The Nigeria Professional Football League 2021 or 22 season enters match day seven this midweek.
Newboys Remo Stars continue to lead the chasing pack which has Rivers United, Akwa United and the likes. Next on the agenda for the Ikenne side is a date with Imama Amapakabo’s Abia Warriors while Rivers United will hope to pick points from Lagos when they travel down to face MFM.
Although, the heavyweight clash earlier scheduled to hold this Wednesday has been shifted to next week, Owerri will host the Oriental derby between Heartland and Enugu Rangers.
This is one of the derbies with so much history in the NPFL. With several league titles and national titles shared between them. However, Heartland have had mixed results since the beginning of the campaign, while Rangers have been flying high under new gaffer Abdu Maikaba.
The Naze Millionaires come into this fixture on the back of a derby loss to Abia Warriors, while the Flying Antelopes strolled past MFM in Nnewi on Sunday. In the past meetings at Heartland, the home side have recorded three wins, while the Enugu side have also picked up two wins.
In fact, there has been no draw in this fixture since 2011 and this one could produce another winner at the end of 90mins.
Prediction: Heartland 1-2 Enugu Rangers
A proper relegation battle awaits in Abuja between Niger Tornadoes v Shooting Stars.
Both teams got promoted to the NPFL this season and played in the final of the relegation play-offs where Tornadoes won 3-2 in Enugu. However, things have not been going on well for either of them in the topflight so far.
They are both in the bottom four, separated by one point and the need for points is becoming serious while fans have continued to ask for better performance and results from their respective teams.
Prediction: Niger Tornadoes 1-1 Shooting Stars
Here comes another North Central Derby for football lovers in Jos to enjoy this Wednesday.
After last weekend's 5-0 demolishing of Dakkada, the Peace boys sit at home to welcome Nasarawa United who also won against Lobi Stars in Lafia. Plateau United have won every topflight home game against the Solid Miners and could extend their run if their record at home this season is anything to go by.
Mohammed Zulkifilu, Jesse Akila and Sunday Anthony are players who could decide the outcome of the game for Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side at the New Jos Stadium.
Prediction: Plateau United 1-0 Nasarawa United
Kwara United suffered a big loss at Rivers United on Sunday with a host of first team players missing the trip to Port-Harcourt. On the other hand, Kano Pillars struggled to beat Niger Tornadoes 1-0 in Kaduna.
As it is expected that the missing key players for Kwara United will return for this massive game, and with their home winning run against Sai Masu Gida, the Harmony Boys could claim another win on Thursday. As a matter of fact, Kano Pillars are yet to score a goal away from home this season and have lost all three played so far.
Prediction: Kwara United 2-0 Kano Pillars
Rivers United will be at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos to play MFM as Gombe United will be guests of Sunshine Stars in Ijebu Ode.
Banished Dakkada will play their second game at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin against Wikki Tourists, while unbeaten Remo Stars will be hoping for an easy outing against Abia Warriors in Ikenne.
In Katsina, it will be an heavyweight clash between Katsina United and Lobi Stars in the matchday’s final fixture.
MFM v Rivers United
Sunshine Stars v Gombe United
Dakkada v Wikki Tourists
Plateau United v Nasarawa United
Katsina United v Lobi Stars
Remo Stars v Abia Warriors
Niger Tornadoes v Shooting Stars
Kwara United v Kano Pillars
Heartland v Enugu Rangers
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