The 2022/23 season of the Nigeria Premier Football league has had 6 matchdays gone by. Obviously, and unarguably, it has been scintillating and filled with surprises. Is it newly promoted Bendel Insurance maintaining an unbeaten record in 6 matches? Or Enugu Rangers having just one win in 6 games? Or Veteran Bala Nikyu’s Nasarawa United side losing 5 games in 6?
It has no doubt come alive. The beautiful football, the fascinating strikes, the off the pitch drama, even the ultimatums to underperforming managers.
A hundred and sixteen (116) goals have so far been scored in the league and Imade Osarhenkhoe of Bendel Insurance & Chukwuemeka Obioma of Enyimba top the scorers standings jointly with four (4) goals.
Match day seven (7) comes with interesting games. In Ibadan, it would be a fierce tactical battle between Coach Gbenga Ogunbote of Shooting Stars & Coach Monday Odigie of Bendel Insurance. Another interesting battle would see the suit battle between Coach Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo Stars & Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu of Plateau United in Ikenne.
Here’s a Preview of Match Day seven (7) games across the centers this weekend.
NASARAWA UNITED VS KWARA UNITED
There’s immense pressure on Bala Nikyu to deliver. The season has been turbulent so far for Nasarawa United, with just one point from a possible eighteen. For a team that finished sixth on the log last season, five points off Kwara United in fourth, not many would have seen this coming, but it’s where they have found themselves, and they really need to find good form, as relegation smells.
The first stanza of the season is nearing its end, and there are not many games, so this is one game Bala Nikyu would really strive to see his side win.
Kwara United themselves haven’t found it good either. For a team that had a good outing in the CAF Confederation Cup, their current state would not have been envisaged.
It took five match days to see Kwara United score a goal this season, and also get a win. The win against Akwa United on Match Day 5 eased the pressure that was on Azeez Muhammed.
That win has been the only win for the side this season, with three losses and two draws in the mix.
There’s pressure on both sides undoubtedly, though much more tilted towards Nasarawa United. There should probably not be so much expectations from this game. Nasarawa United have 3 goals in five games, and Kwara United have not scored in six away games.
REMO STARS VS PLATEAU UNITED
Samuel Anakwe’s 56th minute strike was the decider in this fixture last season as Gbenga Ogunbote who’s now Shootings’s coach edged Fidelis Ilechukwu in the battle.
Remo Stars will be looking to make it four wins in four at home when they welcome last season’s runners up at the Remo Stars stadium in Ikenne.They have scored five goals at home this season, dispatching El Kanemi Warriors, Shooting Stars & Enyimba.
For Plateau United, the test is sterner, with not such a good record away this season, though their last game away was a win against Nasarawa United, but it’s also their home ground, which is an adopted one for Nasarawa.
One thing that this game is expected to provide is goals, as both teams generally have scored hugely this season, just as they have conceded. But it would be a difficult task for Ilechukwu and his boys, and they would have to give that extra touch to break down Remo Stars unimpregnable defence at home as the Dan Ogunmodede Led side have kept clean sheets in all their home games this season.
Remo Stars’ Lanky forward, Andy Okpe is expected to sit this one out having picked up a red card in the team’s loss to Akwa United on Match day Six
The game which would be live on TV is expected to provide so much ecstasy and this is one that would have eyes really got fixed on it.
SHOOTING STARS VS BENDEL INSURANCE
Shooting Stars’ form in the League this season has been an attestation to the fact that pre season is pre season and Whatever happens during pre season really doesn’t count in the normal season.
The Oluyole Warriors were rampant in Pre Season, winning and scoring, but they have really not had it to the highest level in the league. They have lost two, won two and drawn two in six games, They have scored seven goals so far and conceded seven also.
Shooting have an unbeaten record of 20 games at home and they would find solace in that coming up against in-form Bendel Insurance, but they would really need to give a top notch performance, as Bendel Insurance have won all their away games this season, so as Shooting takes solace in their good record at home, Insurance would also relish the away record they have, and they would definitely be going all out to upset the fans in Ibadan when they square up tomorrow at the Lekan Salami Stadium.
Asides winning all their away games, Bendel Insurance have been a free scoring side, and have conceded just 1 goal all season, so Coach Gbenga Ogunbote knows the task ahead and how difficult Sunday’s encounter will be for his side.
FULL MATCH DAY SEVEN FIXTURES
GROUP A
SATURDAY (February 11)
GOMBE UNITED VS ENYIMBA
NASARAWA UNITED VS KWARA UNITED
SUNDAY (February 12)
REMO STARS VS PLATEAU UNITED
EL KANEMI WARRIORS VS AKWA UNITED
SHOOTING STARS VS BENDEL INSURANCE
GROUP B
SUNDAY (February 12)
ABIA WARRIORS VS WIKKI TOURISTS
ENUGU RANGERS VS DOMA UNITED
LOBI STARS VS DAKKADA FC
SUNSHINE STARS VS NIGER TORNADOES
WEDNESDAY (February 22)
BAYELSA UNITED VS RIVERS UNITED
