Rivers United have the chance to move above Rangers International at the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League when they welcome Barau FC to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Matchday 9.
The Port Harcourt club are the division’s sole unbeaten team and sit second on 16 points from eight matches, trailing Rangers by one point. Rangers’ domestic match against Bendel Insurance has been rescheduled due to their CAF Champions League commitment on Sunday.
Rivers were held to a goalless draw by Abia Warriors away from home last weekend. At home, they have defeated Plateau United, Warri Wolves and Ikorodu City, while allowing only two goals across their eight league outings. Barau occupy fourth place with 13 points after drawing 2-2 against Rangers in Kano last Sunday.
Enyimba, who are 19th, take on Warri Wolves at Enyimba Stadium in Aba. The former champions have collected seven points and suffered five defeats in eight fixtures, most recently losing 4-2 at Katsina United last Friday. Warri Wolves arrive in 13th position on 10 points following a 3-1 victory over Inter Lagos.
Fifth-placed Doma United, who have 13 points, meet Kun Khalifat in Gombe after their 2-0 loss to Nasarawa United. Kun Khalifat are 18th on eight points, having beaten Shooting Stars 2-0.
Inter Lagos, placed last with two points following a three-point sanction, entertain Nasarawa United with Olusanjo Olutayo serving as interim coach. Olutayo said he wants his players to be a team that will “fight” to secure improved results.
Plateau United, third in the standings after thrashing Kano Pillars 4-0 in their previous match, hosted Sporting Lagos. Pillars meet Katsina United in the Northwest derby. Kwara United, sitting one point behind Abia Warriors, welcome Abia, while Niger Tornadoes face sixth-placed Ikorodu City. Shooting Stars hosted Ranchers Bees in Ibadan yesterday.
Elsewhere, NPFL leaders Rangers, who have 17 points from eight games, host Algeria’s MC Alger tomorrow in the opening leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary-round clash at the Moshood Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta.
The second leg is set for Algeria the next week. CAF has fixed the first-leg matches for October 16-18, with the return fixtures scheduled between October 23 and 25.
Fidelis Ilechukwu’s Rangers drew 2-2 away at Barau FC in their latest league game. They reached this stage after overcoming Benin’s AS Sobemap 5-4 in a penalty shootout, following a 1-1 aggregate draw. MC Alger progressed after recording a 5-0 second-leg win against ASN Nigelec.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, El Kanemi Warriors will host Morocco’s Raja Casablanca in the first match of their second preliminary-round contest. El Kanemi eliminated Guinea-Bissau side UDIB 3-1 overall, winning 3-0 at home before losing the away meeting 1-0. Raja entered at this stage after receiving a bye. Nigeria’s other representative, Shooting Stars, exited in the preceding round after a 2-1 aggregate defeat to CS Sfaxien.
A total of 32 teams are battling for 16 places in the group phase. Holders Mamelodi Sundowns open away to Angola’s Wiliete, who won their previous round 5-0 on aggregate. TP Mazembe welcome Club Africain, Al-Swehly play host to Espérance, and Namibia’s African Stars receive Orlando Pirates.
Zamalek travel to Rwanda to face APR after eliminating AS Port 6-1 on aggregate, while Pyramids FC head to South Sudan for a meeting with El Merriekh Bentiu. Young Africans face CFFA in Madagascar, while 15 de Agosto host Simba SC in Equatorial Guinea. Horoya take on Sudan’s Al-Merriekh in Guinea, Maghreb Fès welcome ASEC Mimosas, RS Berkane start their tie away to Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy, and Al Hilal Omdurman meet Ethiopia’s Sidama Bunna.
