NPFL Preview: Shooting Stars seek to extend winning run to six in a row without conceding a goal; Ikorodu out for revenge Vs Ahmed Musa and Kano Pillars!

Shooting Stars of Ibadan will be keen to continue where they left off last year when they host Nasarawa United at the Lekan Salami stadium in Ibadan on Wednesday in a Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, matchday 21 fixture.

The Oluyole Warriors, as the Ibadan-based outfit are called, won their last five games of the first half of the 2024/25 season and last game of 2024 without conceding a goal.

Shooting Stars have not conceded any goal in the NPFL since November 27, 2024, when they lost 2-0 at Remo Stars.

The big question on the lips of watchers of the league is thus: Can the Oluyole Warriors extending their winning run to six games without conceding any goal?

Against a Nasarawa United team that has lost their last eight away games in a row and scoring just thrice, the answer looks to be in the affirmative.

In Uyo, Lobi Stars will be keen not to extend their losing run on the road to eight games in a row as they battle to win their first away game on their 11th attempt.

Daniel Amokachi has failed to inspire the Makurdi-based team since he took over as the chief coach and will be looking to capitalize on an Akwa United side that lost 2-1 at home to Remo Stars the last time.

Both teams are in the bottom three of the table with the Benue state team just a point (20 points) and a place (18th) above the Promise Keepers (19 points and 19th on the log).

At the Samson Siasia stadium in Yenagoa, Bayelsa United will be seeking a return to winning ways when they host Sunshine Stars of Akure on Wednesday following their three back-to-back defeats, including twice to Abia warriors.

The Laddan Bosso men will however be confident of dimming the Stars of the Akure Gunners who have lost seven of their last eight away games and whose only victory on the road was achieved way back in September.

In Maiduguri, El Kanemi Warriors will bank on their unbeaten home record when they host defending league champions, Rangers international of Enugu at the El Kanemi Warriors stadium.

The homers have won five of their last six home games in the competition and will be up against the Coal City outfit that not only won in their last game on the road but have neither lost nor conceded a goal in their last five away games.

The ‘Flying Antelopes’ have also not lost away from home since they were beaten 1-0 by Sunshine Stars of Akure in October last year.

At the Remo Stars stadium in Ikenne, Remo Stars will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the log to at least six points if they beat visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia for the second time this season.

The Kunle Soname boys won the first leg, as it were, 2-0 in Umuahia last September and will be looking to achieve their second double of the season after beating Akwa United home and away.

A win on Wednesday will mean their fourth on the bounce and 10th in 11 home games.

For Abia Warriors, a win will not only lift then closer to the top three but also their third of the season and second in a row after defeating Bayelsa United in Yenagoa at the end of 2024.

Revenge will be written all over the matchday 21 fixture of the 2024/25 NPFL game at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena at Onikan, Lagos when Ikorodu City host Ahmed Musa’s Kano Pillars.

The Kano-based team defeated the Oga Boys 3-0 back in September in their first ever game in the Nigerian top flight but the NPFL debutants have grown to become a fearsome team, especially at home where they have won seven of the 10 home games they have played thus far and have remained unbeaten since they lost 2-1 to Nasarawa United since late September 2024.

Kano Pillars will however bank on the magic of former Super Eagles captain, Musa who has bailed them out of difficult situations on more than one occasions, securing late victories against Niger Tornadoes and Plateau United and snatching a point like he did in the 2-2 draw against Heartland of Owerri.