The Nigeria Premier Football League enters its second phase with six fixtures scheduled this weekend, while continental commitments remove three prominent clubs from the domestic calendar.
Key takeaways
- Rangers International, Rivers United and Shooting Stars are unavailable because of African club competitions.
- Sporting Lagos’ meeting with Ikorodu City has been moved to Wednesday, September 30.
- Inter Lagos and Doma United will contest their first NPFL fixture against each other on Saturday.
- Kwara United travel to Plateau United after recovering from a two-goal deficit to draw with Kano Pillars.
- Kano Pillars are still searching for their first victory and have beaten Niger Tornadoes only once in seven recent encounters.
Six domestic fixtures on the programme
The absence of last season’s champions Rangers International, together with Rivers United and Shooting Stars, has led to three postponements. Warri Wolves versus Rangers, Katsina United against Rivers United, and Enyimba’s clash with Shooting Stars will all be rescheduled, with the league yet to announce replacement dates.
The Lagos derby between Sporting Lagos and Ikorodu City has also been taken off the weekend schedule. It will now be played on Wednesday, September 30, because the Mobolaji Johnson Arena is not available.
Inter Lagos will welcome fellow newly promoted side Doma United to the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Saturday for the clubs’ first NPFL encounter. Doma began life in the division with a 2-0 victory against Sporting Lagos, while Inter suffered a 2-1 loss to Shooting Stars in Ibadan. The meeting should offer an early indication of how both newcomers are adapting to elite-level football.
Ranchers Bees will stage Abia Warriors at Katsina’s Muhammadu Dikko Stadium on Sunday. It represents the promoted club’s first major examination on home soil, but Abia Warriors’ greater experience in the top flight gives them reason to believe they can take all three points on the road.
In Owerri, Kun Khalifat will entertain Barau FC. The hosts remain without a league triumph against their rivals and have been beaten in each of the previous two meetings.
Nasarawa United face Bendel Insurance in Lafia. Insurance have failed to defeat Nasarawa in their last five league clashes, recording two draws and suffering three losses during that run.
Plateau United, coached by Gbenga Ogunbote, return to the New Jos Stadium to meet Kwara United. They will aim to respond after opening the campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Rivers United. Kwara, meanwhile, arrive encouraged by their 2-2 comeback against Kano Pillars, having overturned a two-goal deficit with Alex Jerry scoring both of their goals.
Pillars seek to break Tornadoes pattern
Kano Pillars welcome Niger Tornadoes to the Sani Abacha Stadium still looking for their first win of the season. Pillars surrendered their advantage in the 2-2 draw with Kwara United, while the recent head-to-head record offers little comfort: they have managed only one victory in the clubs’ last seven meetings. Niger Tornadoes come into the game after defeating Enyimba 2-1.
Clubs turn to continental competition
Rangers International will play Sobemap FC of Benin Republic in the CAF Champions League at Abeokuta. Rivers United are also involved in the competition and will travel to Cote d’Ivoire for a meeting with San Pedro.
Shooting Stars are set to return to continental action for the first time in 27 years. Their CAF Confederation Cup assignment is against Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien, with the match also scheduled for Abeokuta.
