NPFL MD7 Previews: Shooting Stars and Bendel Insurance rekindle rivalry in Ibadan

By Wale Mustapha

Shooting Stars and Bendel Insurance will square up at the Lekan Salami Stadium as the headline encounter in the  matchday seven of the Nigeria Premier Football League get underway across ten centres, beginning on Saturday.

3SC and Insurance duel remains the pick of the fixtures from both groups as both teams rekindle their agelong rivalries in Nigerian football, including the domestic league and Federation Cup games.

The last meetings between the two traditional clubs been at the 2022 Nigeria National League Super 8 playoffs, with the Oluyole Warriors prevailing over the Benin Arsenals 3-2 at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.

Monday Odigie led Insurance have been in fine form since they returned to apex league and have led the Group A pack for six weeks after played all games without defeat, with five wins and a draw.

Before Shooting-Insurance duel on Sunday, Nasarawa United and Kwara United will clash in a North Central derby  in Jos while Gombe United are entertaining Enyimba in Gombe on Saturday.

Nasarawa and Kwara have been going through rough patches, with the Solid Miners earning just a point from six matches and will be seeking to turn their season around with the visit of Ilorin based outfit.

For the Harmony Boys, the encounter offers another opportunity to gain a decent result in Jos, having lost to Plateau United at the same venue.

In Gombe, Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s side will head into their match with much confidence after holding Insurance to a draw in Benin last week as the Savannah Scorpions square up against third-placed Enyimba.

Elsewhere, Remo Stars and Plateau United will lock horns as fans will expect a tasty encounter with both teams with identical style of play in the test of the most technical side in Ikenne on Sunday.

Elkanemi Warriors will play host Akwa United at the Maiduguri Township Stadium in a Group A encounter. The Desert Scorpions will be playing the match without their fans after the sanctions imposed on them by the Interim Management Committee for an assault on a referee against Insurance.

On side of Akwa, the Promise Keepers will seek to take advantage of that to inflict more woes on their hosts who are languishing in ninth position after garnering just four points from six games.

In Group B, leaders Lobi Stars will welcome Dakkada at the Aper Aku Stadium on Sunday. The Markudi Bombers will for first time play in front of their home fans after the IMC overturned the rejection of the venue.

Coach Mohammed Baba-Ganaru led side will bid to consolidate on their good run of form, with a victorious welcome for their fans back, while Dakkada will look to ruin the party for the hosts in a quest to end their poor run of form.

In Akure, Sunshine Stars will be eyeing a second consecutive win at home against Niger Tornadoes on Sunday.

After defeating Bayelsa United last time out, Edith Agoye’s side will aim to avoid another slip at home but must not underestimate the Ikon Allah boys, who are keen on getting a decent result at the Akure Township Stadium.

On their last visit, Tornadoes left with a point and they will be hoping for a repeat of last season feat or even better.

At Enyimba Stadium, Abia Warriors will battle Wikki Tourist as Erasmus Onuh seek to maintain their fine form to the ongoing abridged league campaign. The Umuahia based club will be hoping to shut all Tourists attraction centers against Wikki who will be hugely motivated, seeing the venue as a neural ground to express themselves better.

In Akwa, Rangers International and Doma United will face off in a mid-table teams showdown. While Rangers eye bouncing back to winning ways following their disappointing away loss to Wikki, Doma will be coming with full of confidence after they saw off champions Rivers United last time out.

Abdu Maikaba’s fate on retaining his job as Rangers’ coach is hanging in the balance and only a win for the Flying Antelopes while Doma will sim to continue their giant killing mode in the current campaign at Rangers.

While on Wednesday, Bayelsa United will be taking on Rivers United in Yenagoa as the Nigeria champions will be seek a match straight from contiengagement in Brazzaville for their CAF Confederations Cup duel against Diables Noirs.

Bayelsa, who recently suffered a three-point will hope to get their season back on track with the visit of the Cup holders and redeem themselves after a disappointing start to their topfight return.