunday.

Indeed, the match has all the ingredients of a grand finale considering both teams have talented players in their ranks. A win for each side will impact immensely on their fortunes. Should Tornadoes win, they will improve their ranking on the ladder.

Victory for Rivers United, who are coached by Stanley Eguma, will see the Pride of Rivers climb as high as first if MFM FC, Lobi Stars, Kano Pillars, Abia Warriors and Enugu Rangers fail to win.

Tornadoes coach Abdullahi Usman Biffo will parade his usual pool of young players that includes Ismail Gata, Wilfred Ameh, Kunle Isa, Abiodun Adebayo, Lanre Ferinyaro and Kingsley Salami.

Abiodun Adebayo and Kingsley Salami will man the midfield with Ismail Gata, Kunle Isa, Wilfred Di Maria Ameh and perhaps Daniel Jackson going upfront for goals.

Coach Eguma could field the same squad that featured over the weekend. Sunday Rotimi will stand between the posts with Odinga Odinga, Chigozie Ihunda, Olalekan Gabriel and Joseph Dhouhaji completing the back-line. While, Ali Chinwedu might start the match at left-back if he is passed fit by the medics.

Fred Obomate is a brainy and skillful player whose presence adds more flair in the midfield. If he combines well with Benard Ovoke, Godbless Asamoah and Christian Weli, the away side will not be firing blanks upfront.

GIWA FC VS SUNSHINE STARS

Sunshine Stars will be looking to pull away from the bottom three when they travel to Jos to face Giwa FC at the Rwang Pam Stadium on Sunday.

The Owena Waves side have lost two of their opening four fixtures and drew their last home match 1-1 against FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

Giwa FC, who sit one point ahead of Sunshine Stars in 16th, were beaten 2-1 by Shooting Stars last weekend.

Jos Elephants boss Gbenga Ogunbote has no fresh injury concerns but may decide to shuffle his pack.

Sunshine Stars caretaker manager Kayode Olujohungbe may make changes to the side that drew 1-1 against FC Ifeanyi Ubah at the Akure Township Stadium in a week five fixture.

FC IFEANYI UBAH VS IKORODU UNITED

Pundits have already tipped FC Ifeanyi Ubah to emerge victorious in their home game against Ikorodu United who are winless in their last two matches.

The game will get underway by 4pm at the Rojenny International Stadium on Sunday.

Big spenders FC Ifeanyi Ubah have recorded decent results in the four matches that they have played so far - winning two, drawing one and losing one.

They have played three away matches so far in the league season and have a match in hand.

Ikorodu United are starting to find the top flight difficult having gone two matches without a win.

They lost at 1-0 at Enyimba FC and drew 0-0 against a ten-man MFM FC side in the Lagos Derby.

The Anambra Warriors will be expected to prey on the Lagos-based outfit.

AKWA UNITED VS PLATEAU UNITED

Akwa United host Plateau United on Friday looking for bounce back from their 3-2 loss to Kano Pillars.

The Promise Keepers were edged in a five-goal thriller by the three-time NPFL champions last weekend, and manager Maurice Cooreman will be aware that his side need to pick up maximum points at home to climb up the ladder.

Cooreman will be without Ubong Ekpai after the forward was dismissed against Pillars last weekend.

Plateau United arrive in Uyo on the back of a 1-1 draw with Abia Warriors.

Charles Okafor, who missed a last-gasp penalty in the week five fixture, will keep his place at the back four alongside Benin Republic international Salomon Junior. While,  Zachary Baraje is likely to stick with Victor Namo upfront.

Both sides will lock horns by 7pm at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Friday.

ABIA WARRIORS VS ENUGU RANGERS 

Enugu Rangers can maintain their place at the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League table if they are able to snatch all three points from Abia Warriors in the Oriental War.

Both sides will clash make a date at the Umuahia Township Stadium this weekend.

The home side have had an unbeaten start to the season, with two wins and three draws and they will be hoping to earn the traditional Oriental bragging rights in front of their ever supportive fans.

Under Imama Amakpakabo, the Flying Antelopes have been playing an entertaining style of football which has caught the attention of soccer fans in the country. His team are on top of the table with 10 points.

When the two teams met at the same venue in the previous season, a treble from Wydad Casablanca new signing Chisom Chikatara ensured that Abia Warriors won 3-2.

The players expected to enliven the match are Olaha Michael, John Huan, Bolaji Sakin, Ifeanyi Onyeali, John Gaadi, Uche Ihuarulam, Chisom Egbuchulam, Godwin Aguda, Chiamaka Madu, Christian Madu, Itodo Akor, Nnamdi Anyansodo, Obinna Nwobodo and Okey Odita.

Abia Warriors could move to the top two of the table if they manage to win at home.

The match will kick off by 4pm on Sunday.

LOBI STARS VS KANO PILLARS

After an entertaining six-goal thriller that produced no winner at the Aper Aku Stadium in the 2015 Nigeria Professional Football League season, Lobi Stars and Kano Pillars will return to the same venue to settle their differences.

The two sides have made identical starts to the campaign under new managers Godwin Uwua and Baba Ganaru, with Lobi Stars picking nine points and Pillars with ten points.

Lobi Stars come into the match on the back of a 1-0 loss at Heartland FC and won't want to drop points at home.

Baba Ganaru saw his Pillars side pick up a victory in week five, as Akwa United were beaten 3-2 at the Sani Abacha Stadium thanks to Rabiu Ali's hat-trick.

Kingsley Eduwo and Anthony Okpotu could continue their partnership in attack for Lobi Stars.

Rabiu Ali, Gambo Mohammed, Ifeanyi Matthew and Prince Aggrey are expected to be the danger men for Masu Gida.

MFM FC VS EL-KANEMI WARRIORS

MFM FC face El-Kanemi Warriors in the NPFL, with the two teams looking to bag the maximum points at stake at the Agege Stadium.

The hosts drew goalless against Ikorodu United despite playing more than 45 minutes with ten men in the Lagos Derby.

Warriors will be looking to capitalise on their impressive 2-0 win over Enyimba FC, which saw them pick up their first three points of the season.

Fidelis Ilechukwu will likely have few changes to his team line up, while there could be a rotation in the Warriors’ personnel from Ladan Bosso.

•Sourced from Goal.com. Photo shows MFM players celebrating a goal.

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 13, 2016

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