The Nigeria National League resumes in Wednesday after over a week break, Nigeriasoccernet.com can report
As the league approaches its pinnacle, the break was needed to enable teams with outstanding games played their matches.
The decision is to also ensure all teams have equal playing grounds towards the end of the season.
Bendel Insurance could be the first team to pick an NPFL ticket as they host Ikorodu City in Benin on Wednesday.
With 7 points above second place Gateway United in group B1, Insurance will earn a return to the apex league in the country for the first time since 2019 should they pick the maximum points against their Lagos visitors.
In the relegation battle, Osun United will have their hands full when they visit Giant Brillars, a team no far from the relegation zone. United position might drop deeper in the releagtion battle should they failed to pick a favourable result on the road.
J'Atete will hope they can produce a shocking result in Uyo when they visit Ibom Youth. An unfavourable result will also ensure they remain locked in the drop zone.
In group B2, three teams namely; Bayelsa United, Warri Wolves and Crown FC are battle for the NPFL ticket, as all three on 33 points.
In this group, the battle will definitely go down to wire but first the Wednesday fixture could put some twist in the contest.
Bayelsa United currently leading the group on a slightly better goal difference will host Apex Krane who are in a bid to move out of the drop zones.
Warri Wolves with occupying the 2nd position thanks to a +11 goal difference will visit Go-Round FC who are also still in the race for the ticket.
Crown FC of Ogbomoso, the third of the trio locked in the race for the ticket will host Abia Comets.
Lagos State duo of Ottasolo FC and Sporting Lagos could be on their way to the NLO should they fail to get the needed results on Wednesday.
Bottom of Group B2, Ottasolo FC will need to pick maximum points when they host Nnewi United on Wednesday, a result which will boost their survival chances.
Sporting Lagos like their brothers Ottasolo will also be needing the maximum points when they host Cynosure FC to move them out of the drop zones.
Doma United could pick their first ever NPFL ticket on Wednesday when they host second place, Jigawa Golden Stars at the Pantami Int'l Stadium, Gombe.
With three games left, Doma United currently leads the Northern Conference group A2 with 33 points, their closest challenger being Wednesday's opponent Jigawa Golden Stars who are on 28 points. A win for United will put them on the map for their first ever NPFL promotion.
Still in group A2, Kogi United will host NAF FC in the relegation battle as Road Safety will hope they can keep their NNL status safe when they host DMD FC.
In the Northern Conference Group A1, the fight will resume on Wednesday with the two top teams playing away from home.
El Kanemi currently leading the pack with 31 points will visit Mighty Jets in Jos while 2nd place team City FC of Abuja (29 points) visits Oyah Sports.
A tricky tie it'll be for El Kanemi as their host for the evening, Mighty Jets are just two points from the drop zones and for City FC, what a great time for them to visit Oyah FC who are bottom of the log with just a point all season.
Interesting fixtures across different centers on Wednesday and by the end of the day, we could have two teams promoted to the NPFL.
Northern Conference Group A1 Match Day 16
Oyah Sports Int'l v City FC
FWC Champions v EFCC FC
Mighty Jets v El-Kanemi Warriors
Zamfara Utd v ABS FC
Sokoto Utd v Yobe Desert Stars
Northern Conference Group A2 Match Day 20
Malumfashi FC (BYE)
Kogi Utd v NAF FC
Road Safety FC v DMD FC
Kebbi Utd v Green Berets FC
Doma Utd v Jigawa Golden Stars
Adamawa Utd v JM Liberty
Southern Conference Group B1 Match Day 20
Bendel Insurance v Ikorodu City
Vandrezzer FC v Gateway Utd
Giant Brillars v Osun Utd
Campos FC v Abeokuta Stormers
Ekiti Utd v Adoration FC
Ibom Youths FC v J'Atete FC
Southern Conference Group B2 Match Day 22
Ijebu Utd (BYE)
Sporting Lagos v Cynosure FC (New venue is UNILAG Stadium Complex, Yaba Lagos)
Ottasolo FC v Nnewi Utd
Go- Round FC v Warri Wolves
Rovers FC v FC One Rocket
Bayelsa Utd v Apex Krane
Crown FC v Abia Comets
By Oluwayemi Omolagba