The often-feisty North West derby between Kano Pillars and Katsina United is the pick among nine NPFL Match Day 2 encounters billed to hold at different venues across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria this weekend.
Neighbours Pillars and United have always literally fought out their engagements both on the pitch and off it; but with games holding without fans due to Covid-19 protocol, a more peaceful encounter seems guaranteed when both sides meet at another North Western state of Kaduna on Sunday.
Both teams got decent results on the opening day last weekend with Pillars earning a 1-1 draw at Adamawa United in Gombe while Katsina United left it late to beat Heartland 3-2. United know they must show the same character should they want anything against a team they have only beaten once in their last five league meetings.
The game will be LIVE on NTA and NPFL.tv.
Two teams who failed to score on the opening Match Day will go toe-to-toe at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu on Sunday when Rangers International welcome Akwa United to a locked Cathedral. United head coach Kennedy Boboye was in Port Harcourt on Wednesday to spy on the Flying Antelopes in their 0-1 loss to Rivers United.
Akwa United have had the upper hand in this fixture in recent years and they were the only team that defeated Rangers at home in the league under incumbent coach Salisu Yusuf last term. Yusuf told www.npfl.ng that his side will correct their mistakes from the loss to Rivers on Sunday..
“It is the first game and I think, generally we do have our minuses in the first half and we go on to work on it in the second game.
“We’re just in for the season. Our mission and objective is to win the league and we will continue in every game we play to give our best to see that at the end we achieve that,” says the former Super Eagles coach.
Heartland FC will host Nasarawa United on their return to traditional home ground Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri after two seasons at the Okigwe Stadium. Fidelis Ilechukwu’s Naze Millionaires will be hoping to get their first points of the season after inexplicably losing 2-3 at Katsina United on Monday.
Forward John-Paul Chinedu who scored Warri Wolves’ only goal against MFM last weekend will come up against his former side Adamawa United when the Yola-based side visit Ozoro, Delta state where Wolves will play their home matches this season.
Dakkada FC will play at the Nest of Champions in consecutive games as they play host to Jigawa Golden Stars while Sunshine Stars who lost at Jigawa last weekend will entertain FC Ifeanyiubah at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure on Sunday.
Sunday’s other game will see MFM FC travel to Makurdi to face Lobi Stars at the Aper Aku Stadium. MFM legend Chukwuka Onuwa will be lining out against his former club as Kabiru Dogo’s side aim for their first points of the season.
On Tuesday, the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi will play host to a high profile contest between big spenders Wikki Tourists and the faltering Plateau United of Jos. The game, to be broadcast LIVE will be a clash between two neighbours, coached by two men that have won domestic titles in the past three years; Usman Abd’Allah of Wikki and Abdu Maikaba of Plateau United.
The final game for the weekend between league leaders Kwara United and Enyimba has been postponed to the 20th of January, 2021.
Match Day 2
Saturday’s Result:
Abia Warriors 0-1 Rivers United
Sunday’s Fixtures
Kano Pillars vs Katsina United
Rangers vs Akwa United
Abia Warriors vs Rivers United
Heartland vs Nasarawa United
Sunshine Stars vs FC Ifeanyiubah
Dakkada FC vs Jigawa Golden Stars
Warri Wolves vs Adamawa United
Wikki Tourists vs Plateau United
Lobi Stars vs MFM
