Doma United have played themselves deep into the relegation battle ahead of the final matchweek of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) scheduled for this Sunday.
The Gombe club suffered a one-nil defeat at home in a rearranged fixture against Sunshine Stars at the Pantami Stadium on Wednesday which further compounded their chances of remaining in the top division.
The win for Sunshine Stars means they have spared themselves the trouble of being involved in a final matchday fight for survival. Ibrahim Yusuf’s goal eight minutes before the break helped Sunshine Stars to their second away win and stretched their undefeated run to five.
For Doma United, their poor run of form continued as they have now managed just one win in their last five matches and will need a big scoreline to beat the drop when they play hosts to Abia Warriors on Sunday while they hope results elsewhere fall in their favour.
Doma United’s collapse after an impressive first round performance in which they were in third position with 32 points after 19 games, ahead of champions Rangers who were in eighth place at the time has come as a result of dip in form in the second round of the campaign.
Unfortunately for the Savannah Tigers they have managed just two wins in 18 matches in the second round of the NPFL season (W2 D5 L11).
Despite the recruitment of Bala Abubakar as head coach to help save Doma United from the drop, the slide in form continued and now they do not have their fate in their hands any longer with the likes of Sporting Lagos, Bayelsa United and Akwa United, who are also deep in relegation trouble, aiming for a final matchday win to avoid going down to the second tier.
Doma United will need a miraculous 15 goal plus win against Abia Warriors to beat the drop considering their inferior goals difference and at the same time, hope Akwa United, Bayelsa United and Sporting Lagos lose their final matchweek fixtures to stand a chance of staying in the NPFL.
