NPFL

NPFL matchday 19 preview and predictions

Adepoju Tobi Samuel 21:29 - 17 March 2022

Action continues in the NPFL this week

The 2021/22 season of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) will reach its halfway mark this weekend as games of round 19 will be played on Saturday and Sunday.

As it has become a customary thing in recent weeks, games are now shared over the two days, which then provides enough time for teams to rest before embarking on another trip ahead of the next game.

To the match ups now, numerous relegation dogfights will be on the menu as Dakakda will host Tornadoes, Shooting and Nasarawa United will face off in Ibadan and Heartland will welcome MFM to Owerri.

At the top, Plateau United and Rivers United will host their respective opponents as we wait patiently to know the mid-season champions.

It should be another lovely weekend of top-flight football, so let's take a look at the games;

Remo Stars v Kwara United

The battle of the surprise packages - Kwara United had theirs last season which they have also maintained this term, while Remo have continued to stay around the top four region this season.

Remo Stars now do the business at home as they have struggled at away ground in recent times, but Kwara United have got better away from home during the time as the Ilorin side are yet to taste defeat in their past two travels.

When both sides met back in 2019, it ended in home wins for the sides and six goals were scored in two games.

Much has changed for the two sides since then and given what they have both been able to achieve this term, it should be an open yet interesting fixture.

Prediction: Remo Stars 1-1 Kwara United

Rivers United v Akwa United

The Pride of Rivers will wrap up the first half of the season with a date with current champions in Port-Harcourt.

RU are currently topping the log and will be desperate to finish as mid-season champions, while it has been a mixed season for the Promise Keepers. A rich South -South derby in the real sense of it would always be a toast for many.

Both clubs played a 1-1 draw at this venue last season as Akwa United went on to clinch the title. Based on current realities, Stanley Eguma's side are huge favorites and if their form of four straight wins is anything to go by, they should be winning this game.

Prediction: Rivers United 2-0 Akwa United

Heartland v MFM

This is a relegation six-pointer between "Drop zone occupants" Heartland and bottom side MFM in Owerri.

Since the arrival of Erasmus Onuh at Heartland, results have picked up but they are still in the bottom four. Similarly, MFM have been able to pick some decent results under new man Christian Ikechukwu.

However, absence of consistency has cost both sides so far in the first stanza and they will both be hoping to end with a decent result here.

Heartland did the double over MFM last season, while MFM took four points off them the previous season. It is always an open fixture and this should a good game for the neutrals.

Prediction: Heartland 1-0 MFM

Other games include:

Troubled Enyimba will take a long trip to Bauchi to face to Wikki Tourists, while Dakkada will battle Tornados survival points in Uyo.

In Ibadan, Shooting Stars will take on the embattled Bala Nikyu and Nasarawa United in search of a successive home win. Rangers will hope to extend their amazing run when they host Lobi Stars on Saturday.

Kastina United will be guests of Abia Warriors in Okigwe, while Kano Pillars and Gombe United will slug it out in Katsina.

Plateau United with hope to extend their unbeaten run of ten games and usurp current league leaders when the host tricky Sunshine Stars at the New Jos Stadium on Sunday.