By Daily Sports on March 27, 2016

ENUGU RANGERS VS ENYIMBA FC

Enugu Rangers will look to firm their grip on the summit of the Nigeria Professional Football League when they host Enyimba International Football Club at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium in a week nine fixture on Sunday. Last season, the Oriental War between both sides ended 2-1 in favour of Enymba at the same venue.

The Flying Antelopes suffered their second defeat of the season when they were downed 3-1 by Lobi Stars at the Aper Aku Stadium in a midweek fixture. Imama Amakpakabo’s side are first on the NPFL log with 14 points from eight games. On the other hand, Enyimba have been average in the 2016 campaign with two wins and two losses so far and come into this fixture having pipped Plateau United 1-0 in their last league outing.

Enyimba are 16th in the league standings with six points from four games, and they haven’t picked up a point on their travels this season. The players expected to light-up the Oriental War are Mfon Udoh, Godwin Aguda, Chisom Egbuchulam, Chinedu Udoji, Theophilus Afelokhai, Christian Madu, Obinna Nwobodo, Bobby Clement, Joseph Osadiaye, Dare Ojo, Christian Pyagbara, Chiamaka Madu, Nnamdi Anyasodo, Stephen Chukwude, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Bright Esieme, Okey Odita and Pape Ousmane.

ABIA WARRIORS VS NIGER TORNADOES

Umuahia Township Stadium is the place to be when Abia Warriors host Niger Tornadoes on Sunday.

Kennedy Boboye will feel concerned as his boys are winless in their last four matches in the 2016 season.

The problem of converting begging chances has been the major undoing of Abia Warriors

despite their free flowing football. And they will be keen to arrest that against the Minna-based outfit.

Tornadoes are brimming in confidence on the back of their 2-1 win over Shooting Stars in a

week eight fixture on Wednesday. The major concern for Abdullahi Biffo is the fitness of talisman Ismail Gata, who was substituted in the first half against Shooting Stars due to injury. The former Kogi United forward is doubtful for the match in Umuahia.

Biffo will have to count on Daniel Jackson, Wilfred “Di Maria” Ammeh and Lukman Muhammed for goals if Gata fails a late fitness test.

EL-KANEMI WARRIORS VS NASARAWA UNITED

Ladan Bosso will be hoping to pick up a third win as El-Kanemi Warriors coach as his side

take on Nasarawa United at the Karkanda Stadium on Sunday afternoon in a league

clash. The former Flying Eagles gaffer masterminded his side's first away point of the season when they drew 1-1 against Giwa FC in their last league outing. In Chinedu Ohanachom and Mustapha Ibrahim, coach Bosso is assured of a deadly strike-force.

Nasarawa United finally joined the winning train when they humbled “promo team” Ikorodu United 2-0 in a midweek clash. The Solid Miners ended a poor run of three matches without a point at the Aper Aku Stadium on Thursday. Kabiru Dogo’s wards are currently languishing second from the bottom on the NPFL log and three points from the away side will be vital in their search to avoid the drop to the dreaded Nigeria National League.

HEARTLAND FC VS GIWA FC

Heartland FC and Giwa FC will be gunning for three points when the two lock horns at Dan Anyiam Stadium on Sunday. The match is scheduled to get underway by 4pm. Heartland were beaten 1-0 by FC Ifeanyi Ubah during the week.

The result leaves them languishing in 15th place on the log with eight points from seven matches.

Giwa FC were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by Warriors at the Rwang Pam Stadium on Wednesday.

That result has left the Jos Elephants placed seven on the NPFL log with 11 points from

seven matches. The last two games between both sides have produced eight goals. When the teams clashed last season in Owerri, the Naze Millionaires edged Giwa FC in a five-goal thriller.

KANO PILLARS VS FC IFEANYI UBAH

Fifth placed Kano Pillars host fourth placed FC Ifeanyi Ubah at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday, with just one point separating the two sides and both desperately in search of points to break into the top three. The Anambra Warriors are currently sitting with 13 points from seven matches while Masu Gida have earned 12 points out of their seven games. Baba Ganaru’s men come into the game on the back of a third league draw for the year when they held MFM FC to a 1-1 stalemate at the Agege Stadium on Wednesday night. Mitko Dobrev's charges will come into the game full of confidence after beating Heartland 1-0 in the Oriental War during the

week. A win for Pillars will move them two points ahead of the ambitious FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

WIKKI TOURISTS VS AKWA UNITED

Wikki Tourists will look to continue their strong form in the NPFL when they host Akwa United at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium on Sunday. The Buachi-based outfit claimed a 0-0 draw in Umuahia against Abia Warriors in a week eight fixture during the midweek.

Abdul Maikaba’s side have garnered a total of 11 points from seven matches and are place seventh on the log Akwa United saw their winless voodoo in the league extended to two matches when they drew 0-0 at home to Warri Wolves on Wednesday. The Promise Keepers have claimed one point from their away matches this season and are placed sixth on the log with eleven points from seven matches. When the teams last met at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in the 2015 season, Wikki Tourists won 3-1.

IKORODU UNITED VS RIVERS UNITED

Ikorodu United need to get some points on the board when they take on Rivers United in the top flight this weekend. The Oga Boys have failed to snatch a victory in their last five matches, leaving them just two points above the bottom two (Nassrawa United and Sunshine Stars) in the league table.

Sam Okpodu, who took the reins in the 2-0 loss to Nasarawa United, inherited a squad that has struggled to find goals, netting just four so far this season and conceding thirteen.

His compatriot, Stanley Eguma has been handed a three-match ultimatum to perform or face the dreaded executioner’s axe.

Rivers United are yet to win or draw on the road, something that gives their diehard fans big worries.

However, the clash against the “promo team” of the top flight division should serve as a tonic for their revival on their travels.

Fred Obomate should return to the starting lineup for the Pride of Rivers after he was surprisingly omitted from the team that drew at home to Sunshine Stars on Wednesday. For the home side, Harrison Egbune and Ojukwu could be installed as Ikorodu United’s attacking threat for the match.

PLATEAU UNITED VS MFM FC

MFM FC will be looking to claim valuable points when they face Plateau United at the Rwang Pam Stadium on Sunday. The Lagos side, who have won four of their first eight league matches, sit joint-top of the league table alongside Enugu Rangers. Fidelis Ikechukwu’s side come into the match off the back of Wednesday night’s 1-1 draw against Kano Pillars in the match-day eight.

Plateau United have drawn won three, drawn one and lost four in their opening eight games in the 2016 season. They will relying on the duo of Julius Nuhu and Victor Namo for success against the church. Coach Zachary Baraje has no injury concerns and could name the same side that lost away to Enyimba.

WARRI WOLVES VS LOBI STARS

Warri Wolves host high flyers at the Warri City Stadium on Sunday aiming to pick up their third win of the campaign. The Warri-based outfit come into the game placed 14th with nine points in six matches so far, but they have played two less matches than opponents Lobi Stars. A win for the Seasiders will take them to twelve points.

Lobi Stars, meanwhile currently are in 3rd place, with 13 points collected from eight games played and a goal-difference of positive four.

They humbled Rangers 3-1 during the week with hat-trick hero Kingsley Eduwo grabbing the headlines. Wolves picked up a 1-0 win at the Warri City Stadium last year.

•Sourced from Goal. Photo shows

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 27, 2016

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