Rivers United begins title defense as NPFL returns with 9 matches this weekend

By Olusola Adebayo

Rivers United will begin the defense of the NPFL title won last season at the Adokie Amasimakia Stadium in Portharcourt on Sunday as the 2021/2022 Champions host Lobi Stars of Markurdi by 4 pm. 

Rivers United was in the class of their last season in the league as they won the league with as much as three games to spare. 

The Wike boys were later rewarded with state honors and duly motivated to go all the way for the new season as the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, kept his promise of giving each of the players twenty thousand dollars before the turn of the year. 

The season is kicking off on time to give the needed match fitness and competitive sharpness needed by the team to face the rest of Africa in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. 

The competition is due to commence in February as Rivers United challenges for honors on two fronts in 2023 both on the continent as well as in the NPFL.

 Meanwhile, Enyimba one of the teams expected to challenge Rivers United for the title this season will kick off their campaign in far away Jos against Nasarawa as the Lafia-based team adopts the New Jos Stadium as their home for the season. 

The kick-off time for the match which is scheduled for Saturday is 4 pm. 

The other fixture slated for Saturday is Rangers International vs Abia Warriors, the first of the oriental derbies this season. 

The match will be at Awka Stadium as both sides as fortified their squads with decent additions and the fans are in for a great time if feelers coming from both camps are anything to go by. 

The match will begin at 3 pm. 

Shootings Stars of Ibadan will begin their season away to Plateau United on Sunday at the Jos Stadium by 4 pm.

After long days of preseason and preparations, the Oluyole warriors are optimistic of a better season this season as the addition of Gbenga Ogunbote brings fresh optimism among their fans as they bank on the experience of Sikiru Alimi to help them solve some of the goal-scoring problem encountered last season which left them battling for relegation for most of the season.

Plateau United was on the best side last season, with the bulk of the players being retained by coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, Jos might be difficult to seek points for the Oluyole Warriors. 

Excitement awaits the fans as both teams kick off their season on Sunday.

Kwara United is one of the sides that will be playing away from home this season of the failure of their stadium to meet the playable pitch standard set by the IMC, hence the Afonja Warriors will be banking on the Ibadan fans to come all out and give them all the support as the Coach Mohammed Abdul Azeez kick off their season on Sunday against Gombe United by 4 pm.

Kwara United aim to return to the continental, as their minimum target for the season and the hunt for points starts in earnest with the scorpions from Gombe in town. 

Remo Stars shocked many football fans last season by picking one of the continental tickets on offer, just a season after gaining promotion into the NPFL.

The highly motivated team will fancy their chances of returning to the continent this season. 

The team will kick off their campaign at the prestigious Remo Stars Stadium in Ikeene against El Kanemi Warriors, another new corner into the NPFL, on Sunday as the Daniel Ogunmodede-led boys are ready to go again this season. 

Playing a newly promoted team on an opening day could be trickish as possess a lot of " unknown tricks" which may catch their opponent unawares. 

Elkanemi might be inspired by Bendel Insurance's exploit against Akwa United last Sunday when the newcomer stunned their experienced host by 2-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Remo Stars and other teams that have new conses as their need to take extra caution and learn from Akwa United has experience in Uyo against Bendel Insurance. 

Doma United, fresh from NPFL will play their first-ever NPFL against Sunshine Stars as they play host to the Owena Whales on Sunday, while Bayelsa United and Dakkada face off in the first South-South derby of the season on Sunday. 

The fixture at a glance 

Sat Jan, 14th

• Enugu Rangers vs Abia Warriors 4 pm (South-East Derby)

• Nasarawa United vs Enyimba Int’l at 4 pm 

Sun Jan, 15th 

• Bayelsa United vs Dakkada 4 pm (South-South Derby)

• Doma United vs Sunshine Stars at 4 pm 

• Kwara United vs Gombe United at 4 pm

• Plateau United vs Shooting Stars at 4 pm

• Remo Stars vs El-kanemi Warriors 4 pm 

• Rivers United vs Lobi Stars at 4 pm 

• Wikki Tourist vs Niger Tornadoes 4 pm