NPFL enters week 16 matchday this weekend with a blockbuster fixture in which the formidable Rivers United will travel to Abia State Capital City, Umuahia, to face the host Abia Warriors in what stands out as the star attraction of the round.
Moreover, there are other high-profile encounters in the Nigeria Premier Football League that includes the current champions Remo Stars welcoming former champions Enyimba to Abeokuta, while second-placed Nasarawa United set an ambush for in-form Shooting Stars in a spicy Monday night showdown in Lafia.
At this point in the league, we have a total of eight fixtures headline tomorrow’s programme, with two more to follow on Monday in Ilorin and Lafia. However, the action for the weekend kicks off in Maiduguri as El Kanemi Warriors lock horns with Barau by 3pm at the El Kanemi Stadium.
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With the Borno Army sitting 15th on the log with 18 points, they desperately need maximum points to steer clear of relegation worries. Barau, 18th with 16 points, will be equally fired up to avoid sinking deeper, especially with a pending home fixture against Rivers United scheduled for December 18th.
Niger Tornadoes will also travel to Ilorin to face Kwara United, aiming to bounce back from a narrow 3-2 defeat to Barau in Kano. A win would drag the Harmony Boys toward mid-table safety, but Tornadoes—fresh off a morale-boosting victory over Remo Stars—will fancy their chances of causing an upset.
Nevertheless, the Nigeria Premier Football League headline fixture comes from Umuahia, where Abia Warriors, now sixth with 23 points, hope to revive their season after a slide that has seen them collect just two points from their last four matches. Their last victory dates back to November 2 in Minna.
The Umuchineke Boys might need to go the extra mile to produce the best that will be capable of halting the Pride of Rivers. The reason is not farfetched, Rivers United side has a tremendous unbeaten away record after 13 matches and with just one league defeat all season will. Rivers United’s domestic dominance comes in sharp contrast to their CAF Champions League struggles.
