Kano Pillars, Lobi Stars, Rangers Battle For NPL Crown

The final day of the 2011/2012 Nigeria Premier league will be full of drama as three teams, Kano Pillars, Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Rangers International of Enugu battle for the ultimate prize. The action was less intense last season, as only the duo of eventual champions Dolphins of Port Harcourt and Sunshine Stars of Akure battled it out till the final day of the campaign.
Of the three, only Rangers will enjoy the privilege of playing the decision game in front of their fans at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.The Flying Antelopes who are seeking their first title in 28 years, must defeat Sharks and pray that their rivals stumble to emerge champions.

However, for Pillars and Lobi Stars it is a different ball game as they have the difficult task of securing maximum points on the road.
Pillars task appears a little bit easy with their opponent, Sunshine Stars, already out of contention for the title and safe from relegation.
But the fact that they ended the Akure Gunners title aspirations on the final day last term may make it difficult for them. The Ahly killers must win the game to secure their second title in four years and should the Orange CAF Champions league campaigners decide to exert revenge for what they did to them last season, then they may be in for a rough time.

Baba Ganaru‘s men have also struggled on the road with only one win in away games.
However, John Zaki‘s tutored Lobi Stars will have to do it the hard way if they are to win a first NPL title.
The Makurdi based outfit must upstage relegation threatened Kaduna Township stadium too and pray Pillars lose or draw in Ijebu Ode to achieve their dream. They have lost on their last four visits to Kaduna.

RANGERS INT‘L VS SHARKS
HEAD TO HEAD
2011 Rangers 2-1 Sharks
2010 Rangers 3-1 Sharks
2009 Rangers 2-0 Sharks
2007 Rangers 1-1 Sharks
2005 Rangers 1-0 Sharks

SUNSHINE STARS VS PILLARS
HEAD TO HEAD
2011 Sunshine Staes 3-0 Pillars
2010 Sunshine Stars 2-1 Pillars
2009 Sushine Stars 0-0 Pillars
2007 Sunshine Stars 3-0 Pillars

 KADUNA UNITED VS LOBI STARS
HEAD TO HEAD
2011 Kaduna United 4-2 Lobi Stars
2010 Kaduna United 2-0 Lobi Stars
2008 Kaduna United 1-0 Lobi Stars
2006 Kaduna United 1-0 Lobi Stars