SHOOTING Stars head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, will face his former club Remo Stars in a Nigeria Premier Football League game on Sunday (today) in a southwest derby at the Adamasigba stadium.
Ogunbote’s side go into the game with a good run of from, unbeaten in their last five league matches winning three and drawing two and have not lost against Remo at home in their last three meetings with result ending in 1-1 on each occasions.
The Oluyole Warriors’ rich vein of form in the league has also seen them move to seventh in the NPFL standing and Ogunbote remains confident his players will give their best to record their first ever topflight win over Remo Stars.
3SC are yet to record a win over Remo Stars (since 2017) in their last seven fixtures – losing three and recording four draws.
“Remo Stars match is a different ball game because it is a local derby and it goes either way, but we will give it our all to ensure that we come out with a positive result,” Ogunbote said ahead of the game.
“However, like I use to say, we pray for a level playing ground. It’s going to be tough but I’m confident we can maintain our good form in front of our home fans.”
For Remo Stars, they will seek to make it two wins in a row after defeating Enyimba by a lone goal last Wednesday.
The Sky Blue Stars will be fired up to complete a double over their host whom they thrashed 3-0 in the reverse fixture.
The Daniel Ogunmodede’s side is presently fourth with 42 points from 24 points.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, Rangers host league leaders, Lobi Stars hoping to extend their unbeaten run of seven games against the Pride of Benue. They are also unbeaten in their last five league games.
Fidelis Ikechukwu’s side sit third in the log with 42 points and could move up to second place with a their 13th league win of the season if Plateau United who are currently second with 44 points failed to record a point against Katsina United away.
At Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, Sporting Lagos will aim to replicate their home form that saw them batter Remo Stars 4-1 in their last Sunday when they host Kwara United.
It will be a second time meetings between the two sides in a competitive game.
While Paul Offor’s side lost 2-1 to Kwara United in Ilorin in their first ever meeting and the Noisy Lagosians will be out to even scores in front of their home fans.
Kwara United on their part will hope to make it two wins from two straight games following their 1-0 win over a resilient Bayelsa United side last week.
Two place and two points separate both teams on the log with Sporting Lagos in 13th position on 31 points while Kwara United are 15th with 29 points.
In Yenagoa, both Bayelsa United and Kano Pillars will hope to end their winless run when they clash at the Samson Siasia stadium.
Relegation battlers Bayelsa are seeking to end their three game winless run while Pillars also are without a win in their last four league games drawing two and losing two. Pillars last win was a 5-1 thumping of Sunshine Stars in Kano on February 25.
Pillars lost 3-2 to Katsina United and 1-0 to Abia Warriors before recording consecutive draws against Rivers United and Enugu Rangers. The Sai Masu Gida are in sixth spot with 38 points from 25 games and eight points adrift of the top.
In Umuahia, Abia Warriors will play their second home game since their return to the home ground – the Township Stadium to face Sunshine Stars. They were beaten 2-1 by the Owena Whales when the first leg was played in Akure and are without a win in their last two matches against Lobi Stars (1-1) and Heartland (2-0).
Sunshine Stars visit to Umuahia will also see Kennedy Boboye return to the place he once worked as head coach of Abia Warriors.
His recent return to Akure has produced some impressive results including the 3-1 win over Plateau United, a 2-0 victory over Lobi Stars and the draw in Awka against Heartland FC.
In Benin, Bendel Insurance will be at home to Doma United. Both teams suffered defeats in their last game with the Benin Arsenals losing 3-1 in Uyo to Akwa United while Doma United lost their second game at home to 3SC.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers United will hope to return to winning ways when they host Heartland FC. The reverse fixture in Owerri ended in a goalless draw.
They need a home win to keep their faint continental ticket hope alive. They however have three outstanding games at hand against Kwara United (home), Remo Stars (away) and Niger Tornadoes (home) due to their CAF Confederation Cup involvements.