WEEK 32 PREVIEWS

Saturday, May 15

Dolphin v Gateway FC

The Rock City Boys could be confirmed for relegation even before the end of the season proper after it failed to beat Premier League leader, Kano Pillars, in Abeokuta during a mid-week game. The game ended 1 – 1 on Wednesday. Now the basement boys head to Port Harcourt to face Dolphin Football Club, which is yet to lose a game at home. First meeting, Dolphin left the Ilaro stadium with a point. Gateway’s stuttering form guide of two wins, two draws and two losses is a testimony to why the side may be relegated, as its woes on the road look set to continue at the Liberation Stadium on Saturday.

Prediction: 2 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dec 19, 2009: Gateway FC 1 – 1 Dolphin

Aug 27, 2005: Dolphin 2 – 0 Gateway FC

March 23, 2005: Gateway FC 0 – 0 Dolphin

Wikki v Bayelsa Utd

Both clubs have met seven times since 2006 in the top-flight and the champion, Bayelsa United, has won three while Wikki Tourist has picked two wins and the other two have ended in draws including the reverse fixture, which Wikki earned a 1 – 1 draw to the surprise of bookmakers. On Wednesday, Wikki dropped all points at Niger Tornadoes and would want to return to winning ways. In its last six games, the home side has maintained a 50 per cent form guide of winning three and losing same number of games. But it should edge Bayelsa United in this game.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dec 19, 2009: Bayelsa Utd 1 – 1 Wikki

Feb 11, 2009: Bayelsa Utd 2 – 0 Wikki

Sept 20, 2008: Wikki 1 – 0 Bayelsa Utd

April 16, 2008: Bayelsa Utd 4 – 3 Wikki

Nov 17, 2007: Wikki 1 – 1 Bayelsa Utd

July 11, 2006: Wikki 1 – 0 Bayelsa Utd

April 29, 2006: Bayelsa Utd 1 – 0 Wikki

Kwara Utd v Zamfara Utd

In the reverse game, Kwara United lost by a lone goal and the Afonja Warriors was toppled from third place when it lost too Enugu Rangers by 0 – 2. Zamfara United has made two trips to Ilorin and has lost just once by 0 – 3 on September 16, 2005. Justin Tenger would be keen to guide his side to a win in this game to keep its continental dream alive. Though Kwara United’s form guide shows four losses and two wins, this is a game it cannot afford to drop points and I stick out my neck for it to win.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dec 20, 2009: Zamfara Utd 1 – 0 Kwara Utd

April 13, 2008: Zamfara Utd 2 – 1 Kwara Utd

Dec 8, 2007: Kwara Utd 1 – 1 Zamfara Utd

Sept 16, 2005: Kwara Utd 3 – 0 Zamfara Utd

April 9, 2005:            Zamfara Utd 1 – 1 Kwara Utd

Kano Pillars v Rangers

This is the match of the week, and the setting is in Kano. No doubt this is a massive test for the Flying Antelopes, which has an incredible form guide of having lost just once in its last six games. Ahmed Musa missed Pillars’ trip to Abeokuta and should return for this game and expect Rangers’ Ghanaian import, Charles Taylor, to have a look after his super sub role when he came off in his debut to score the Antelopes’ second goal against Kwara United mid-week. Rangers won the first meeting by a lone goal but has not won in five trips to Kano except for two draws including this corresponding fixture that ended 1 – 1. I sense a tricky game only if Rangers can hold off Pillars in the early minutes, else the Enugu side could suffer its eighth loss.

Prediction: 2 – 1

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dec 20, 2009: Rangers 1 – 0 Kano Pillars

April 25, 2009: Kano Pillars 1 – 1 Rangers

Dec 14, 2008: Rangers 1 – 0 Kano Pillars

Jan 30, 2008: Rangers 2 – 1 Kano Pillars

Jan 12, 2008: Kano Pillars 1 – 0 Rangers

April 7, 2007: Rangers 2 – 0 Kano Pillars

Jan 31, 2007: Kano Pillars 1 – 0 Rangers

July 18, 2006: Rangers 3 – 2 Kano Pillars

April 21, 2006: Kano Pillars 0 – 0 Rangers

Sept 10, 2005: Kano Pillars 1 – 0 Rangers

Sunday, May 16

Sunshine Stars v Tornadoes

Tornadoes has never won at Sunshine Stars in the top-flight after two trips to Akure. Though the Stars lost by a lone goal, it is seeking to climb into third place and that looks possible depending on the outcome of Rangers’ trip to Kano on Saturday. The good thing for Tornadoes going into this game is that Eugene Salami has continued scoring but Akure is a different ground entirely. Stars’ striker, Ibrahim Baballe, would fancy the chance of netting his eighth goal of the season. Solomon Ogbeide’s men are primed for a 14th win.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dec 19, 2009: Tornadoes 1 – 0 Sunshine Stars

Feb 25, 2009: Sunshine Stars 1 – 0 Tornadoes

Jan 17, 2009:  Tornadoes 2 – 1 Sunshine Stars

Jan 30, 2008: Sunshine Stars 2 – 0 Tornadoes

Jan 12, 2008: Tornadoes 1 – 0 Sunshine Stars

Kaduna Utd v Ranch Bees

It is the Kaduna derby. Last time out, Kaduna United suffered a 0 – 5 defeat at the hands of Sharks. But United looks heads and shoulders above Bees considering their form guides in the last six games. Ranch Bees has lost four times and won once in six games compared to United’s two wins, two losses and a draw. In the reverse fixture, Bees won by a lone goal and though Maurice Cooreman and his side would aim for a win this match, however, has the trappings of a draw written all over it.

Prediction: 0 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dec 19, 2009: Ranch Bees 1 – 0 Kaduna Utd

Ocean Boys v Heartland

Champion in 2006, Ocean Boys, go into this tie in 19th place on the log. Ocean Boys has lost four times in its last six games, managing just two wins compared to Heartland’s three wins and three losses. In the reverse fixture, the Naze Millionaires won by 2 – 0 while in this same match a year ago, Ocean Boys edged Heartland by a lone goal. The 2006 champion could further find itself in trouble if it fails to beat Heartland on Sunday, as it has lost confidence in the current campaign. With John Owoeri in red-hot form, Heartland has the chance of picking its first away win of the season, which is something quite unusual for Nigeria’s most consistent side in the past three seasons.

Prediction: 1 – 2

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dec 20, 2009: Heartland 2 – 0 Ocean Boys

May 7, 2009: Ocean Boys 1 – 0 Heartland

Sept 24, 2008: Heartland 2 – 0 Ocean Boys

March 26, 2008: Ocean Boys 0 – 0 Heartland

Sept 30, 2007: Heartland 1 – 0 Ocean Boys

March 25, 2007: Ocean Boys 1 – 2 Heartland

Feb 15, 2007: Heartland 3 – 0 Ocean Boys

July 23, 2006: Ocean Boys 1 – 0 Heartland

May 13, 2006: Heartland 1 – 0 Ocean Boys

3SC v Sharks

This is a typical dogfight in the lower half of the log. For Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), it has not been the kind of season it anticipated in its first in the top-flight after a three-year absence. The club would need to beat the Blue Angels in this tie in Ibadan to move further away from relegation. In spite of its 1 -1 draw at Zamfara United, the Oluyole Warriors still find itself in the relegation zone going into this game while Sharks is a point above the drop zone. 3SC lost the first meeting 0 – 2 but in 2006 won this same fixture by 2 – 1. The last time the Blue Angels picked the maximum points in Ibadan was on July 29, 2005 when it won by a lone goal and on current form guide, the visiting side has the edge. Sharks’ captain, Odinga Odinga, who turned 25 Thursday, would hope for a perfect belated birthday gift from his team-mates.

Prediction: 0 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dec 19, 2009: Sharks 2 – 0 3SC

June 30, 2006: 3SC 2 – 1 Sharks

April 21, 2006: Sharks 1 – 0 3SC

July 29, 2005: 3SC 0 – 1 Sharks

Feb 19, 2005: Sharks 1 – 1 3SC

Enyimba v Wolves

Five-time Premier League champion, Enyimba, lost the chance of toppling Kano Pillars at the top of the log on Wednesday when it lost at Heartland by a lone goal and its rival drew at Gateway Football Club. Now two points behind though with two games in hand, the Peoples Elephant would seek to return winning ways again. The Aba side has enjoyed an impressive form guide of four wins in six games and has a record of not losing any home match yet this term. Wolves, on the other hand, has lost the zest with which it started this season’s campaign. Expect Enyimba to complete the double over Wolves having won the reverse fixture by a lone goal just five days to Christmas in 2009.

Prediction: 2 – 1

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dec 20, 2009: Wolves 0 – 1 Enyimba

April 26, 2009: Wolves 2 – 0 Enyimba

Jan 7, 2009: Enyimba 2 – 1 Wolves

March 16, 2005: Enyimba 4 – 0 NPA

Aug 12, 2005: NPA 1 – 1 Enyimba

Lobi Stars v Gombe Utd

Four visits to the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi have all ended not just in defeat but without any goal to account for. That is the record of Gombe United at Lobi Stars. Though both sides have similar form guides, it is Lobi Stars that should nick this on paper. In the first meeting in December 2009, Gombe United won, but troubled Lobi Stars has a chance of adding to its 38-point haul so far this season.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dec 19, 2009: Gombe Utd 2 – 0 Lobi Stars

Feb 22, 2009: Lobi Stars 1 – 0 Gombe Utd

Oct 12, 2008: Gombe Utd 1 – 0 Lobi Stars

April 17, 2008: Gombe Utd 2 – 0 Lobi Stars

Nov 18, 2007: Lobi Stars 2 – 0 Gombe Utd

March 4, 2007: Lobi Stars 1 – 0 Gombe Utd

Jan 7, 2007: Gombe Utd 0 – 0 Lobi Stars

July 30, 2006: Gombe Utd 3 – 1 Lobi Stars

May 20, 2006: Lobi Stars 2 – 0 Gombe Utd

Aug 27, 2005: Gombe Utd 2 – 1 Lobi Stars