NPFL Preview: Rangers seeking to become first side to go 10 straight games unbeaten, Ikorodu City target second Southwest derby win
Rangers international of Enugu defeated Rivers United 1-0 in Enugu last weekend to extend their unbeaten run to nine games and move within two points of league leaders, Remo Stars and Rivers United.
The victory also puts them level with Rivers United as two of the three teams with the longest unbeaten run so far this season, but the ‘Flying Antelopes’, as Rangers are called, could go a step further to become the first team this season to go 10 games unbeaten if they win at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina where they will face their host, Katsina United.
Rangers have not lost in their last five away games and could extend their record as the side with the longest unbeaten away run in the competition.
While Rangers will be confident of getting a result against a side that has drawn twice and lost once at home, Katsina United will be looking to make it three home wins on the bounce for the first time this season.
At the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Nigeria Premier Football League debutants, Ikorodu City, will be confident of bouncing back from losing for the first time in seven games when they host league leaders, Remo Stars on Sunday.
The Oga Boys lost 1-0 at Bayelsa United last weekend after going six games unbeaten and head coach, Nurudeen Aweroro, will demand a reaction from his men like they did the last time they lost at Enyimba when they ended league leaders at the time, Rivers United’s unbeaten start to the 2024/25 season.
Ikorodu City are facing another league leaders after another defeat on the road and it will be their second ever southwest derby in the NPFL after defeating Shooting Stars of Ibadan 2-1 last month at home.
A win for the Oga Boys will take them within two points of their opponent and they could move back to third on the spot if Rangers lose at Katsina United.
In Port Harcourt, Finidi George will be expecting an immediate reaction from his men when he leads Rivers United against visiting Kwara United in a Nigeria Premier Football League match day 17 fixture at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.
Rivers United had their four match unbeaten run in the competition stopped at the fifth attempt by Rangers last Sunday in Enugu and will be looking for their seventh home win of the season to kickstart their third unbeaten run this season.
A win for Finidi and his men can move them three points clear at the top if Remo Stars fail to get a result at Ikorodu City FC. Their opponents Kwara United have drawn three and won once away from their Kwara Sports Complex abode in Ilorin.
Emmanuel Amuneke’s Heartland will be looking to return to winning ways when they host Bendel Insurance at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, after they were undone by a late Mafeng Pam’s goal to condemn them to a 3-2 defeat at Plateau United last Sunday.
The result means the Naze Millionaires gave up their five game unbeaten run. Heartland will be up against an inconsistent Bendel Insurance at home this weekend.
The host team has won three of their last four home games and will be keen to win for the second time in a row at the Dan Anyiam stadium only for the second time this season, while the visitors who drew their last game away at Akwa United have won two and lost two of their last five games.
A win for Heartland will see them move up to sixth if other results go their way, while Bendel Insurance can move out of the bottom three if they secure their second away win of the season.
In Maiduguri, it will be a battle of Warriors as El Kanemi Warriors host Abia Warriors.
El Kanemi Warriors drew against Bayelsa United in their last home game and the visitors will be confident they can become the fifth time to get a point at the El Kanemi stadium this season albeit the Umuahia-based side have lost their last three games on the road.
At the Samson Siasia stadium in Yenagoa, Bayelsa United will keen to extend their unbeaten run to four games and will for the third straight home game for the first time this season. Playing against an Akwa United team that have lost their last seven away games, the coach Ladan Bosso’s side will be confident of another three points to move further up the NPFL log.
NPFL Table
Team MP W D L F A D P
Remo Stars 16 9 2 5 18 10 +8 29
Rivers United 16 8 5 3 15 8 +7 29
Enugu Rangers 16 7 6 3 17 10 +7 27
Ikorodu City 16 7 3 6 22 16 +6 24
Shooting Stars 16 7 3 6 14 13 +1 24
El Kanemi Warriors 16 5 8 3 15 17 -2 23
Enyimba 14 5 7 2 14 9 +5 22
Kano Pillars 15 6 4 5 19 18 +1 22
Niger Tornadoes 16 5 6 5 15 17 -2 21
Bayelsa United 16 5 6 5 13 15 -2 21
Abia Warriors 16 6 3 7 14 18 -4 21
Kwara United 15 5 5 5 15 13 +2 20
Heartland 16 5 5 6 16 17 -1 20
Katsina United 16 5 4 7 12 14 -2 19
Lobi Stars 17 5 4 8 16 23 -7 19
Plateau United 17 6 3 8 17 20 -3 18
Nasarawa United 16 5 3 8 15 20 -5 18
Sunshine Stars 16 5 3 8 10 16 -6 18
Bendel Insurance 16 5 4 7 15 19 -4 16
Akwa United 16 4 4 8 12 17 -5 16
