At least three mouth-watering derbies will herald the 2021 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, Week 14 matches slated for Sunday, March 7 at venues across the country.
There will be two action packed ‘oriental derbies’ and the usually entertaining North-Central derby between arch rivals, Nasarawa United and Lobi Stars at the Lafia Township stadium.
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While the defending champions, Enyimba FC square off with FC IfeanyiUbah in the first ‘Oriental derby’ at the Aba Township stadium, Heartland will welcome resurgent Abia Warriors in the other derby of ‘oriental brothers’ at the Okigwe Township stadium.
For those who may not understand, ‘Oriental derbies’ are usually contested by NPFL clubs from the South-East region of the country.
Whenever these clubs meet, there is usually so much to talk about as the intense rivalry among them comes to the fore leaving in its trail the good, the bad and sometimes ugly side of the beautiful game.
It is against this background that Enyimba will be going into the match against the third from bottom ‘Nnewi millionaires’ with the aim of annexing the three points that would return them to the top of the NPFL table.
Enyimba on 24 points with one outstanding match, will climb to the top of the table, if the trio of Kwara United, Kano Pillars and Rangers either lose or draw their matches.
Going by their impressive run in the league, Enyimba FC are highly favoured to nick their ninth win of the season but considering that they were held to a 1-1 draw in their last home match against Akwa United, it will be too early to write off the chances of FC IfeanyiUbah who need victory to leave the drop zone.
In the second ‘Oriental derby’, Abia Warriors who have recovered their winning instinct will be the guest of Heartland who lost 0-2 to Enugu Rangers last Sunday.
Placed 10th on the table, the coach Fidelis Ilechukwu tutored ‘Nazi millionaires’ as Heartland are called will do everything to win in order to brighten their chances of a continental ticket.
On their part, Abia Warriors since their resurgence have gone four matches unbeaten and will fancy their chances of winning what promises to be a cracker in Umauhia.
The ‘North-Central derby which pitches Nasarawa United and out of form Lobi Stars in Lafia is another fixture to look out for as players of both clubs know each other like the back of their hands.
On current form, both sides are two sides of the same coin as they have continued to blow hot and cold. They appear to have forgotten how to pick points away from home.
While Lobi Stars managed to beat Katsina United 2-1 last Sunday, the following day, Nasarawa United suffered a slim 0-1 loss at MFM in Lagos.
However, with ‘pocket dynamite’ Adamu Hassan in top form following his brace against FC IfeanyiUbah in week 12, the ‘Solid miners’ won’t lack the bullets to gun down Lobi Stars in order to keep themselves in the race for the title.
“Any match between Nasarawa United and Lobi Stars is usually tough. This one is not going to be an exception.
“We are ready for anything they will bring to Lafia. They are suddenly struggling but we won’t allow that to distract us from our preparations for the match,” said Hassan.
At the Tafawa Balewa stadium in Bauchi, Wikki Tourists who lost 0-1 at Abia Warriors in week 12 and 1-2 at Dakkada FC on Wednesday in a rescheduled week 11 match will have their hands full with leaders Kwara United.
Captain of Wikki Tourists, Guda Idris Muhammed told Trust Sports that the ‘Bauchi elephants’ won’t settle for anything less than the maximum points.
“We lost narrowly at Abia Warriors and Dakkada so the match against Kwara United is a must win. We respect the fact that they are topping the table but we won’t give them too much respect.
“We are highly motivated going into this particular fixture,” said the attacking midfielder who scored a scorcher against Dakkada FC in Uyo.
Kano Pillars whose reign at the top was short-lived following the 2-3 loss at Dakkada last Sunday will welcome Rangers in a clash of heavyweights at the Ahmadu Bello stadium.
Considering that Rangers also stand a chance of leading the table for the first time this season, if they win against Pillars, the Rabiu Ali inspired ‘Masu gida’ boys must be at their best to take home the three points.
The week 14 fixture between the two sides is indeed an interesting one in view of the fact that both sides share the same statistics in terms of number of matches played, victories, draws, losses, goals for, goals against, goal difference and points amassed.
It is, therefore, hoped that at the end of tomorrow’s fixture, there would be something, no matter how small, to separate the two former NPFL champions.
Rivers United whose performances have plummeted since their exit from the Confederation Cup got the much needed tonic in their 1-1 draw at Plateau United on Wednesday and will be playing host to ambitions Jigawa Golden Stars as their search for revival continues at the Adokiye Amiesamaka stadium in Port-Harcourt.
Elsewhere, Adamawa United who recorded their first away draw at Sunshine last Sunday, a few days after they defeated Lobi Stars 1-0 for their first win of the season, will target a second victory when they host Dakkada FC in Gombe.
On the plateau, former champions, Plateau United will face the equally motivated MFM of Lagos in a potentially explosive fixture.
Following the return of their deadly striker, Mustapha Ibrahim from United Arab Emirates, Plateau United who drubbed Jigawa Golden Stars 3-0 in week 12 followed it up with an important 0-0 draw at FC IfeanyiUbah in week 13.
Ibrahim, a former El-Kanemi Warriors and Enyimba striker has not hidden his intention to fight for the highest goal scorer away even as he is joining the fray belatedly.
“I just rejoined the team after six month away but my two goals against Jigawa Stars are a sign that I want to give the leading goal scorers a run for their money.
“The visit of MFM is another opportunity for me to increase my tally,” said Mustapha Ibrahim.
At the Muhammadu Dikko stadium, Katsina United will hope to bounce back from their loss at Lobi Stars when they welcome another struggling side, Sunshine Stars just as ‘clawless’ Wolves who were forced to 1-1 draw on Wednesday by Enyimba FC will punch above their weight when they host inform Akwa United in Ozoro.
Warri Wolves who are second from bottom will have to pin down the leading goal scorer, Ndifreke Effiong, if they are to stop Akwa United from wreaking havoc against them.
