We are in the penultimate match day of the NPFL. The battles for the title and survival have reached their peak. Here are my predictions…
IFEANYI UBA V ENYIMBA
Fourth placed IUU has 53 points and could still mathematically win the league. But that destiny isn’t in their hands. What they could realistically get without much of a recourse to other venues is a continental ticket. A win in this game is not negotiable. Recent poor run of results have put Enyimba off the equation up the ladder. At 50 points, the best they could get is 56 points. Many teams ahead of them are capable of getting that and even more. Don’t expect much of a fight from the People’s Elephant who have settled for a top 10 finish. PREDICTION: IUU win 3-1.
RIVERS V ABIA
Placed second on 56 points, Rivers United is very much in the mix with just a point keeping them from the top. They could go top if Rangers fails to win in Abeokuta then everything will go to the wire on the last day. They are condemned to win but up against relegation threatened Abia, it will be a helluva task. If this were at the beginning of the season, one would have expected a fiercer fight from Abia but they have had some rough patches this second stanza. PREDICTION: Rivers will squeeze through 1-0.
SHOOTING V WIKKI
Very bad case for Wikki. They lost the title when they blew a lead away to Nasarawa in the 90th minute two weeks ago after leading for 64 minutes. They lost 1-2 and that would have been title-deciding three points. Now they are third on 54 points away to 15th placed Shooting. The hosts need all three points to stay afloat and one doubts if Wikki still has the fire in their belly to put up a resistance. PREDICTION: Sorry Wikki, this opportunity has been blown. Shooting will edge it 2-1.
IKORODU V RANGERS
This is arguably Rangers’s most important game in 32 years. They are on top with 57 points and victory here will almost seal the club’s first title since 1984. The players flew to Lagos enroute Abeokuta while about 10 buses loaded with fans have hit the town. That highlights the importance attached to this game. On the contrary, Ikorodu is confirmed relegated but has found a fertile ground in Abeokuta. Oga Boys have also had some giant killing results recently. But those were teams they took unawares. Rangers are well aware of Ikorodu’s new found form and are prepared. The visitors also have the quality to overcome this hurdle. Look out for Imama’s hyper-offensive, all-cautions-thrown-to-the-wind disposition. PREDICTION: A thriller…Rangers nick it 3-2.
NASARAWA V AKWA
A middle of the table clash. Both teams are safe and can’t aspire to win the championship. Nasarawa is 9th on 49 points while Akwa is 12th on 46 points. What is at stake here is a higher table finish and more prize money from LMC. PREDICTION: Nasarawa wins 2-0
SUNSHINE V WOLVES
Wolves is placed 17th with 42 points. Hmmmm…relegation is loading. They must get a result here or….(don’t ask me what will happen). Sunshine is safe in 7th place with 50 points. A better finish up the ladder should be an attraction but is that enough? Wolves should get something here. Their life depends on it. PREDICTION: I’m tempted to go for an away victory here but I doubt if Wolves can hold on and discountenance the home fans’ hostility. I go for 1-1.
TORNADOES V MFM
Tornadoes are in 13th place on 45 points while MFM is placed 16th with 42 points. The hosts have not got an away point in the league for four years. So they have got 45 out of a possible 51 home points this season. Their survival is hinged on home form. Both teams are relegation haunted so the stakes are high. PREDICTION: I don’t expect MFM to succeed where many had failed. Give it to Tornadoes 2-0.
EL KANEMI V PLATEAU
El Kanemi and Plateau lie 10th and 11th respectively on 48 points. Both are safe from relegation and are not title contenders. The spur should be a higher classification and better prize money. Teams find it difficult to score in Maiduguri not to talk of winning. The most difficult place to get an away point in the NPFL. PREDICTION: 3-0 to El Kanemi.
HEARTLAND V PILLARS
Heartland is 18th on 40 points. It will take a miracle of ‘Red Sea’ proportions for the team to avoid a first ever drop to the lower division. They blew the chances of survival when they lost to Ikorodu in Owerri. Now, they have to rely on other teams faltering. First things first, they must beat Pillars in Owerri today. The visitors are 6th with 51 points and have given up on the title. PREDICTION: Heartland win 2-0.
By Clement Nwangkpa – Abuja
