ON a run of two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier Football League, pacesetters Lobi Star will aim to make it three in a row and five in eight league games with another victory on Sunday (today), when they host newcomers Sporting Lagos in Lafia.
Lobi Stars stayed clear by a point at the top in the NPFL after defeating Bayelsa United 2-1 in a mid-week rescheduled fixture.
Their newly promoted visitors, the Noisy Lagosians, will aim to build on their impressive 3-0 home win over Kano Pillars in Lagos despite losing their last two consecutive away games against Kwara United and Remo Stars.
The game in Lafia is a first-ever meeting of the teams in the NPFL, with Lobi Stars boasting of an unbeaten run in the NPFL after seven games.
Former champions, Kano Pillars and Enyimba will faceoff in Kano with the Sai Masu Gida keen to maintain their impressive home record against the reigning league winners.
Pillars are yet to lose a game at home this season, scoring five goals without conceding. This shows their home comforts.
In their last game in Lagos on Wednesday against Sporting Lagos, they conceded three first half goals for the first time since 2018. They will seek to return to winning ways against Enyimba who also struggled against Kwara United at home last weekend.
The Aba Elephants will bid to better their performance of a draw away in Kano for the first time in five years.
In Ilorin, Shooting Stars will be desperate to end their poor scoring form away when they face Kwara United on Sunday (today).
The Oluyole Warriors are one of the four teams in the NPFL yet to score on the road this season despite picking up a point away in Eket against Akwa United.
Aside from the 2021/22 season where 3SC scored in a 3-1 loss to Kwara United at the Ilorin Township Stadium, the Oluyole Warriors are yet to score on the same pitch in four games. The last game played between both sides where Shooting Stars won was at Kwara United’s adopted home in Akure.
At the Akure Township stadium, Enugu Rangers will be confident of at least a point when they take on Sunshine Stars.
Both teams in their persons games in the past have shared the spoils eight times, one of the highest draws from the two sides in the NPFL in decade.
Sunshine Stars’ form in the present season doesn’t reflect a club that played in the Super Six last season. But a point against Rivers United last week might serve as motivation for them heading into this feisty encounter.
More so, their last four meetings have resulted in a draw, with the last victory for Sunshine Stars over Rangers recorded in 2021, where the match ended 3-1. Enugu Rangers’ last victory over Sunshine Stars in Akure was in 2019.