REMO Stars will hope to extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points even before nearest rivals, Shooting Stars and Rivers United take to the pitch tomorrow with an away tie against Sunshine Stars today as the Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 22 fixtures get underway this weekend.
Remo Stars are dictating the pace of the season with 42 points from 21 games and they will face Sunshine Stars who though are technically at home in the tie have been forced to play the game in Ikenne, the home ground of Remo Stars.
The Owena Whales are 15th on the log with 24 points and are in dire need of a win to move further away from the drop zone but the Sky Blue Stars have found it difficult to lose on their home ground though they are the visitors this term.
Tomorrow, there will be four games on offer with Heartland facing Rivers United in Owerri. The Naze Millionaires are still buoyed from their 1-1 draw in Aba to Enyimba and they will hope to secure their second win in seven days when they trade tackles with the Pride of Rivers who are led by former Super Eagles’ handler, Finidi George.
Kano Pillars will hope to vent the frustration of their 4-1 loss to Ikorodu City in Lagos on Bayelsa United whom they will host at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano. Sai Masu Gida are 10th on the log with 28 points though they are with a game at hand and they need the win to appease their fans for their calamitous defeat in Lagos.
It will be another North Central derby in Lafia with Nasarawa United up against Niger Tornadoes. The Solid Miners got a draw in Minna in the first leg and are desperate for a home victory as they are languishing at the bottom of the table with 19 points. The Ikon Allah Boys pipped Kwara United 2-1 to move to the seventh spot and they will relish another positive points that will take them closer to the top five.
In Umuahia, Abia Warriors will slug it out with Akwa United in a repeat of the first stanza which ended 1-1. The Umuchineke crooners let slip a 2-0 lead to lose agonisingly 3-2 to Remo Stars in Ikenne. They were unable to overturn a 2-0 first leg defeat in Umuahia while Akwa United with a blunt attack were held to a 1-1 draw by Lobi Stars. The draw meant they are still at the wrong end of the table in 19th spot with 20 points.
In Jos, Shooting Stars’ quest to protect their six game winning streak would be put under serious test when they face Plateau United tomorrow. The Oluyole Warriors have won all their last six games including four home games and two away ties. They have not conceded any goal in those games too.
With Plateau United in 16th spot with 23 points, they will be under immense pressure to secure another win after they lost the maximum points to Katsina United in the fifth minute of the stoppage time from the penalty spot. Shooting Stars cannot afford to lose the tie to keep their league title aspirations intact. They are currently second with 36 points with a game at hand away to Kwara United.
Four remaining games of the Matchday 22 fixtures will come up on Monday. Lobi Stars will host Enyimba in Bauchi. They got a draw in Uyo against Akwa United to move to the 18th spot with 21 points and will need all points to move further up.
Enyimba are in Bauchi to halt their recent slide. They lost two consecutive games to Kano Pillars and Kwara United and were fortunate to get a shared spoils at home to Heartland FC who were wasteful in Aba.
Rangers will hope to be third time lucky when they host Ikorodu City on Monday with the determination to end their winless home streak which would extend to three games if they fail to beat the Oga Boys on Monday. The Fidelis Ilechukwu boys have lost three of their last five games with two of those defeats coming in Enugu.
The reigning league champs are sixth with 31 points and the big plus for them is that a win against Ikorodu City will guarantee them a place in the top five at least. Will it come easy for the Flying Antelopes with the emphatic manner the Oga Boys dismantled Kano Pillars midweek?
In Benin City, Bendel Insurance will strive to extend their unbeaten streak to seven games when they host Katsina United at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. They braved the odds to hold Rivers United to a 2-2 draw in Port Harcourt and brimming in that confidence, the Chanji Boys may find it difficult to survive the heat.
While, Kwara United are at home to fourth placed El Kanemi Warriors in Ilorin. The Harmony Boys were unlucky to lose in Minna to Niger Tornadoes but the Borno Army did just enough to overcome Rangers International FC 2-1 in Maiduguri.
Kwara United led by Tunde Sanni will be eager to win the game to move to the top half of the table.