NPFL Final Day Previews: Enyimba, Akwa United, Remo Stars in late Super 6 slot chase

By Wale Mustapha

The curtain will be drawn on the 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL regular season on Sunday after the conclusion of outstanding games involving Rivers United on Thursday.

Before the final day fixtures, three relegated teams were already confirmed with Nasarawa United, Dakkada, and El-Kanemi Warriors as Wikki Tourists and Bayelsa United will find their topflight status this weekend.

While Nasarawa United ended their 11 years in the Nigerian topflight with the defeat to Kwara United will be joined by Elkanemi and Dakkada experience life at the second tier league next season.

However, there are still much to play for in the quest to pick slots for the Super Six playoffs in both groups, with only three teams; Insurance FC, Rivers United and Lobi Stars sealed their places in the title playoffs in Lagos next month.

In Group A, the trio of Enyimba FC, Remo Stars and Akwa United will be jostling for the two remaining spots.

While Remo Stars look favoured to pick one of the slots as they will be playing host to Kwara United, Enyimba and Akwa United will face an uphill task with tricky away ties to Shooting Stars and Gombe United.

A victory for either Enyimba or Akwa in Ibadan and Gombe could have a telling effect on how the table will look like and who will pick the last ticket in Group A.

Bendel Insurance FC have had an excellent season as they remained the only side without defeat in 17 games but the Benin Arsenals will aim to end the campaign preserving the feat against already relegated Nasarawa United in Jos.

The encounter between Elkanemi Warriors and Plateau United in Maiduguri will be a dead rubber game as both sides will want to play for pride to end the season on a winning note.

In Akure, Sunshine Stars will be eager to pick the last slot for the Super Six against already relegated Dakkada, while Doma United will hope to get a decent result at Abia Warriors to pip the Owena Whales to the top three places.

Elsewhere, already qualified Lobi Stars will be taking on already relegated Wikki Tourists while Rivers United will head to Awka to face Enugu Rangers and Bayelsa United’s showdown with Niger Tornadoes in Yenagoa.

Irrespective of how the games turn out to be, the 2022/2023 abridged season will go down as one of the most competitive and interesting seasons with much talking points too reflect on.

Group A:

Remo Stars vs Kwara United

Gombe United vs Akwa United

Shooting Stars vs Enyimba FC

Elkanemi Warriors vs Plateau United

Nasarawa United vs Insurance FC

Group B:

Abia Warriors vs Doma United

Bayelsa United vs Niger Tornadoes

Rangers Int’l vs Rivers United

Lobi Stars vs Wikki Tourists

Sunshine Stars vs Dakkada FC