With 31 points in the bag and three matches to end the group phase of this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League, Bendel Insurance will secure their spot in the Super 6 if they beat Gombe United at Pantami Township Stadium in Gombe on Sunday.
If they win all their remaining matches, Akwa United will end up with 35 points, while Enyimba will finish with 34 points. No other teams except these three can attain 34 points.
There are other options for Super 6 qualification for the Benin Arsenal if they suffer their first defeat of the season in Gombe or share honours with their hosts. One of that is to beat Shooting Stars in penultimate season’s end fixture in Benin, or look forward to their last game away to Nasarawa United on the closing day of the group phase.
Second placed Akwa United, who won the title for the first time in the 2020/21 season, also have a good chance of finishing among the top 3 in Group A having garnered 26 points from 15 matches. They however have Enyimba (25 points), Plateau United (24 points) and Remo Stars (also 24 points with their points and goals deduction restored on Friday by the Nigeria Football Federation) and – faintly – Shooting Stars (21 points) and Gombe United (18 points) – to worry about.
In Group A, El-Kanemi Warriors and Nasarawa United closer to relegation than survival. The Warriors have only nine points in 15 matches and host Enyimba and Plateau United, while playing away to Akwa United. Given that their opposition are in the Super 6 battle, the management of El-Kanemi Warriors should start preparing for a return to the Nigeria National League from where they emerged last season.
Nasarawa United are not any better even as they have done one more point than El-Kanemi. They are at Ibadan this evening, travel next to Kwara United and return home to host Bendel Insurance in what may be their last match of the top flight, until another promotion.
While Shooting Stars (21 points) are safe from the drop, Gombe United (18 points) and Kwara United (13 points) remain in danger.
In Group B, the participation of defending champions Rivers United in continental competition has led to outstanding matches. The Pride of Rivers, who will try to rescue a 0-2 home deficit to Tanzania’s Young African in the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals on Sunday, have games against Sunshine Stars (home) and Wikki Tourists (away) yet to be played.
Lobi Stars however continue to lead the section with 26 points from 15 matches, while Doma United (25 points) and Rivers United (23 points with two games in hand) complete the top 3.
Also in contention for the Super 6 in this group are Niger Tornadoes (23 points), Sunshine Stars and Abia Warriors (21 points each). Sunshine Stars have an outstanding game.
Dakkada and Wikki Tourists have been in the relegation zone for weeks. But Rangers and Bayelsa United are vulnerable.
Matchday 16 fixtures
Group A: Nasarawa v Shooting Stars (4 pm WAT Saturday), Gombe v Bendel Insurance, El-Kanemi Warriors v Enyimba, Remo Stars v Akwa United, Kwara United v Plateau United (4 pm WAT Sunday)
Group B: Abia Warriors v Dakkada (3 pm WAT), Bayelsa United v Sunshine Stars, Lobi Stars v Niger Tornadoes, Rangers v Wikki Tourists (all 4 pm WAT Sunday); Rivers v Doma United (postponed)
