Shooting Stars Vs Heartland FC
Shooting Stars and Heartland will be desperate for points when they lock horns at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Saturday.
In their last league outing, Shooting Stars were humbled two-nil by El-Kanemi Warriors, while Heartland edged Rivers United 2-1 in Owerri.
As usual, pressure will be on Kadiri Ikhana’s charges to perform from their ever demanding fans.
Heartland will be hoping to get at least pick a point on their visit to the historical city of Ibadan.
Shooting Stars have scored 11 eleven goals and conceded 13 goals so far, with the visitors netting seven goals and letting in seven goals too.
Last season, Shooting Stars had the upper hand with a 0-0 draw in Ibadan and a 3-1 victory in Nnewi against the Naze Millionaires.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah Vs Warri Wolves
FC Ifeanyi Ubah will be looking to win in front of their fans at the Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium and they will hoping to carry out the task against Warri Wolves on Sunday.
The Anambra Warriors will not have things easy though as they come up against the Seasiders – a team that has won two matches in a row.
The hosts have 19 points from eleven games, while the visitors who have played one match less are ninth in the table with 16 points.
In head-to-head stats, FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Warri Wolves have met in 2 league matches since 2015, with both managing one win apiece.
Sunshine Stars Vs El-Kanemi Warriors
Sunshine Stars will host El-Kanemi Warriors on match day 12 of the NPFL, with the intention of maintaining their good form of two wins and three draws in their last five games.
Ahead of Sunday’s game against the Maiduguri based club, the Owena Waves have been handed a massive boost as their strikers have started netting goals – as seen in the performance of Okiki Afolabi and Dele Olorundare in recent times.
Based on the points build up of 11 on the log sheet, Sunshine Stars need to win the week twelve game to move away from 16th spot which they currently occupy.
Warriors on the other hand aren’t safe on the log sheet, as they are at the 14th position on the league log with 13 points and their aim on Sunday is to beat Sunshine Stars in order to improve their position on the log sheet.
In the ongoing season, Warriors form has not been impressive in their away games, playing one draw and losing the rest.
Sunshine Stars, who are yet to lose a game in the last five fixtures, having recorded a two victories and three draws. They would like to continue their fine form against Warriors who lost 5-0 in their last away visit to the Owena Waves in Akure.
In-form Sunshine Stars striker, Okiki Afolabi is optimistic of his side’s win over El-Kanemi Warriors.
“We are not going to be complacent when we face them, so we must beat Elkanemi Warriors and I’m confident that we will win that game,” Okiki told Goal.
“Getting the three points in the El-Kanemi Warriors’ game can even push us up and we are much determined to achieve that, all we need is for the fans to fill the Akure Township Stadium and we will not disappoint them,” the former Shooting Stars forward explained.
El-Kanemi Warriors will definitely depend on their in-form attacker, Ibrahim Mustapha who has registered 6 goals in the ongoing campaign and the goal poacher said his side must shock Sunshine Stars in Akure.
“We have to shock Sunshine Stars in Akure, they are playing at home, everything is to their advantage but we are not wary of the threat they will be posing, we are going into the game to shock them and we will do that at the end of 90 minutes,” Mustapha told Goal.
Sunshine Stars have played Warriors 6 times in the league since 15th May 2013.
They have have won three and lost three in the six league encounters. Sixteen goals were scored with the Sunshine Stars leading the way with nine goals as against El-Kanemi Warriors’ seven.
Nasarawa United Vs Plateau United
Nasarawa United will hope to move out of the 16th spot that they currently occupy when they take on fellow strugglers Plateau United at the Aper Aku Stadium.
However, the Jos-based side are looking to climb the table themselves and will try to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
A few weeks ago, Nasarawa Unuted boss Kabiru Dogo suggested that his side were too good to be in the relegation zone and the ex ABS gaffer was in the mood to echo those comments after the 3-1 win over Giwa FC on Wednesday.
The Solid Miners’ biggest problem has been a lack of goals, and they seem to have fixed that in recent games.
Plateau United gaffer Zachary Baraje is keen not to rest on his laurels after his side beat city rivals Giwa FC last week Sunday and he is already eyeing back-to-back victories.
They are still just outside the relegation zone, but they have been pointless on the road this season.
However, while Baraje has suggested that he is looking up the league rather than down, he also remains realistic about United’s prospects.
That realism could be down to his team’s defensive record, with only Ikorodu United having conceded more this season.
United do at least have a reasonably potent attack, with 11 goals since the start of the campaign.
Niger Tornadoes Vs Ikorodu United
Niger Tornadoes and Ikorodu United will go head-to-head in a league clash at the Lokoja Confluence Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The match is scheduled to get underway at 4pm.
The Minna-based team are flirting with relegation and come into this encounter on the back of a 2-0 win loss to Akwa United.
Abdullahi Biffo’s charges occupy 17th position in the NPFL table.
Ikorodu United have endured a stuttering start on their top flight debut and come into this encounter, having drawn 0-0 with Sunshine Stars at the Onikan Stadium.
They are winless in nine straight games.
Sam Okpodu’s team need to start winning matches or else they might be set for life in the Nigeria National League after just one year in the top flight.
The Lagos outfit are 20th in the league standings and could ease their relegation woes with a win in Lokoja.
Lobi Stars Vs Akwa United
Victory for either Lobi Stars or Akwa United at the Aper Aku Stadium will lift them into the firing line on the League table.
Lobi Stars have won four, drawn three and lost four, while Akwa United have recorded five victories, three draws and three defeats in the eleven-week old league season.
United sit six places ahead of Stars in fourth place.
The Pride of Benue have had an inconsistent start to the season.
Both sides recorded contrasting results in their last league outings. Lobi Stars lost 2-0 at Abia Warriors, while Akwa United defeated Niger Tornadoes 2-0 in Uyo.
This will be the seventh league meeting of the sides in the last four seasons in the top flight.
The head-to-head record is closely matched, as each side has won three games apiece. United have managed more goals (6) than Stars (5) in those six games.
Last season, in the corresponding fixture, Stars won 1-0 at the Aper Aku Stadium. The return game, however, saw United deal out some revenge, winning 1-0.
Coaches of the two teams are expected to have full-strength squads at their disposal for Sunday’s game in Makurdi.
Giwa FC Vs Enugu Rangers
Giwa FC and Enugu Rangers will face-off at the Rwang Pam Stadium this Sunday in the Nigeria Professional Football League.
The two are miles apart in the on-going campaign, with Rangers occupying first spot on the ladder with 21 points while the Jos Elephants sit 12th with 14 points.
Gbenga Ogunbote’s Giwa FC haven’t looked convincing if we are to judge the team by performance so far in the season.
His wards need to start picking results, if not he might face the wrath of the impatient owner of the club, Ambassador Chris Giwa, who is known for firing coaches if results aren’t favourable.
High-flying Rangers will fancy their chances of winning in Jos, due to the array of talents at the disposal of the team.
It’s a game that should be of good value to fans of the two clubs on match-day.
In their last league outing Giwa FC lost 3-1 to Nasarawa United, while Rangers pipped FC Ifeanyi Ubah 1-0 at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium.
Enyimba FC Vs Abia Warriors
Enyimba International Football Club promise to attack with purpose as they seek a boost to their Nigeria Professional Football League campaign when they face brothers Abia Warriors in the Abia Derby at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Sunday.
The People’s Elephants have won just one of their last three league matches and lost 2-1 to Sunshine Stars at midweek.
The Aba side have claimed nine points from seven matches this season and are placed 18th on the log.
Abia Warriors’ approach will be to play an offensive and high-tempo game, take advantage of their speed, use their skills to penetrate the opposition’s defence and go for goals.
The previously unbeaten Warriors were handed a baptism of fire when they lost 1-0 to Warri Wolves on Thursday.
The Umuahia side have claimed 20 points from eleven matches this season and are placed 2nd on the log.
In head-to-head stats, Enyimba and Abia Warriors have met in four league matches since 2014.
Both sides have claimed one win each, while two matches have been drawn.
Warriors have not beaten Enyimba since 30 March 2014.
