The Nigerian Premier League season is reaching its climax, and predicting the champion among the three contenders—Enugu Rangers, Lobi Stars, and Kano Pillards—requires almost clairvoyant abilities. The race for the title intensifies as the 37th and penultimate day of the championship unfolds today, with suspense lingering at both ends of the table.
The spotlight is on the clash between the top two contenders, Enugu Rangers and Lobi Stars. Enugu Rangers lead with 61 points, closely pursued by Lobi Stars with 60 points, enjoying the advantage of playing at home and having one game in hand. Lobi Stars, unbeaten in their last five matches, are in a favorable position to seize the lead. Meanwhile, Kano Pillards, just 2 points behind Lobi Stars and 3 behind Enugu Rangers, face Akwa United, currently ranked 6th. With a game in hand, Kano Pillards aim to keep their title hopes alive.
Despite their legendary status, Enyimba finds the title out of reach, currently sitting in 4th place. Their fixture against Jigawa Golden holds significance for other reasons. At the bottom of the table, two teams, Rising Stars and Ocean Boys, are already relegated, but they must complete their last matches this season. The fate of the other two relegation spots is undecided. Niger Tornadoes (46 points) and Jigawa Golden (45 points), currently in the relegation zone, have the opportunity to escape by overcoming Kaduna United (47 points) and ABS (46 points). Warri Wolves, with 49 points, are also in contention.
The schedule for this afternoon’s matches includes:
- Warri Wolves vs. Shooting Stars
- Lobi Stars vs. Enugu Rangers
- Sharks vs. Wikki Tourist
- Jigawa Golden vs. Enyimba
- Akwa United vs. Kano Pillard
- Niger Tornadoes vs. Dolphin Port Harcourt
- ABS vs. Kaduna United FC
- Ocean Boys FC vs. Rising Stars
- Heartland FC vs. Gombe United FC
Yesterday’s game between Sunshine Stars FC and Kwara United ended in a draw, adding to the unpredictable nature of the league’s final moments.
