The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has postponed Week 11 games, which means we jump to Week 12 fixtures. There are some top clashes this weekend in a championship that witnessed only six per cent wins on the road.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Dolphins v Lobi Stars
It is going to be a tough trip for Lobi Stars, as they go up against leaders, Dolphins, who have the longest winning streak of three games. Last season in this same game, it was a 66th minute penalty from striker Emma Nwachi that broke Lobi’s resistance and the same man is still very much in the thick of things for Dolphins. No escape route for Lobi in this one.
Prediction: 3 – 1
Recent head-to-head meetings
February 20, 2010: Dolphins 1 – 0 Lobi Stars
February 14, 2010: Lobi Stars 2 – 1 Dolphins
May 13, 2007: Lobi Stars 2 – 0 Dolphins
February 3, 2007: Dolphins 0 – 0 Lobi Stars
August 14, 2005: Dolphins 1 – 0 Lobi Stars
March 9, 2005: Lobi Stars 2 – 1 Dolphins
September 5, 2004: Lobi Stars 1 – 0 Dolphins
May 19, 2004: Dolphins 3 – 1 Lobi Stars
July 20, 2003: Lobi Stars 2 – 1 Dolphins
March 2, 2003: Dolphins 3 – 0 Lobi Stars
Kano Pillars v Sharks
It has been a 100 per cent start for Pillars at home while the Blue Angels have picked just two points from 12 on the road. And at home, Salisu Yusuf’s men have scored 11 times and conceded just once. But Sharks will bank on the duo of Victor Ezeji and Bright Ejike to trouble a Kano Pillars’ defence anchored by Abdulwasiu Showemimo. It will be a close battle but Kano Pillars should nick this one.
Prediction: 1 – 0
Recent head-to-head meetings
March 14, 2010: Kano Pillars 2 – 1 Sharks
December 23, 2009: Sharks 2 – 0 Kano Pillars
March 22, 2009: Sharks 1 – 0 Kano Pillars
November 8, 2008: Kano Pillars 1 – 1 Sharks
March 5, 2008: Sharks 1 – 2 Kano Pillars
October 27, 2007: Kano Pillars 1 – 0 Sharks
August 20, 2005: Sharks 2 – 2 Kano Pillars
March 12, 2005: Kano Pillars 2 – 1 Sharks
June 7, 2003: Kano Pillars 1 – 1 Sharks
February 9, 2003: Sharks 2 – 1 Kano Pillars
Shooting Stars v Kaduna United
By the end of Week 12 games, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) could climb into the top four or five if they win against Kaduna United. Last term in this corresponding fixture, Shooting Stars ran over Kaduna United 3 – 1 and though Maurice Cooreman’s side secured their first away win at Zamfara United, this game hands them a big test. But Cooreman will bank on Jude Aneke’s return to compliment the good works of Siman Yusuf and playmaker, Sani Aruwa.
Prediction: 2 – 1
Recent head-to-head meetings
March 28, 2010: Kaduna United 3 – 0 Shooting Stars
November 18, 2009: Shooting Stars 3 – 1 Kaduna United
July 12, 2006: Kaduna United 1 – 0 Shooting Stars
April 29, 2006: Shooting Stars 2 – 1 Kaduna United
Bukola Babes v Kwara United
Bukola Babes are the only newcomers in the topflight this season that are out of the drop zone. Their home form reads: four wins, a draw and no loss. Festus Allen’s men are going to be tricky customers to Kwara United, whose best form on the road remains that 2 – 0 win at Jos University Teaching Hospital (Juth) in a Week 6 game. But a draw is written all over this first Premier League meeting between the two sides, which is also a derby.
Prediction: 0 – 0
Recent head-to-head meetings
None
Plateau United v Niger Tornadoes
It has not been the kind of start that Ndubuisi Nduka had hoped for Plateau United. Now they have relocated their home ground temporarily from Jos to Enugu due to security concerns in the central Nigerian city. It is going to be a tricky tie for both sides. The last meeting of this kind between these two was six seasons ago when Plateau United won by 2 – 1. A difficult call but a draw looks on the cards.
Prediction: 1 – 1
Recent head-to-head meetings
June 6. 2004: Niger Tornadoes 1- 0 Plateau United
March 3, 2004: Plateau United 2 – 1 Niger Tornadoes
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Zamfara United v Crown FC
This will be the first-ever topflight meeting between Zamfara United and Crown Football Club. Both teams are also in the drop zone and I fancy Zamfara United to take all points in spite of losing their first home game to Kaduna United last weekend.
Prediction: 2 – 0
Recent head-to-head meetings
None
Sunshine Stars v Heartland
This is one of the games that highlight Nigeria’s Super Sunday. Sunshine Stars will seek to continue their chase on leaders, Dolphins. In this same game last season, Heartland grabbed a point off Sunshine Stars. But Sunshine Stars are now a different team that combines route-one football and robust play to stretch their opponents. Heartland do not look like the side that can end Sunshine’s 100 per cent home record.
Prediction: 1 – 0
Recent head-to-head meetings
April 29, 2010: Heartland 3 – 0 Sunshine Stars
December 6, 2009: Sunshine Stars 0 – 0 Heartland
May 17, 2009: Heartland 1 – 0 Sunshine Stars
November 23, 2008: Sunshine Stars 0 – 1 Heartland
April 19, 2008: Sunshine Stars 1 – 0 Heartland
December 16, 2007: Heartland 1 – 0 Sunshine Stars
Ocean Boys v Juth FC
The Healers head to Yenagoa to face former champions, Ocean Boys, on the back of three draws and a loss on the road. Ocean Boys are just a point above relegation while Jos University Teaching Hospital (Juth) Football Club are 19th on the log. Juth’s chance of taking points off Ocean Boys looks remote.
Prediction: 1 – 0
Recent head-to-head meetings
May 10, 2009: Ocean Boys 1 – 0 Juth FC
January 21, 2009: Juth FC 2 – 0 Ocean Boys
March 16, 2008: Ocean Boys 1 – 0 Juth FC
November 10, 2007: Juth FC 1 – 0 Ocean Boys
Enugu Rangers v Gombe United
It has been a season of two stories for Rangers – five wins at home and five losses on the road. Gombe United will definitely find that home form of the Flying Antelopes difficult to handle. Six visits to Enugu in the past by Gombe have seen them taken just a point off Rangers. Alphonsus Dike’s men are primed for a sixth win of the campaign.
Prediction: 2 – 1
Recent head-to-head meetings
February 21, 2010: Enugu Rangers 2 – 0 Gombe United
February 13, 2010: Gombe United 0 – 0 Enugu Rangers
March 1, 2009: Gombe United 1 – 0 Enugu Rangers
October 19, 2008: Enugu Rangers 2 – 1 Gombe United
February 21, 2008: Gombe United 1 – 0 Enugu Rangers
October 21, 2007: Enugu Rangers 1 – 0 Gombe United
June 6, 2007: Gombe United 0 – 1 Enugu Rangers
July 31, 2005: Gombe United 0 – 0 Enugu Rangers
February 20, 2005: Enugu Rangers 0 – 0 Gombe United
August 15, 2004: Enugu Rangers 2 – 0 Gombe United
May 5, 2004: Gombe United 2 – 0 Enugu Rangers
August 13, 2003: Gombe United 1 – 1 Enugu Rangers
March 12, 2003: Enugu Rangers 2 – 1 Gombe United
Enyimba v Warri Wolves
This is another big Sunday clash and this time between titleholders and title aspirants. Last season, the champions, Enyimba, did the double over Warri Wolves with similar one-nil scorelines over both legs. The chances of Paul Aigbogun’s men taking a result back with them to Warri looks slim despite Enyimba’s off-form since the start of the season.
Prediction: 1 – 0
Recent head-to-head meetings
May 16, 2010: Enyimba 1 – 0 Warri Wolves
December 20, 2009: Warri Wolves 0 – 1 Enyimba
April 26, 2009: Warri Wolves 2 – 0 Enyimba
January 7, 2009 Enyimba 2 – 1 Warri Wolves
August 13, 2005: NPA (now Warri Wolves) 1 -1 Enyimba
March 16, 2005: Enyimba 4 – 0 NPA (now Warri Wolves)
July 4, 2004: Enyimba 2 – 0 NPA (now Warri Wolves)
17.03.2004: NPA (now Warri Wolves) 1 – 2 Enyimba
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