By George Akpayen
Things are gradually shaping up in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) this season as we draw closer to double figures of matchweeks. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves as we look at possible happenings for Matchday 9 fixtures. There is so much to talk about from the fixture of unbeaten sides in Port Harcourt to the match-ups of strugglings in Ibadan and Lafia.
Will Finidi George continue his fine run at Rivers United?
Former Nigeria international and head coach, Finidi George, has enjoyed the best possible start to life in the NPFL this season at Rivers United and his team remain unbeaten after nine matches (W6 D2). Finidi’s side will however face the only other unbeaten side in the top division in El-Kanemi Warriors in what should be an interesting fixture at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
El-Kanemi this season have shown they are a plucky side and have somehow stayed undefeated until this point. One disadvantage for the Borno side is that they have failed to win in their last 10 visits to Port Harcourt including when Rivers United were known as Dolphins FC. It is going to be tall order for El-Kanemi against a tight-defending side but if they get a result, then they also keep their unbeaten run going.
Can El-Kanemi end Rivers United’s perfect home run?
Talk of steel in defence. El-Kanemi will have the onerous task of facing a team that are yet to concede in more than three matches on the bounce, that is 313 minutes of football in the NPFL. The truth is that Rivers United head coach, Finidi George, has settled for his back four and it has worked for him so far, conceding just two goals in eight matches (0.25 goal per game). That is an incredible feat. So where will El-Kanemi’s goal or goals come from if they must breach the backline of Ebuka Akobundu, Stephen Manyo, Temple Emekayi and Taiwo Abdulrafiu. El-Kanemi have Mustapha Ibrahim their top scorer with three goals. Will his firepower be enough to end the run of clean sheet by United?
Will Daniel Amokachi finally get his first NPFL win with Lobi?
It is a different story for Finidi’s former Super Eagles teammate, Daniel Amokachi, at Lobi Stars where he is head coach. He still winless after three matches in charge (D2 L1). Amokachi and his men will put the disappointing 4-2 defeat at Ikorodu City behind them and focus on their home fixture against Bayelsa United on Monday. Already he has made a change in leadership by handing the captain’s armband to Solomon Kwambe after stripping goalkeeper Daniel Atsaka of the role.
Let’s wait and see the effect of the change in armband against a Bayelsa United who are struggling on the road this term. They have managed just one point in four away matches. Interestingly, that one point came at the Lafia City Stadium where Lobi will play hosts to them from 3pm on Monday. So it is a matter of lightning striking twice at the same spot should Bayelsa United take a result away from this game.
Can Ikorodu City keep their newfound form going?
After starting life without a win in their first five matches, things are now looking up for Ikorodu City since Bright Ozebagbe opted to leave his head coach role after defeat at Plateau United. City entrusted their team to three coaches, Nurudeen Aweroro, Ali Kandli and Adebayo Bello, and they pulled off an impressive seven points out of the three matches they have taken charge of (W2 D1). City have now handed Aweroro the head coach role on interim basis while he will be assisted by Kandli and Bello.
Aweroro’s first task is at nine-time winners Enyimba. The head coach of Oga Boys could draw inspiration from the fact that the People’s Elephant are on a poor run of three straight matches without a win. So can Aweroro lead City to another impressive run, this time, at the home of the most successful club in the country?
Will Remo Stars maintain their second half goalscoring form?
Title-chasing Remo Stars are surely the team with the best second half form so far this season. Nine of their 12 goals have come in the second half, which is the most goals scored in the second half by any team in the NPFL this season. So that should be a concern for Heartland who play hosts to them this Sunday. Emmanuel Amuneke will need to work on his Heartland side to focus all 90 minutes as the Sky Blue Stars are a second half side though they have tailed off a bit on the road with two back-to-back defeats at Kwara United and Plateau United. We will see if Amuneke’s men can keep Remo Stars quiet in the second 45 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri on Sunday.
Can Niger Tornadoes end their five-game winless run?
The way Majin Mohammed’s Niger Tornadoes began the season came with some sort of statement. In their opening four matches they went undefeated including winning at Kwara United and Plateau United with an identical scoreline of 2-1. They, however, failed to win at home in those first four matches. Then a trip to Owerri to face Heartland ended with a 2-0 defeat and since then Majin’s men are struggling for form. Four matches after that defeat at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, they are yet to win a game (D2 L2).
Now they make a trip to a ground where they have lost all of their five previous meetings with Katsina United. This is quite a task for Majin and his men but with the way results have gone this season, they will nevertheless fight on like they did at Kwara United and Plateau United.
Will Anas Yusuf continue his red-hot form at Lafia City Stadium?
Current NPFL top scorer, Anas Yusuf, will be a marked man when his side, Nasarawa United, face Kano Pillars on Sunday at the Lafia City Stadium. Anas has scored eight goals, four more than the chasing pack. He has shown a knack for scoring at home games this season, netting five goals in three of Nasarawa United’s four home matches. The odds favour him to score against Kano Pillars who have conceded in every of their away matches this season.
Can the champions, Rangers, keep their good form going vs Kwara United?
Kwara United have found it difficult to claim a win in their last four league matches against Rangers International (D3 L1). The last two visits of the champions to Ilorin have ended in identical scorelines of 1-1. It is now a matter of if Fidelis Ilechukwu and his men can leave the Kwara State Stadium without a defeat considering they have been on a poor run in their last three matches (D1 L2). This is a case of who blinks first.
MATCHDAY 9
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Katsina United v Niger Tornadoes (3pm)
Bendel Insurance v Abia Warriors (5:30pm)
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Nasarawa United v Kano Pillars (3pm)
Plateau United v Sunshine Stars (4pm)
Heartland v Remo Stars (4pm)
Enyimba v Ikorodu City (4pm)
Rivers United v El-Kanemi Warriors (4pm)
3SC v Akwa United (4pm)
Monday, October 28, 2024
Kwara United v Rangers (4pm)
Lobi Stars v Bayelsa United (3pm)