#NPFL23 Preview: Double header in Jos

Match Day 3 of the 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season promises another round of scintillating football action this weekend with an anticipated double header in Jos and a crunchy North East derby in Maiduguri the pick of the encounters.

Nasarawa United and Plateau United are two of eleven teams in search of their first wins this season and both sides will be involved in the double header scheduled for the Zaria Road Stadium in Jos on Sunday.

Nasarawa United with zero point from their first two games will face an equally winless Akwa United in the day’s first game at 2pm before Stadium landlords Plateau United slug it out with Enyimba at 4pm.

Surprise group leaders Bendel Insurance have a trip to Ibadan to face Kwara United who are gradually coming around as the draw specialists. Having being held 0-0 in Ibadan by Gombe United on Match Day 1, the Harmony Warriors again battled stadium owners Shooting Stars to the same 0-0 score-line on Thursday. They now go in search of their first goal and win of the season against Monday Odigie’s Insurance on Sunday.

Group A’s final game for the weekend is a North Eastern derby which pits El-Kanemi Warriors against Gombe United in Maiduguri. El-Kanemi enjoyed a successful return of NPFL football to Maiduguri on Thursday, seeing off Nasarawa United and they have a chance to make it two home wins on the bounce against Gombe who have neither scored nor won after two matches.

A tantalising South West derby between Remo Stars and Shooting Stars which will see Gbenga Ogunbote return to Ikenne-Remo for the first time since he left the club in the summer has been moved to Wednesday.


Group B

Group’s surprise leaders Abia Warriors have a chance to make it three wins out of three when they host Lobi Stars in Umuahia on Sunday. Warriors head coach Erasmus Onuh has engineered a best possible start for the modest side but their quality will be put to a great test by Lobi who are coming off a win over Rangers in midweek.

The group’s other front runners Rivers United and Niger Tornadoes have a meeting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Tornadoes’ defence is yet to be breached this term but that will come under serious scrutiny when they face defending champions Rivers United who are fiery at home.

Rangers International will be looking for their first point of the season when Sunshine Stars come calling to Awka with Abdu Maikaba already feeling some early pressure as fans of the Flying Antelopes grow unhappy with their disastrous start.

At the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, two winless sides Bayelsa United and Wikki Tourists also come toe-to-toe looking for early-season redemption. While United have a point from their first home game, Wikki have none having lost their opening two matches.

Doma United are still grappling with life among the big boys and the newly promoted side will host Dakkada FC at the Pantami Stadium as they go in search of their first win of the season against Dakkada who have four points out of a possible six.

FULL MATCH DAY 3 FIXTURES (All Sunday, 4pm except otherwise stated)

Group A

Nasarawa United vs Akwa United – 2pm
Plateau United vs Enyimba FC
Kwara United vs Bendel Insurance
Remo Stars FC vs Shooting Stars – Wednesday
El-Kanemi Warriors vs Gombe United

Group B

Rangers Int’l vs Sunshine Stars
Abia Warriors vs Lobi Stars
Bayelsa United vs Wikki Tourists
Doma United vs Dakkada FC
Rivers United vs Niger Tornadoes – Tuesday