NPFL: Agoye returns to Ibadan with Sunshine to face childhood club 3SC

Sunshine Stars head coach Edith Agoye will face his former club 3SC for the first time in the Nigeria Premier Football League on Wednesday (today) at the Akure Township Stadium in a southwest derby, which headlines match-day 12 of the 2023/24 season.

The Akoko-born gaffer is overseeing his second season in charge of Sunshine, after joining them before the start of last season. He spent nine years with 3SC, leading them back to the NPFL in 2021, after being relegated in 2017.

Both clubs, however, didn’t meet in the NPFL last season due to the abridged format.

Agoye enjoyed reasonable success reaching the NPFL Super 6 with Sunshine last season, while 3SC managed to escape relegation under Gbenga Ogunbote.

However, the same thing cannot be said this season as 3SC are five points above their hosts ahead of their first meeting in two seasons. 3SC are fifth in the table with 18 points from 11 matches, while Sunshine are 13th with 13 points from 11 games as well.

The last two fixtures between both sides in the league ended in draws. A thrilling 2-2 draw in Ibadan was followed by a drab goalless draw in Akure during the 2021/22 season.

In other midweek fixtures, Bendel Insurance are seeking a first away win as they travel to face Heartland, who are also still looking for their first win of the season. Heartland’s fortunes have been defined by seven defeats and four draws, while Bendel Insurance also only returned to winning ways last Sunday against Lobi Stars after going five games without a win.

In Ilorin, Kwara United will hope to end the six-game unbeaten streak of surprise package Doma United with Kano Pillars, who trounced Gombe United 5-2 away from home last Sunday, returning home against troubled Akwa United.

Table toppers Remo Stars are in Kaduna as they battle Niger Tornadoes, who have been ordered to play their subsequent matches behind closed doors, while Lobi welcomes Gombe United in Lafia.