NPFL: Jos' doubleheader highlights Sunday's game on matchday 3 as "Stars War" in Ikenne shifts to Wednesday  

By Olusola Adebayo

The New Jos Stadium will host two games on Sunday in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL and both games will be live on Television. 

The first of Jos's doubleheader will see Nasarawa FC take on Akwa United, two of the eleven sides that are yet to win any games this season as both sides lock horns to battle for the maximum points at stake. 

Nasarawa FC desperately needs to get results in front of their fans, they lost their first games at the adopted home ground in Jos by 2-1, and a follow-up trip to Elkanemi bore no fruit as they returned empty-handed losing consecutive games.

Akwa United on the hand canceled out the shock loss to Bendel Insurance on the opening day with a spirited goalless draw against Enyimba on Wednesday in Aba to give their fans a slight belief to their fans that the opening day loss to Bendel Insurance was a blip.

They will be looking to pluck the maximum three points at stake to bounce back to full reckoning as one of the favorites to make the Super Six of the abridged league.

The cracker will be shown live on NTA stations, the proceedings can also be streamed on  TNFF,  the Nigeria Football Fund youtube channel.

Enyimba FC of Aba will return to Jos for the second in seven days, where they defeated Nasarawa FC last week Sunday but this time they will be facing the Ilechukwu-led Plateau United, who desperately need the three points at stake to get their season started.

Plateau United rallied from the brink of defeat last weekend against 3SC at the stadium, where two late goals they grab a point in the pulsating 3-3 draw against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan. 

However, the team conceded a 93rd-minute goal against Bendel Insurance at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin to lose their first game in the season after it seems they secured a draw when they equalized in the 91st minute of the end-to-end encounter.

Plateau United vs Enyimba will also be on TV, through NTA and TNFF youtube channels, from 4 pm at the New Jos stadium as Enyimba hopes for another "Jos luck" to smile on them, while Plateau United seeks their first win of the campaign.

One game that has more at stake than the three points is the " Stars War ' in Ikenne as Remo Stars host Shooting Stars on Wednesday at the Remo Stars Stadium.

Gbenga Ogunbote will be leading the Oluyole warriors to invade the side he coached to secure a continental ticket last season, coming from the NNL.

Remo Stars however kicked him out and brought back coach Daniel Ogunmodede, the coach who helped them to gain promotion in the NPFL. 

' Ija Ball'   led Remo Stars' continental assault but unfortunately crashed out in the first preliminary round when it was least expected. 

They licked their wounds and the unwritten general opinion is that  Ogunbote could have done better. 

Thus there is a coded battle of supremacy between the coaches as players from the two teams will be relying heavily on instruction from the sidelines.

The growing rivalry between the fans of the two teams is another ginger that makes this game one of the biggest for the week.

 
Shooting Stars lost at the Stadium last season, and Ibadan-based may not be able to afford a loss again as it will damage their ego both on the pitch as well as off it. 

Remo Stars, on the other hand, will be seeking their 3rd straight win to consolidate their stay on top of the log.

Elsewhere, high-flying Bendel Insurance will face Kwara United in Ibadan on Sunday by 4 pm 

The Afonja Warriors will be playing their third consecutive game in Ibadan as they search for their first victory of the season as well as their first goal. 

Kwara United played two goalless draws in the opening two games. 

The team needs to start getting the goals if they want to compete for a place on the continent this time.

But they have a tough customer in Bendel Insurance, the sides have scored four goals in just two games and are yet to drop a point as the newcomer seeks another victory away from home.
 

Elkanemi Warriors will be hoping for back-to-back victories in the league, as they host Gombe United in the battle of the newcomers.

 
Gombe FC was undone by Remo Stars' Andy Okpe's last minute to concede their first goal and defeat of the season in front of their home fans last Thursday.

For the two teams, retaining their NPFL status will be key to their season's project and nothing gives better hope than picking maximum points against direct rivals,  the northeast derby ticks all the boxes for an exciting game. 
 
In group B, Abia Warriors will be hosting Lobi Stars in Umuahia, a victory to keep their perfect start to the season having their first two games while Lobi Stars have one in the bag and we need a point to stay relevant in the hunt for top 3 finish as they dislodged Rangers by 1- 0 midweek.

 
The flying Antelopes have been caged twice this season, the poor start left them with no goal and point so far which prompted a two-game ultimatum from their management to coach Abdul Maikaba to change their fortunes or get booted out.

They have a chance to start their season all over as they host Sunshine Stars in Awka on Sunday in the first of the " get it right " games.

It's a game of who gets the first victory between Bayelsa United and Wikki Tourist at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenegoa, 4 pm kick off on Sunday. 

Bayelsa has only a point while Wikki Tourist is yet to win any. Both sides will be looking to outdo one another to boost their chances of avoiding relegation in the shortened league format this season. 

Doma United will be playing their third-ever game in the premier league as they continue to acclimatize among the big boys.

Unbeaten Dakkada is the guest at the Pantanmi stadium, their ability to " chill " with big boys will be tested again today as Dakkada FC will be going all out for a total victory against the newly promoted side. 

The last group match between Niger Tornadoes and defending Champions Rivers United will be on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

FULL MATCH DAY 3 FIXTURES

Group A

Nasarawa United vs Akwa United
Plateau United vs Enyimba FC
Kwara United vs Bendel Insurance
Remo Stars FC vs Shooting Stars ( Wednesday )
El-Kanemi Warriors vs Gombe United

Group B

Rangers Int'l vs Sunshine Stars
Abia Warriors vs Lobi Stars
Bayelsa United vs Wikki Tourists
Doma United vs Dakkada FC
Rivers United vs Niger Tornadoes ( Tuesday)