Venue: Kaduna Township Stadium, Kaduna
Date: Sunday, February 19, 2012


Boosted  by last weekend’s comprehensive home win against Wikki Tourists of Bauchi, Kaduna fans will hope for a repeat of that performance when their darling fans host another northern side, Niger Tornadoes of Minna tomorrow.

That win ensured they move up the ladder and they could make it a third consecutive  victory on the row,should they bag the maximum points against their northern rivals which would further improve their position on the log.

Tornadoes on their part could only manage a  one all draw at home  against Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club of Ilorin last weekend and would also be keen to avoid defeat here.Justin Tenger’s men  have however lost all their three games on the road this season.

For the home team, they seem to have banished the memory of the loss of last season’s top scorer, Jude Aneke who has since left for Warri Wolves with Nasir Useni now shouldering goalscoring responsibilities for the Maurice Cooreman tutored side.

Tornadoes’Azuka Ebinum seems to be finding it difficult to add to his five goal tally but his compatriot,Sibi Gwar has however been  more consistent of late, scoring in his team’s last two games.
 

GOMBE UNITED VS SUNSHINE

VENUE: Pantami Stadium, Gombe
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 2012

Bernard Ogbe and his boys have the opportunity of securing another home win to bolster their chances of winning  the title.Two back-to-back defeats on the road to Dolphin and Enyimba  have seen many question title credentials.

The Black Scorpions impressive home record was dented on Thursday when they lost 2-0 to Kwara United at the Pantani Stadium..Their hitmen Sanusi Sani and Mustapha Babadidi also have the opportunity of increasing their haul.

Sunshine Stars go into the game on the back of a hard fought 1-1 draw in Ibadan against 3SC in their last road trip and midweek win over Sharks means they are in buoyant mood for this difficult sojourn.

Gbenga Ogunbote will hope to have his captain Godfrey Oboabona back for this tie. Oboabona missed the Sharks game because of his involvement with the Super Eagles international friendly encounter against Liberia in Monrovia. Atanda Sakibu is firing on all cylinders for the Akure Gunners once again and he alongside Izu Azuka and Osamudiamen Idehen, are the key men for Sunshine.



RISING STARS VS SHARKS

Venue: Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode
Date: Saturday February 18, 2012.

Rising Stars did the unthinkable,inflicting defeat on Warri Wolves for the first time  this term in their last home game and they have another difficult opponent to contend with again today in Sharks of Port Harcourt.

Sunday Erelesusi and his boys have been inconsistent since their promotion to the topflight, with two victories and three draws at their  makeshift  home ground, the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium Ijebu Ode, but Wednesday’s scoreless draw in Jigawa has further boosted their chances of maintaining their Premier league status.They however need another victory today to improve their position on the log.They could  take delight in the fact that Sharks are bad travellers .The Blue Angels  have lost all their three away games,conceding twelve goals and scoring only three.

Sharks boss,John Obuh would love to see his side avoid defeat in this game after their midweek slump in Akure against Sunshine Stars.However a loss could further increase pressure on him.


KWARA UTD VS AKWA UTD

VENUE: Ilorin Township Stadium
DATE: Saturday February 18, 2012

Fifth placed Kwara United goes up against sixth placed Akwa United in what promises to be an interesting encounter at the Ilorin township stadium.

Kwara Utd will be in buoyant mood after recording three wins and two draws at home, amongst which were against reigning NPL champions,  Dolphins  Football Club of Port Harcourt and six times league Champions, Enyimba.

The Afonja Warlords fans will expect their darling team to rise to the occasion once again after the mid week bashing of Gombe United.

But, Coach Solomon Ogbeide‘s  Akwa United side is  one of the few teams that have made decent starts  to this season,  having picked three points from their five away matches.

The promise keepers  were in fine form in mid week,  gaining maximum points following a 2-0 win at home to Niger Tornadoes.

They face a Kwara United side which  has  proven difficult to beat at home and would be desperate to make amends  for their last away defeat in Port Harcourt against Dolphins.



3SC VS OCEAN BOYS


VENUE: Obafemi Awolowo Stadium
DATE: Saturday, February 18, 2012

Fans of Shooting Stars Football Club will hope their darling team for once rises up to the occasion and puts smiles on their faces when they square  up against Ocean Boys today.

Much as they have disappointed on the road, their home form too has been a source of worry for their teeming fans.Draws at the Obafemi Awolowo stadium against Gombe United, Rising Stars and Sunshine Stars have seen them hover around the relegation zone.

The Ibadan based outfit narrowly escaped the wrath of their fans last weekend, when the team played a one all draw against Sunshine Stars in Ibadan, the coach Festus Allen tutored side will have to put up a brave performance against Ocean Boys, to help instill confidence back into the hearts of their local fans and help to forge ahead in the target for a continental slot.

Ocean Boys are still in search of an away win this season as they head to Ibadan with a record of two draws and three losses away, the former champions will have to search to replicate same result in 2009, by leaving Ibadan with a point.



WIKKI TOURISTS VS ABS


VENUE: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium
DATE: Saturday, February 18, 2012

Coach Ladan Bosso will be hoping to keep his hundred percent unbeaten home record  this season, when his side face struggling ABS . Wikki Tourists have notched up four wins at home in the campaign with the mid week bashing of Shooting Stars which is their latest success.

Relegation battling coach Tunde Aremu’s  side which is  yet to record a win away from home, are in  for a fight  and the gaffer  will urge his players to be on their toes for the whole duration to keep the in form Wikki Tourists striker, Abubakar  Umar from their goal mouth,  if they want to leave Bauchi unscathed.

Anything short of the three maximum points against Wikki Tourists will further compound Abubakar Bukola Saraki‘s league survival woes.They look like a side that would get something positive from Bauchi though.



KANO PILLARS VS LOBI STARS


VENUE: Hadejia Stadium, Jigawa.
DATE: Saturday, February 18, 2012

In the same fixture last season,  Kano Pillars defeated Lobi Stars by two goals to nil in Kano and they look set to inflict another defeat on the Makurdi based outfit.

Pillars are in buoyant mood after escaping unscathed in midweek against Warri Wolves and anything short of a win would be a huge disappointment for the coach Baba Ganaru and his boys.

Their opponents  too will be confident of coming out with a good result at the Hadijia stadium with Wednesday‘s 3-0 spanking of Ocean boys of Brass as a morale booster.

Dominic Iorfa‘s men are just one point ahead of Pillars but could move up the ladder should they do the unlikely beating the homers, Ppillars are a difficult side at home though.
 

ENYIMBA VS WARRI WOLVES

VENUE : Aba Township Stadium
DATE : Sunday, February 18, 2012

TOUGH DUEL!

Enyimba Set To Roll Over Wolves In Aba Cracker

Six –time Nigeria Champions, Enyimba Football Club of Aba’s title credentials will be put to test when one of the strong contenders for the league diadem, Warri Wolves hit Aba tomorrow.

It was a dream return for the Aba  Elephants Technical Adviser,Augustine Owen Eguavoen  who marks his return to the side he led to Federation Cup glory in 2008, with a comprehensive 3-1 spanking  of Gombe United last weekend.

But he would need  to motivate his side for the big task ahead after the oriental derby  defeat against Rangers in midweek .That defeat was their third on the road but it is their impressive home run that will delight the club supporters.

The two-time African Champions have not  only won all four matches at the Aba Township Stadium but have scored nine goals and conceded  only one .Only Gombe United topscorer, Mustapha Babadidi  has been able to put the ball into the net at the Stadium.

Eguavoen will look up to the duo of Josiah Maduabuchi and Gbolahan Salami, who were in fantastic form  in the win  over Gombe United,for the much needed maximum points against the seasiders.

Salami missed Wednesday’s defeat to Rangers due to injury,but he  is expected to be fit  for tomorrow’s game. Maduabuchi who missed a sitter against the Flying Antelopes,will also be eager to add to his goal tally.

The former Golden Eaglets coach praised Salami for his goalscoring feat  last weekend while also  hoping that his player who revealed  a T- shirt  with the inscription “I’m now born again” after the goal,will now stay away from trouble.

“Salami  is an interesting player but if he manages his character well, he will get better with each game”

The former Sunshine Stars of Akure player is also looking forward  to tomorrow’s game, hoping to grab the headlines for the right reason once again.

“Warri Wolves is a tough side but playing in front of our fans is an added incentive for us. We still have the opportunity of winning the league and a win in this game will further boost our chances.However, on a personal note, I hope to improve on my performance in the previous games. I came here with the hope of doing well and winning things, hopefully things will go well for us,” he said.
 

RANGERS VS HEARTLAND

VENUE : Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu
DATE : Sunday, February 19, 2012

ORIENTAL SHOWDOWN!

Rangers, Heartland Rekindle Rivalry   Flying  Antelopes In Buoyant Mood For Neighbour’s Visit

A sumptuous meal of football, that is what  will be on offer when oriental rivals, Rangers International of Enugu and Heartland Football Club of Owerri clash tomorrow at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

Both sides which have won 11 league titles between them [ six for Rangers and five for Heartland] have enjoyed contrasting fortunes this season with the home side looking like a team ready to end their  title drought of 28 years.

The Flying Antelopes under veteran tactician, Okey Emordi  who rejoined the team from Enyimba at the start of the campaign, have tasted defeat only once this season and are currently second  on the log.They have improved massively since their match day one home draw against Warri Wolves, winning all  four home fixtures after that.

Midweek’s hard fought 1-0 home win against another oriental side,Enyimba, has further boosted the team’s confidence and could be the catayst for another impressive outing tomorrow.

Emordi has  seen some of his youngsters flourish this season and they could further improve their profile with another beautiful display in this tie.Razak Adegbite in particular has led the line  well for the team and the trio of Chikeluba Ofoedu,Chinedu Sunday and Emeka Eze have also proven their readiness to compete with the best in the topflight.

One man who Heartland defenders must watch out for is Akeem Yakubu.The skilful player has been a revelation for the Flying Antelopes in the league so far and if his performances against topsides like Warri Wolves and Enyimba are anything to go by,then he could be the key man for his team once again as well as Ofoedu who grabbed the winning goal against Rangers.

But if anything, it is Heartland who has the more experienced players out of the two.Captain Chinedu Efugh who grabbed the winning goal for the Naze Millionaires in last season’s Federation Cup triumph against Enyimba will provide cover for goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim at the heart of the defence while Julius Ubido, Barthlomew Ibenegbu and  Osas Okoro  are expected to take charge of the midfield.As usual,Bello Kofarmata will lead the lines well as he is the team’s topscorer with two strikes so far.

Agbim  and Ibenegbu missed the midweek win against Kaduna United,due to their involvement with the Super Eagles in the international friendly encounter against Liberia in Monrovia and their return should help bolster the  team’s chances against one of their fiercest rivals .

However,their fans will be more apprehensive going into this game,as Lodewijk de Kruif’s men have not been consistent this term.As a matter of fact, they have  not only lost all four away games,they are yet to score in their travels despite the top quality players within their rank.

They have however been boosted by the midweek success against Kaduna United and could get their season back on track, by escaping with either a win or draw here.