NPFL Matchday 13: Rangers Face Tough Test As Sporting Lagos Chase Away Record

The race for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title and the battle to avoid relegation will take centre stage this weekend as Matchday 13 throws up several intriguing encounters across the country.

League leaders Enugu Rangers face a difficult trip to Minna, where they will attempt to inflict Niger Tornadoes’ first home defeat of the season. The Flying Antelopes, who hold a three-point advantage at the top with a game in hand, will be wary of a Tornadoes side that has shown this season that it can upset the established order, particularly on home soil.

While Rangers seek to consolidate their position at the summit, second-placed Rivers United will be looking to keep the pressure on the leaders when they travel to Ilorin to face struggling Kwara United.

The Pride of Port Harcourt are six points behind Rangers, albeit with a game in hand, and cannot afford further slip-ups after settling for a 1-1 draw against the reigning champions in their last outing.

Kwara United, meanwhile, are hovering just above the relegation zone on goal difference and will be desperate to respond after suffering their first home defeat of the season against Bendel Insurance on Matchday 11.

Another team attracting attention is Sporting Lagos, who will be targeting a record fourth away victory of the campaign when they visit Warri Wolves. Sporting have already collected maximum points on the road against Inter Lagos, Enyimba and Plateau United, earning nine points from those trips before Katsina United ended their impressive run with a 2-1 victory on Matchday 11.

Their hosts are also under pressure, having gone four matches without a win, with their last league victory coming about a month ago.

In Jos, Plateau United will hope to end a four-match winless run when they welcome Kun Khalifat to the Jos International Stadium. Gbenga Ogunbote’s side have slipped from title contenders to also-rans in recent weeks and will be eager to rediscover the form that made them one of the early challengers.

Their last league victory came on October 11, when they thrashed Kano Pillars 4-0 at home. Kun Khalifat, however, are fighting to keep their heads above water in the relegation battle and will see the trip as an opportunity to collect valuable points.

The pressure will be even greater in Lagos, where bottom-placed Inter Lagos host 19th-placed Abia Warriors in a crucial meeting between two struggling sides. Inter Lagos earned a measure of encouragement by holding city rivals Ikorodu City in last weekend’s derby, but they remain rooted to the foot of the table and are still searching for their first league win since September.

Abia Warriors are in similarly poor form, having gone six matches without victory, with their last success also coming in September. Both teams know that a win could provide a much-needed lift in their fight for survival.

Seven-time champions Enyimba will also be desperate to arrest their decline when they host Ikorodu City in Aba. The People’s Elephant suffered their seventh defeat of the season against Ranchers Bees last weekend and now risk recording an eighth loss, a worrying prospect for a club accustomed to challenging for honours.

Only Inter Lagos have suffered the same number of defeats.

Ikorodu City, meanwhile, are yet to win away from home this season and have gone four matches without a victory, with their last league success coming on October 10. The visitors will nevertheless fancy their chances of exploiting Enyimba’s recent vulnerability.

In Katsina, the hosts will seek to extend their three-match unbeaten run when they welcome high-flying Nasarawa United. Katsina United could break into the top four with victory, but the Solid Miners will provide a stern test, having established themselves among the leading contenders and sitting just four points behind the summit.

The fixture also underlines the strong showing of northern clubs this season, with six teams currently occupying places in the top 10.