Matchday 14 will be concluded this evening with games across nine centres. Thereafter, each team have four more matches to determine whether they will progress to the Super 6 and contest for the title, stay on in the elite Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), or be kicked downstairs to the lower division.
No team in the two groups of 10 each can go to sleep regarding the Super 6. Not even Bendel Insurance who took Group A by storm winning seven of their first nine and leaving the other teams grasping for breath. But despite being the only unbeaten side in both sections of the topflight this season, the Benin Arsenal have worryingly struggled to draw their last four games.
This afternoon, Insurance will be at Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo to strive for maximum points against the Sky Blue Stars, who have not been shining as much as they did at the onset of the season. In Ibadan midweek, Remo Stars had to fight back to a 1-1 result against Shooting Stars, and played a frustrating barren game right in front of their fans against Gombe United in their previous fixture.
The Interim Management Committee (IMC) already has its focus on this blockbuster game between NPFL model side – Remo Stars – and legacy side, Insurance. The appetising Matchday 14 tie is one that the IMC is pulling all stops to ensure it goes without hitches and live up to its billing as a clash of top dogs.
IMC Head of Operations, Davidson Owumi described the tie as “a meeting of two model teams of the NPFL in terms of their management approach and performance”. He has therefore admonished all actors in the fixture to ensure that the game produces a top rated performance that followers of the NPFL will be proud of.
“We expect both clubs, their players, officials and supporters of the clubs including the match officials to comport themselves and be true ambassadors of NPFL”.
Owumi assured both teams and all football fans expected at the Remo Stars Stadium that the IMC is putting all required logistics in place for an excellent experience on the day.
“We consider this match on Sunday as premium advertisement for the NPFL given the quality of the two sides.
“Remo Stars have clearly been a model in private ownership of a professional football club in Nigeria and we are enthused by what they have on ground.
“Bendel Insurance on the other hand has also demonstrated that a government funded club can be innovative and professional in management hence we are expecting top notch delivery from all especially the Supporters of both clubs and most importantly, the Match Officials”, the IMC officer remarked.
Insurance are however guaranteed to stay on top of the table whatever happens at Remo Stars Stadium, while victory will return the home side to the top 3, if all other results being in their favour.
One of the other fixtures is that of two recent champions. At the Jos International Stadium, Plateau United, who won the title in 2017 but are struggling to be in the top 3 in Group A, will take on 2021 champions Akwa United, who are the closest rivals of Insurance being separated by only four points. Plateau will be aiming to pay the other United – Akwa – back with their own coins after losing the first leg 0-1 in Uyo.
Also in the run for Super 6 qualification in Group A are Enyimba and– to some extent– Gombe United.
All the fixtures
Group A: El-Kanemi Warriors v Shooting Stars, Remo Stars v Bendel Insurance, Kwara United v Enyimba, Plateau United v Akwa United (all 4 pm WAT); Nasarawa United 1-1 Gombe United (Saturday)
Group B: Abia Warriors v Sunshine Stars, Rangers v Niger Tornadoes, Bayelsa United v Lobi Stars, Rivers United v Dakkada, Doma United v Wikki Tourists (all 4 pm WAT)
