Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) comes back this weekend and midweek with Matchday 6 games to usher in tough battles that will match title favorites, unbeaten sides, debutants, and struggling clubs.
Enyimba kicked off the season on a good note, still intact after five games (W3, D2). Rivers United, the only other unbeaten side, have played four matches, winning two, after their CAF Champions League commitments.
Champions Remo Stars, who have just concluded an emphatic 4-0 victory over Comoros’ US Zilimadjou in Abeokuta, are set for a stern test away to Abia Warriors in their Independence Day match. A victory would place them well ahead of their likely continental meeting with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Enyimba, however, face a challenge in the form of promoted Ikorodu City, who have made some shows of strength. Both fixtures pose serious challenges to the People’s Elephant and Sky Blue Stars’ unbeaten tag.
In other news, Shooting Stars (3SC) eventually claimed their first game of the season with a 2-1 win over Kun Khalifat FC but now have a tricky away match at Warri Wolves. 3SC have questionable record in this tie, with their Seasiders counterparts boasting a stranglehold home record in this meeting (W7, D1 in their last eight meetings). With only a single triumph in five matches (W1, D2, L2), Shooting Stars will need to dig deep to avoid sliding into crisis.
Remo Stars have the advantage in their meeting with Abia Warriors, losing only once in a series of eight encounters since 2017 (W5, D2, L1). The champions completed the double over Warriors last season, beating them 2-0 in this same fixture.
As the league gathers momentum, what spectators can expect are fiery clashes, potential upsets, and a clearer understanding of who the real title horses for courses will be this season.
