NPFL Match Day 5 Preview: MFM FC square up to Ikorodu FC in historic Lagos derby

The Nigerian Professional Football League resumes this weekend as Enugu Rangers take on Wikki Tourist in Saturday’s only game which will be aired live on cable TV.

Other fixtures however resume on Sunday as a tantalizing game awaits Lagosians, as for the first time in donkey years, there will be a Lagos derby.

So if you are in Lagos on Sunday, try catching the game between Ikorodu United vs MFM FC at the Onikan Stadium. Perhaps you cannot make it there, it will be very interesting to see the two newly promoted sides battle in the Lagos’ supremacy war from the comfort of your home on your cable TV.

Here is my preview for the weekend’s games.

ENUGU RANGERS vs WIKKI TOURIST
Enugu Rangers will host Wikki Tourist all the way from Bauchi in the opening match of weekend on Saturday.
Rangers know how good a win will be as Wikki lead them on the league table with a solitary goal-difference.

So with a win, Enugu Rangers will move 3points clear off Wikki and also go top of the table, at least for 24 hours, till other fixtures kick-off on Sunday.

Wikki, with the form of Godwin Obaje, will also fantasise about the benefits of an away win too, which also includes topping the league table and coming on the back of a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Plateau United, why shouldn’t they dream?

This game promises to be a cracker as both teams might have to even settle for a draw in the end.

WARRI WOLVES vs NIGER TORNADOES
Last season runners-up -Warri Wolves, will welcome the confluence side on the back of a goalless draw against Rangers International, during the week.

Warri Wolves know a win is needed if they still retain hopes of going one better than last season – winning the league. They haven’t started so well this season, with 5 points from 4 games. They need to start picking up wins and this game provides that opportunity.

The Abdullahi Biffo –led-Tornadoes, will be looking to cause an upset, which could see them leap-frog their host, or at least, steal a point. Ismaila Gata got a brace in their 2-0 victory over Nasarawa Utd, but they’ll know this is a more difficult task than the last.

Warri Wolves playing to element should easily win this game.

PLATEAU UNITED vs ABIA WARRIORS
Plateau will be hoping to redeem themselves after losing 3-0 to Wikki Tourist during the week, when Abia Warriors come visiting.

While Abia, who passed up top spot after a midweek draw to Kano Pillars, will be looking to rectify things with a less-fancied away win.

The task won’t be an easy one for Kenedy Boboye’s men, who this week, lost one of its star players, Chisom Chikatara to Wydad Casablanca in Morroco. But having not lost a game yet, there is a possibility.

A win for Plateau will see them maintain touching distance with the top-four. I strongly believe that if there’s going to be an away win this round of matches, it will be this game.

KANO PILLARS vs AKWA UTD
Expect nothing but fire-works in this game.

Kano Pillars’ home record this season will be threatened when Akwa Utd comes visiting this weekend.

Their new signings have taking no time in blending with the squad. Prince Aggreh has already scored twice and other signings have already made telling contributions.

Baba Ganaru’s men, played a scoreless draw during the week and will be hoping to do better this time around. No team in the league had a better pre-season than Akwa United, winning the Super 4 and the Nigerian Super Cup.

Unsurprisingly, they are yet to lose a game after two matches, drawing one and winning the other. Although, their CAF Confederations Cup exit served as a setback, an impressive 3-1 victory over Heartland, during the week, was a perfect response.

How this match will pan out remains to be seen. But the only certainty is that, it will be a spectacle.

HEARTLAND vs LOBI STARS
Tony Okpotu will be looking to continue his goal scoring form, when his Lobi Stars, visit Heartland this weekend, in Owerri.

Lobi Stars intends to continue their reign on top of the league with a victory over Heartland who are searching for their first win of the season.

They have lost their last two games and aren’t looking like favourites for this tie. Judging by recent results, which should include Lobi Stars’ three impressive wins, including one away at Ibadan -against Shooting Stars, Heartland will need to do something magical to get something out of this game.

EL KANEMI WARRIORS vs ENYIMBA
Without a point yet, El Kanemi Warriors are rock bottom on the Premier League courtesy of a terrible run of results. They host Enyimba, who are currently 16th on the league table at home.

Ladan Bosso’s Warriors need to start getting results and that, they will be hoping to get, this weekend, against Enyimba.

Enyimba, the defending Champions won’t want to have a similar season to the one Chelsea is having in the English Premier league and will need to continue picking up points. They recorded their first win of the season in Thursday’s game against Ikorodu United and will be looking to continue that trend, this weekend.

IKORODU UTD vs MFM FC
For a long while, Lagos missed out on Premier League actions and only lived on stories of the glorious era of the great Stationary Stores, UAC, Julius Berger and a few others. Not one team from Lagos had been in the Premier league for a long while, but this year, it’s a different story. Lagos has not one, but two teams in the league and this weekend, for the first time in donkey years, they will face each other in the “Lagos derby”.

14th placed Ikorodu United, with 1 win, 1 lose and 1 draw, have not had a rosy introduction into the league which can’t be compared to that of the current rivals, MFM FC, who have had a blistering start to the season and are current 3 goals away from top spot, having recorded only a loss in 4 games, winning the remaining 3 including an away win in Nasarawa.

However being a derby, both sides will put away their form heading into the game and battle for local superiority, which will definitely make for good viewing.

SUNSHINE STARS vs IFEANYI UBAH FC
Having parted company with coach Samson Unanuel and Technical director, Henry Abiodun after Wednesday’s loss to MFM FC, Sunshine Stars host Ifeanyi Ubah FC in sunday, in Akure, hoping to return to status quo, which is – winning games, under new manger, Kayode Olujohingbe (aka Coach K) who was called from his post as coach of Sunshine Queens, to lead ‘The Akure Gunners’ on interim basis.

Ifeanyi Ubah FC, already becoming a cosmopolitan team, have been impressive thus far. They will be looking to compound on the ‘Owens Waves’ misery and with Alberico daSilva already showing stuff he is made of in their last game against 3SC, they stand a chance.

SHOOTING STARS vs GIWA

In a game that sees Gbenga Ogunbote return to his former hunting ground in Ibadan, Shooting Stars host Giwa Fc.
Giwa’s last game was a 2-1 victory over Rivers United. They will want to continue in that vein of form, when the game kicks-off at the Adamasingba stadium on Sunday.

3SC on the other hand, suffered a comprehensive 3-1 defeat to Ifeanyi Ubah during the week but know that a victory against Giwa FC is all they need to bounce back.

The match is expected to be entertaining, aided by the return of Gbenga Ogun both expect a full house.

RIVERS UTD vs NASARAWA UTD

7th placed Rivers United will host 19th placed Nasarawa Utd in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
Nasarawa United who haven’t recorded a point this season, should habour the thought of at least stealing a point in Rivers.
With Fredrick Obomate available for Rivers United, having missed the midweek loss to Giwa for academic reasons, Rivers will be gunning for maximum points against one of the weakest teams in the league.

Any result other than a Rivers win, will be a surprise.

Enjoy the best of Nigerian football this weekend. Cheers!

——————

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

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail