This weekend promises to be more than just a league weekend. With the successful partnership between La Liga and the LMC completed, we can only hope for more positive stories coming from the Nigerian Professional Football League.

9 match venues will come alive this weekend. Two matches will be played on Saturday then the other eight will kick-off by 4pm on Sunday.

The first double header of the season will be this Saturday, at the Agege Stadium where Ikorodu Utd play Heartland by 5pm before MFM FC hosts Akwa United by 7pm.

Fans will be get to watch two league games for the value of one.

Three games will be aired live on Television. Look out for them if you won’t be anywhere close to the stadium.

Here is my preview of this weekend’s action:

Ikorodu Utd Vs Heartland

Ikorodu Utd and Heartland will get action underway at the Agege Stadium.

Interestingly, both sides will be on neutral ground but Ikorodu Utd will expect the Agege fans to get behind them, being a Lagos side.

Ikorodu are in dire need of results as they currently sit at the bottom of the league table. If results don’t go their way, a return to the NNL may well be on the cards.

The Heartland boys, currently 11th on the table, will fancy their chances against the league weakest team.

The fact that it won’t be a familiar terrain for the hosts could be a key factor in Heartland’s chase for maximum points.

MFM FC Vs Akwa Utd

Akwa United has lost two games back to back, their manager was suspended and the club’s administrators have threatened to slash players’ salaries for the month.

To this effect, the team will head into this game literally fighting for everything.

MFM FC started the season like a team on fire. That fire seems to have been doused as good results have dwindled in recent weeks and now, they lie 9th on the table.

Fidelis Illechukwu knows results have to change and I suppose that’s what he will be chasing tomorrow as defeat will mean an exchange of positions with their opponent.

Expect fireworks at the Agege Stadium in this game.

Sunshine Stars Vs Kano Pillars

Having Narrowly lost to Heartland last weekend, Sunshine Stars swept aside Nasarawa United 3-0 during the week. This Sunday, they will host last weekend’s big winners, Kano Pillars.

For a team that had a terrible start to the season, Sunshine Stars have gotten their season back on track. They currently are 12th on the log and will fancy their chances of climbing higher against Kano Pillars.

Sai Masu Gida, fresh from the 6 – 0 demolition of Shooting Stars will be willing to extend that run of invincibility. Although playing away from home isn’t always easy to prosecute, their current form suggests otherwise.

Shooting Stars VS Plateau Utd

Last weekend, Shooting Stars (3SC) suffered one the worst defeats in the league when they lost 6 – 0 to Kano Pillars. So bad was the result, that football fans across the nation coined a new name for them – 6SC.

This weekend, they welcomed Plateau United to the Lekan Salami stadium hoping to bounce back from that loss and start chasing ascension to the top half of the league table. They are currently 16th on the log and their coach, Kadiri Ikhana knows it isn’t good enough for a team of their calibre.

Plateau United are 13th on the log and head to this game on the back of a hard-fought victory over Rivers United last weekend. Zachary Baraje’s men will be up for another fight in Ibadan. How it will end up remains to be seen but expect a tense encounter in this game.

Rivers Utd Vs Rangers

League leaders by some distance, Rangers Int’l will be in Port Harcourt this weekend, hosted by Rivers United.

Imama Amapakbo’s boys have clearly showed their intentions of winning the league this season and with back-to-back victories in their last two games, their confidence heading into this encounter will be solid.

Rivers United, a coalition of Sharks FC and Dolphins FC, dropped from 4th to 7th last weekend.

Going back to within touching distance of the league summit will be their utmost priority and how well can they do that? – by beating the log leaders.

Therefore, the task is clearly set for Stanley Egunma’s boys.

If they will execute it – is what we’ll go to the stadium to see on Sunday.

It will be a battle worth seeing; that much I can say.

Nasarawa Utd Vs Warri Wolves

Nasarawa Utd aren’t far-off from the side that started the league struggling to get out of the drop zone. They are just two places above 17th and only two points separates them from the 19th placed team.

It means good results needs to start rolling in.

So when the game kicks-off against the Seasiders, victory is all Kabiru Dogo led Nasarawa will be chasing.

Warri Wolves moved up to 8th following their win against Giwa last weekend. Another win could propel them to as high as 3rd meaning Warri Wolves could be chasing maximum points when the game kicks-off.

Anticipate more than just a game in this fixture.

Giwa FC vs Wikki Tourist

Giwa FC has witnessed a tumultuous past few weeks both on and off the pitch, no surprise they lie 18th on the league table. Already banished from Jos, they will be deprived of home support which might just be what Wikki could benefit from.

A win will however, lift the spirit around the club but what are the chances of securing it?

Having inflicted Ifeanyi Ubah with a 3 – 0 defeat last weekend, Wikki Tourist will head into this game with some level of confidence. How well that confidence will help them, remains a mystery, but one worth finding out.

FC Ifeanyi Ubah Vs Abia Warriors

3rd placed Ifeanyi Ubah will host 2nd placed Abia Warriors in a mouth-watering oriental derby.

Ifeanyi Ubah relinquished top spot last weekend after disappointingly losing 3 – 0 to Wikki Tourist away from home.

Although a win this weekend wouldn’t guarantee a return to the top, Mikto Dobrev and his boys will be seeking to leapfrog their opponent and maintain pressure on the league leaders at the top, with a win.

Kenedy Boboye’s impact at Abia Warriors can’t go unnoticed.

This weekend, a win will further distance themselves from Ifeanyi Ubah while a draw still leaves them just ahead.

But putting the close distance between them and other teams into perspective, Abia Warriors, a team with the most away wins this season, will come smelling blood.

Enyimba Vs Lobi

Even after recording an impressive victory over Akwa United last weekend, Enyimba played a 1 – 1 draw against Heartland in one of the rescheduled games prosecuted during the week. The result meant Enyimba remained 19th on the league table.

When Lobi Stars come into town this weekend, Enyimba will most likely be willing to get all three points from the visitors. For a team that won the league last season, there is no excuse whatsoever to justify their current league position.

Lobi Stars knowing fully well how inconsistent the People’s Elephant have been this season, know avoiding defeat is a huge possibility. Godwin Uwa’s boys are currently fifth on the table and with the presence of one of the league’s top scorers, Tony Okpotu, they’ll show up meaning business.

Niger Tornadoes Vs El-Kanemi

Last weekend El-Kanemi Warrior rose four places to 14th after defeating Ikorodu United while host Nasarawa United dropped two places to 17th after suffering a slim loss to Lobi Stars.

Abdullahi Biffo’s boys should be aiming to make their home advantage count when El-Kanemi show up for the game. With full knowledge that winning could see them rise as high as 13th on the log.

Laden Bosso’s El – Kanemi Warriors are gradually gaining momentum. They will be seeking to continue their league resurgence in this game. Being the away side, avoiding defeat is what teams set out for.

That’s what I assume Laden Bosso will be prepping his boys to do in this tie.

Here is a list of the league top scorers heading into match-day 14

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NPFL Roundup done by Adebiyi Tobi, who can be reached via @THETOBBI