Two games to end the championship playoff of this year’s Nigeria Premier League (NPL), any of the six teams in the contest can still end up either as champions or among the elite top 3 that will represent the country in next year’s continental football competitions. But on the strength of their character so far, the odds favour record title holders Enyimba or 2021 champions Akwa United to produce the season’s jewel.
At the end of Matchday 3 yesterday, both side are on five points and will go head-to-head on the last day of the playoff – Sunday. Both sides also have the same goal difference – plus one – but the People’s Elephant have score more goals – four against Rivers United’s three.
All three matches ended in draws with Lobi Stars still searching for their first goal after 270 regular minutes. The Makurdi side however have the meanest defence after having it breached only once by Enyimba’s Chukwuemeka Obioma in a Matchday 2 fixture on Monday. It was the only goal of the match.
Enyimba rattled Bendel Insurance with a goal by Abubakar Adamu in the 23rd minute of the first match at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos Island. But the draw specialists lived up to their reputation 14 minutes later when Divine Nwachukwu scored the last goal of the encounter to earn the Benin Arsenal not only a point but their third draw of the playoff.
The last time the Group A winners won was on Matchday 15 of the 18-week regular season when they beat now relegated El-Kanemi Warriors 2-1 in Benin City. Since then, Insurance have gone six matches without a win despite achieving a record of the longest unbeaten run in the Nigerian league.
Remo Stars and Sunshine Stars went into battle next with the result also ending 1-1. Like Insurance, it is the third draws of the playoff by the Sky Blue Stars, who however climbed one step to the third spot.
Remo fans hit the roof in the 12th minute when Samuel Anakwe shot them ahead. But just a minute after the break, Lucky Emmanuel had his luck shining as he drew Sunshine Stars level. It ended that way and proved to be a back-to-back draw for the Akure Gunners.
Lobi Stars and Rivers United played under the weather and ended without recording a goal. The result placed the Stars at the foot of the table on inferior goal difference to Sunshine Stars. Both sides have two points each.
Matchday 4 tomorrow: Rivers United v Bendel Insurance (2 pm), Lobi Stars v Remo Stars, Sunshine Stars v Enyimba
