The Nigeria Premier Football League is on the home stretch this season with direct confrontations of table toppers and also those battling against relegation. The teams have all to fight for as their destinies are still within their hand reach.
For the table-topping battle, second-placed Rivers United will be hosting leaders, Remo Stars. Former African powerhouse, Shooting Stars are hoping to return to the continental competition for the first time in 26 years.
After recent fluctuating fortunes, they hope to regain steam as they face former battler against relegation-turned top four aspirants, Ikorodu United. A win for Shooting Stars will see them in top contention to return to the continent where they last featured in 1999.
Remo Stars, even with a match still outstanding will remain on top if they lose their away match to Rivers United. But losing may not be an option for them as a win will put them at the cusp of their first elite national success since bringing the first NPFL match to the now sportingly bubbling Ikenne on 26 December 2021.
The clash with Rivers United will undoubtedly be the most challenging in the remaining five matches in the season.
Abia Warriors who started the season with a home loss are now seeing a silver lining in the possibility of picking a continental ticket which they missed last season after losing in the President Federation Cup. This Sunday, they face Enyimba in Aba in an Abia State derby.
A win will secure their current third place. But a loss could see them losing the spot to Shooting Stars who are hosting Ikorodu City in a Southwest derby. A win by Enyimba could see the former multiple champions bouncing back into the reckoning to get a top-three slot as the season winds down.
Just as the battle is fierce at the top, so also is it tough at the backwaters as teams fight for a lifeline against relegation.
The 19th-placed Nasarawa United host fellow relegation battler, Akwa United. It is a relegation battle that could save or make a team sink deeper into the abyss. Nasarawa will be banking on home support. But Akwa United has shown resilience in recent times and could come out of the battle with at least a point.
Matchday 32 Fixtures:
- Bendel Insurance 0-0 Enugu Rangers
- Heartland FC 2-0 Kano Pillars
- Rivers United vs Remo Stars
- Shooting Stars vs Ikorodu City
- Plateau United vs Kwara United
- Lobi Stars vs Sunshine Stars
- Katsina United vs Bayelsa United
- Niger Tornadoes vs El-Kanemi Warriors
- Nasarawa United vs Akwa United
- Enyimba vs Abia Warriors
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