NPFL: Rangers up against Heartland on Sunday, Bendel host Remo Stars
The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu, will be the main centre of attraction on Sunday as oriental rivals, Enugu Rangers and Heartland clash in a Nigeria Premier Football League matchday seven encounter, according to Punch Newspapers.
The fixture is the oldest oriental derby in the league’s history with 12 league titles won between both sides and the two teams will be all out to win this game to claim the bragging rights.
Heartland are yet to get into the momentum that saw them gain promotion last season to the top-flight league in grand style. The Naze Millionaires gained promotion to the NPFL unbeaten.
Christian Obi’s side are rocked bottom on the log with just four points and are without a victory. They are the only team in the NPFL without a win so far this season.
Also, Heartland are yet to defeat Rangers at home in their last 10 meetings with their last win against Rangers in 2016.
With Rangers 100 per cent record at home, the Naze Millionaire might wait a little longer for their first win of the season.
The Flying Antelopes will aim to record their first clean sheet of the season.
They are the only top three ranked team to have conceded more goals, eight so far despite scoring the highest goals, 11.
In Eket, a resurgent Akwa United will be bidding to make it two wins in a row when they host Plateau United. The Promise Keepers laboured to a lone-goal victory over Gombe United last Wednesday and Sunday’s (today) encounter will be a reality check for Fatai Osho and his boys in Eket.
Their newly adopted home has quickly yielded positive fruits with the midweek result but they would have to repeat such a feat to take note of their great awakening after a sloppy start this season.
One thing that has been consistent between both teams’ previous matches is goal drought. The two teams have scored a total of 28 goals in the last 14 meetings.
In Gombe, Gombe United and Doma United will lockhorns for the first time in northern derby in Nigeria’s top-flight division.
With both teams playing in the same state, the derby game should be a spectacular encounter to watch as the Scorpions and Tigers battle for supremacy.
In Benin, Remo Stars will seek to continue their solid performance when they face Bendel Insurance.
Last season, both teams weighed their options and the Benin Gunners earned four points over two legs before they lost to Sky Blues for the first time during the Super Six championship.
So far, Remo Stars are the only side to have picked maximum points on the road this season and that might be a booster for them as they face Bendel Insurance who were forced to a barren draw by Akwa United last weekend.
Other fixtures will see Shooting Stars host Niger Tornadoes, Abia Warriors face Katsina United while Enyimba battle Kwara United. Rivers will also host Sunshine in a bid to record their third win of the campaign..
