NPFL Match Day 12 preview: Rangers Take 32-year Title Chase To Giwa FC's Fortress in Jos
This weekend's Match day 12 actions come with an added incentive for TV viewers across the country and beyond as three top flight games will be aired LIVE - for the first time this season. These three games include a Friday Night kickoff in Lagos, a Saturday afternoon traditional clash in Ibadan and a regular Sunday game in Akure.
Starting off the weekend for us this Friday will be two enterprising teams that have struggled for form lately. Hosts MFM will trade tackles with Wikki Tourists of Bauchi at the Agege Stadium on Friday night in what promises to be a very competitive fixture. The newly promoted Church Boys are without a win in their last five matches while Wikki have won just one of their last four league games.
On Saturday, Shooting Stars of Ibadan will lock horns with Heartland of Owerri in what used to be IICC Shooting Stars vs Spartans of Owerri up to the late 80s. Both teams have not done as much as their fans would like this term with Shooting hovering just above the drop zone on 15th while Heartland are placed 11th having effected a managerial change already this term. There'll be all to play for in this television game.
Also on Saturday, Nasarawa United will be hoping to win consecutive games for the first time this season when they host Plateau United in a North Central derby at their adopted home ground in Makurdi. Both teams go into the encounter on the back of wins over the same opponents. Plateau United spanked Giwa FC 2-0 in the Jos derby on Sunday while Nasarawa United also inflicted a 3-1 defeat on Giwa in a midweek rescheduled fixture.
The action continues in Makurdi on Sunday when stadium landlords Lobi Stars welcome 4th placed Akwa United while in Jos, Giwa FC will entertain table toppers Enugu Rangers at the Rwang Pam Stadium. Rangers' duo of Imama Amapakabo and Chisom Egbuchulam who claimed March gongs for their contribution will hope to compound the woes of the Jos Elephants who have won just once in their last five outings.
Sunday's televised game will be at the Akure Township Stadium where Sunshine Stars will face El-Kanemi Warriors. The corresponding fixture last term ended in a 5-1 whitewash in favour of the hosts and if their current form of five games unbeaten including a win over reigning Champions Enyimba in midweek is anything to go by, the Warriors from Maiduguri may be in for another torrid evening.
In Port Harcourt, the Sai Masugida fans residing in the Garden City are expected to throng the Yakubu Gowon Stadium as is always the case when Kano Pillars come calling. The Sai Masu Gida will be complete with their left-back Jonathan Zikiye, who used to play at that stadium for the past two football seasons when they face hosts Rivers United on Sunday.
In Nnewi, with Abia Warriors' game against Enyimba postponed, FC IfeanyiUbah will be hoping to capitalize on any slip up by Rangers in Jos as they bid to return to the summit of the table when they host Warri Wolves. The Anambra Warriors have a 100% home record this term while Wolves are gradually coming to form after a run of two wins albeit 1-0 home wins after a run of three games without victory.
In Sunday's final game, two newly promoted teams take the stage at the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja as Ikorodu United will look to arrest their form that have seen them go seven games without a win when they face Niger Tornadoes. That could yet turn out a wild goose chase for the Oga Boys as Tornadoes are yet to taste defeat at their adopted home ground this term.