The previous match day produced two away wins in Ibadan and
Uyo. Already 34 goals have been scored in 18 matches so far in this season's
Glo Premier League. Interestingly FC Taraba and Rangers have accounted for the
highest number of goals scored by any team in the top flight this term, being
four goals each.
At the moment, only FC Taraba have maximum points after two
match days and they are gunning for a 100% start to the season as they are the
current league leaders.
Eight matches will take centre stage on match day 3 of the
Glo Premier League this weekend with the southeast derby between Gabros FC and
Rangers expected to draw interest.
Wikki Tourists vs Kwara United
This is the 20th meeting between the two teams in the
premier league era. There have been eight wins apiece with three ending in
draws in the previous 19 meetings. Kwara United are one of the nine teams with
an unbeaten start to the season while Wikki have won one and lost another when
they succumbed to two-nil defeat at Nasarawa United.
Wikki have a five-game run at home without conceding in the
top flight but they will be wary of Kwara United, who inflicted a 4-3 win on
them at their Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi home ground in October
2009.
Enyimba vs Bayelsa United
Surprisingly Enyimba have started the season with two draws
on the bounce. But Bayelsa United have started with a point from two matches.
Bayelsa United have not had joy in their last three trips to Aba where they
have failed to score losing all three games.
Last season, Bayelsa United were thrashed 4-0 in this same
fixture with Chimezie Amanfor, Mfon Udoh, Nzube Anaezemba and Emeka Nwanna
scoring the goals for Enyimba. The last time Enyimba failed to win in their
first two matches of the season in the premier league era was in 2008. Can
Bayelsa United force Enyimba to three games without a win?
FC Taraba vs Lobi Stars
Last season, FC Taraba put Lobi Stars to the sword in this
same fixture by 2-0. Abdulmalik Mohammed scored both goals for FC Taraba and
the striker is still very much around, and that means he will be a marked man
for this match.
Lobi Stars have started the campaign with two draws on the
spin including a 1-1 draw at home to Enyimba. The Makurdi-based club will be
looking to truncate FC Taraba's 100% start to the season.
Sharks vs Akwa United
The last time Sharks defeated Akwa United in a top flight
game was 2009 in a home fixture which they won 2-0. After that 2009 meeting,
Akwa United have gone on to win four of the last six meetings including a 2-1
win in Port harcourt last season.
Both teams have same form guide of one defeat and a draw.
Akwa United's first two games into the season was quite surprising as they drew
at Enyimba but lost at home to FC Taraba while Sharks drew at home to Sunshine
Stars and then followed up with a loss at Rangers. The two teams will look to
earn their first win of the season.
Gabros FC vs Rangers
This is the first of the southeast derby now known as the
Oriental Derby for the season. The last time the two sides met in the top
division was 10 years ago when Rangers won 2-0 at home. In the first game of
that season, both teams cancelled themselves out 1-1.
The Flying Antelopes hold the ace as they have only lost
just once in the premier league era to Gabros. The stage is set for a titanic
battle between two out of the five southeastern clubs.
Giwa FC vs Sunshine Stars
Both teams have enjoyed contrasting start to the season.
Giwa FC have not won a match yet after drawing 0-0 at home to Abia Warriors and
then suffering a 3-0 defeat at Warri Wolves. Sunshine Stars have started well
with a win at home and a draw on the road with Englishman Paul Ashworth stating
that his team are still work in progress.
Ocheme Edoh scored the only goal of this same match last
season to give Giwa FC the three points. Sunshine Stars will be keen to keep
their unbeaten run in this early part of the season but Giwa FC are ready to
grind out a first win of the campaign.
El-Kanemi Warriors vs Abia Warriors
It was almost about the same time last year when these two
teams met for the first time in the Glo Premier League. And El-Kanemi Warriors
secured a two-nil win with Abraham Audu and Benjamin Turba scoring for the
hosts. El-Kanemi started off the season with a win before losing 2-1 at Kwara
United.
Abia Warriors have played just a game so far this season
when they secured a 0-0 draw at Giwa FC. Now they test their top flight status
at El-Kanemi this weekend.
Heartland vs Nasarawa United
One game. One win. That is how Heartland have started their
season. That win came at the ground of one of their traditional rivals,
Shooting Stars, last weekend when Jimoh Oni came off the bench to score the
winner after they were level-pegging at 1-1 with the Ibadan-based club.
Interestingly, Nasarawa United have been toughies for
Heartland to crack in their last three league matches in which the Owerri-based
club have only picked one point from. Last season, Nasarawa United put up a
sturdy performance in this same fixture to claim a point. It is going to be
interesting to see how this game pans out between the two teams on Sunday.
Culled from NPFL.ng
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