Fixtures at Pantami Township Stadium in Gombe United and the other at Jos International Stadium will be the focus as Matchday 9 continue this evening. Plateau United are fourth in Group A, while Remo Stars stand a step below.
Plateau United travel 285 kilometres to Gombe to square up against Gombe United realising that a point will lift them to the championship playoff spots. But that is if Remo Stars fail to beat hosts Nasarawa United.
If both Plateau and Remo triumph – or the former even draw – both Enyimba and Akwa United will be displaced from the top 3.
On Sunday, Bendel Insurance extended their lead at the top of Group A to 23 points after edging second placed Enyimba 1-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. The MatchDay 9 star fixture was keenly contested but failed to produce clear-cut chances at goal.
The all-important goal was scored by Imade Osehenkhoe who took his tally to six and Insurance remain unbeaten at the end of the first half of the regular season.
Akwa United staked a claim for a place in the championship playoff spots after earning a valuable 2-2 draw away to Shooting Stars in Ibadan. All four goals were scored in the first half with Shooting taking an early lead through Joshua Akpan in the 14th minute. The Promise Keepers responded with two quick goals from Uche Collins (21st minute) and Liman Ahmadu (25th minute).
Shooting would equalise on the stroke of halftime through veteran striker Ibrahim Ajani.
Group B leaders, Lobi Stars are now four points clear of second placed Sunshine Stars after brushing aside newly promoted Doma United 2-0 at the Aper Akum Stadium Makurdi. Two first-half goals from Joseph Atule (sixth minute) and Umar Abba (ninth minute) were enough to seal all three points for Lobi.
Sunshine Stars follow on second spot – two spots up their former place – after a 1-0 win over Wikki Tourists at the Akure Township Stadium. Samson Olasupo scored the all-important winner in the 57th minute. The defeat saw Wikki’s three-match unbeaten run snapped to an end.
Niger Tornadoes are up to fifth – from sixth – on the table and a point off the championship playoff places after edging Dakkada 1-0, thanks to a late first half goal (44th minute) by David Okoromi. Dakkada have now lost four straight away matches.
Bayelsa United and Enugu Rangers played out a 1-1 draw in Yenegoa. Rangers took the lead in the sixth minute through Godwin Obaje, but Robert Mizo equalised in the 41st minute for Bayelsa who remain rooted at the foot of the table pending the final decision on the Matchday 5 against Doma United.
Monday fixtures
Gombe United v Plateau United, Nasarawa United v Remo Stars (both 4 pm)
Wednesday
El Kanemi Warriors v Kwara United (4 pm)
Saturday April 4
Abia Warriors v Rivers United
Sunday results
Group A: Bendel Insurance 1-0 Enyimba, Shooting Stars 2-2 Akwa United
Group B: Lobi Stars 2-0 Doma United, Sunshine Stars 1-0 Wikki Tourists, Bayelsa United 1-1 Rangers, Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Dakkada
Nwankwor writes for the IMC Media
