NPFL Match Day 37 Preview: Title Race Still too Close to Call It is the week before the final MatchDay of the Glo Premier League season, and there are possibilities that the champions could emerge with a round of matches to end the campaign as well as the four teams to go down to the lower division. The match between Dolphins and Enyimba in Port Harcourt is the big clash of the MatchDay with attention also on the clash between league leaders and defending champions, Kano Pillars and bottom-placed Nembe City in Kano. At the other end of the league table, Bayelsa United, Gombe United, FC Taraba and El-Kanemi Warriors are in a race to avoid becoming the fourth team to be relegated this season. Bayelsa United vs Lobi Stars Venue: Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City Date: November 2, 2014 Time: 4pm In the first clash in Katsina-Ala, Lobi won 2-0 through goals from their goalkeeper, Terkaa Melai, who has been a spot kick specialist and Audu Seriki. That was the first time Lobi defeated Bayelsa United in six league matches. But Bayelsa United are now in dire need of three points from this game to give themselves a good chance to stay in the elite division. They have quite a number of players who can bail them out including their top scorer this season, Peter Ebimobowei. Akwa United vs Heartland Venue: Uyo Township Stadium, Uyo Date: November 2, 2014 Time: 4pm This is a clash of mid-table teams, as they look to finish in the top 10 to help in their financial earnings from the League Management Company (LMC) at the end of the season. When they first met this season, Heartland won 1-0 through Bright Ejikes penalty goal. Heartland failed to win in their last two league matches including 0-0 draw at home to FC Taraba over the weekend. But Akwa United have not beaten Heartland since 2008 when they won 1-0. Since that win they have met Heartland in eight league matches and suffered six defeats and managed two draws. The responsibility to end the poor run against Heartland rests squarely on the heads of Coach Patrick Udoh and his players led by Namso Edo. FC Taraba vs Crown FC Venue: Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo Date: November 2, 2014 Time: 4pm It has been a disappointing close-season for Crown FC which has seen them relegated on the back of eight straight matches without a win. They have also lost their last four matches, scoring one and conceding 13 goals. FC Taraba lost 2-0 in Ibadan when they first played Crown. Bode Daniel and Francis Nnedum scored for Crown in that game. FC Taraba know this is their chance to keep their status in the top division, and must give everything to win this match and stretch Crowns poor run to nine matches without a win. Abia Warriors vs Sharks Venue: Umuahia Township Stadium, Umuahia Date: November 2, 2014 Time: 4pm Christian Pyagbara scored twice for Sharks as they won the first meeting of this fixture 2-1 with Peter Onyekachi scoring for Abia Warriors. A place on the continent is what Abia Warriors are pushing for in this their first season in the top division. As for Sharks, their chase to finish in the top three still looks to have some possibilities should they pull off a win in Umuahia considering they still have an outstanding game at Giwa FC. Surely an exciting game is on the cards in Umuahia. Warri Wolves vs Gombe United Venue: Warri City Stadium, Warri Date: November 2, 2014 Time: 4pm Gombe United sit just a place and a point above the relegation zone, and now face the danger of dropping into the bottom four should they lose to Wolves in this match. The result was 1-1 when both teams played at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe. Wolves are one of the teams in contention for the league title and will put forward their best men to claim the points in this match against Gombe United who have failed to win or score in their last five away matches. Rangers vs Nasarawa United Venue: Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu Date: November 2, 2014 Time: 4pm Live on SuperSport 9 Fourth-placed Nasarawa United defeated Rangers 2-0 in Lafia in their first meeting this season. Esosa Igbinoba and Tony Edjomariegwe. But Nasarawa United have lost in their last four trips to Enugu and without scoring. Rangers have not dropped points at home since a 1-1 draw in the Oriental Derby with Enyimba in August. They have gone on to win seven straight matches at home. So Nasarawa United, who have lost all of their last five away matches will have to be at their best if they intend to leave Enugu with a result. Sunshine Stars vs Kaduna United Venue: Akure Stadium, Akure Date: November 2, 2014 Time: 4pm Kaduna United saw their time in the top flight come to end on Sunday after a 1-1 draw against Giwa FC. The Kaduna-based club were only able to win two games in their last 10 including failing to win in their last seven league matches. In the first meeting this season, Kaduna United won 2-0 but Sunshine Stars have beaten them in five of this previous fixture since December 2012. Despite their relegation to the lower league, Kaduna United would be playing for pride. Giwa FC vs El-Kanemi Warriors Venue: Fifa Goal Project, Abuja Date: November 2, 2014 Time: 4pm El-Kanemi are just three points above the relegation zone going into this match against Giwa FC, whom they inflicted a 2-0 defeat on thanks to goals from Idris Aloma and Emmanuel Anayor. Both teams earlier in the season were in the running for a top half of the table finish but are now in the bottom half. The two sides could still finish in the top 10 depending on the outcome of this match and the final games of the season. Kano Pillars vs Nembe City Venue: Kano Pillars Stadium, Kano Date: November 2, 2014 Time: 4pm League leaders, Kano Pillars, host Nembe City, who are bottom of the table and are now relegated. It is a clash of the team at the top and bottom-placed side. For Nembe it is an inconsequential game but for Pillars, it is a must-win as they close in on a third straight title. The two teams played a 1-1 draw when they met in Omoku in May this year. Nembe have lost their last three games conceding 11 goals. But with nothing to play for, Nembe will be out to play spoilers for Kano Pillars. Dolphins vs Enyimba Venue: Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt Date: November 2, 2014 Time: 4pm This is the match everyone will be talking about on Sunday. The two top scorers in the league go up against each other - Emem Eduok of Dolphins versus Mfon Udoh of Enyimba. They have both scored 20 goals each and one of them will look to become the first man to score 21 goals in a single season in the top flight. Enyimba are two points behind Pillars, and need an outright win to drag the title race down to the wire. But they face a Dolphins team who look quite a distant away from winning a continental spot and last defeated them (Enyimba) in a league game in March 2011. This is a clash of the titans in the Garden City.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 05:43:33 +0000
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