FC Taraba vs. Bayelsa United FC
In Jalingo, it’s the battle of the
league strugglers as bottom-placed hosts entertain the Southerners who are a
spot and two points above them on the table.
FC Taraba are lying bottom of the log
due to their wobbly home form. They have not been intimidating enough at home,
winning as many as they have lost (3) and scoring as many as they have conceded
(12). Their 14 points amassed at home is the fewest of any side in the top
division.
But Bayelsa have not fared better. They
have the poorest away record, having picked up just one point out of a possible
33.
A win for either side can’t even take
them out of relegation waters, much less a draw. So both teams should go for
the jugular of the other.
Dolphins FC vs. Sunshine Stars FC
League leaders Sunshine Stars travel to
Port Harcourt to keep a date with struggling Dolphins in what promises to be a
game full of fireworks.
It’s really a tale of two teams with
different mindset: the Akure Lords are gunning for the coveted title while the
Water Mammals are seeking for ways, any ways, to get out of relegation waters.
Dolphins’ problem lies in drawing too
many games at home. They have shared points with their visitors in more than
half of the games they have played in Port Harcourt. Now, every game at home
counts and who wouldn’t want to get one over the title favourites.
However, Stars are a different team at
home than when away. Sunshine are top of the log largely due to their perfect
home record (they have won 12 out of 12 matches) and not their patchy away form
which has earned them just one win and losing six.
This game can go either way.
El-Kanemi Warriors vs. Warri Wolves FC
El-Kanemi Warriors would be aiming to send Wolves
back to Warri wounded and empty-handed, in this classic North against South
tie.
Warriors are a team to be feared at
home. Only twice have they failed to secure the maximum points at home in 11
games.
It’s not mission impossible, though, as
Kelechi Emeteole leads Wolves back against the team he used to manage and will
see no reason why they can’t surprise their hosts.
Warri Wolves form on away grounds that have
seen them scored only 8 times, earning 7 points in the process, would have to
be improved upon for the heavens to fall.
Wikki Tourist FC vs. Abia Warriors FC
Tourists play host to the Easterners
who are a mere one point and two places below them knowing fully well that a
home loss will catapult their visitors above them on the league table.
A win is not beyond the hosts, however,
as Wikki are one of just nine teams who have not tasted defeat at home this
season. Nonetheless, they have had difficulty closing out games, having drawn 5
of the 11 matches they have hosted in Bauchi.
Abia Warriors have just one away win to
their name since the league started 24 matches ago and would treasure the share
of the points, no doubt.
Heartland FC vs. Kwara United FC
On paper, this is a walkover.
Eight-placed Heartland FC trade tackles with Kwara United who are another 8
places below them.
Only Sunshine Stars, Warri Wolves and
Kano Pillars have scored more goals than Heartland when playing at home. In
other words, the Owerri giants are a high-scoring side.
If Kwara United carry on with the form
that has seen them secure a total away points of 6 out of a possible 33, then they
should be ready to load goals in their bags back to Ilorin.
But football is not played on paper and
there is everything to play for as two straight losses can see the Afonja Warriors drawn into
a feverish relegation battle that may not end well.
Enyimba Int’l FC vs. Kano Pillars
Enyimba are clearly the team with the best away record in the league,
winning 4 and drawing 5 of 12 games. Had their home form been just as impeccable,
they would have been leading the pack by some margin by now.
Still, they are second on the table having lost the fewest
number of games in total. It would take some display for the defending
champions to upset the Aba Elephants.
Add that to the fact that Kano Pillars’ away form is nothing
to be excited about, having won just once away from home coupled with two miserly
draws.
Yet the confidence of the Kano giants can’t be any higher
than at the moment having just recently hammered Shooting Stars of Ibadan 4-1.
Enyimba will underrate Pillars at their own puerile.
All matches kick off at 4pm Nigerian time on Wednesday,
19th August, 2015.
