Hostility returns on Sunday as the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL) enters Matchday 5 on Sunday.
All the 20 clubs had a three days interval before another Matchday following the mid-week games played on Wednesday.
After Matchday 4, only Adamawa United and Abia Warriors are still the teams that is yet to win a single game this season.
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With ten matches to be played in ten cities across Nigeria, NPFL lovers can watch the games via the NPFL.TV mobile app.
However, with ten games, it will be difficult to know the one to follow, so Africatopsports.com bring to you five games you should not miss.
Enyimba FC Vs Kano Pillars
It will be a clash of the titans when Enyimba wiL host Kano Pillars at the Aba Township Stadium with eyes on the three points.
Enyimba on Wednesday were stunned by Heartland who won 2-0 in Owerri to claim their first win of the season.
Fatai Osho and his lads will want to throw in all their arsenals and bounce back to winning ways.
Form Guide
Kano Pillars are yet to lost a single game this season.
They have one of the best away record so far, drawing all their two away games.
For Enyimba, the 2-0 loss against Heartland in Wednesday’s Oriental derby was their first loss in all competitions after their exit from the CAF Champions League.
They won their first home game and will want to maintain that record when they host Pillars.
Head-To-Head
Enyimba have an edge over Kano Pillars in terms of their head to head meeting.
The People’s Elephant have played 23 matches with the Mai Su Gida and have won 10 of the ties.
Kano Pillars won 9 matches while 4 of their previous ties ended in a draw.
The last time Kano Pillars visited Aba was 30 July 2017 and they lost 1-0.
On average in direct matches both teams scored 2.43 goals per match.
Prediction:
Enyimba 2-1 Kano Pillars
Both teams definitely going to be a thorn on each others flesh but the game will go the ways of the host.
Rivers United Vs Heartland FC
When Rivers United host Heartland, it will be a tie between the wounded and the escapee.
Rivers United saw their unbeaten run in all competition halted in the 1-0 loss against Wikki Tourists In Matchday 4.
For Heartland, there is no way to describe the vibe radiating in thr team and the ‘it’s possible faith’ after they defeated Enyimba to claim their first win.
Fidelis Ilechukwu and his lads will be riding on that morale when they take on Stanley Eguma’s Rivers United.
Form Guide
Rivers United current form makes them one of thr most interesting team to watch this season.
The level of their fitness and fluidity have seen them win their first three games and narrowly lost on Matchday 4.
On the other side, Heartland started the season a very poor not losing three consecutive games both home and away.
Having not won away from home makes their journey to Port Harcourt a herculean task.
Head-To-Head
There is only a slight difference in terms of who can claim bragging right between both teams.
Both teams have met 17 times so far with Rivers United winning 8 while Heartland won 6 and 3 games ended in a draw.
The last time Heartland visited the Adokiye Amasiemeka stadium, it ended 1-1.
Heartland have never won any game in Port Harcourt against Rivers United.
On average in direct matches both teams scored a 1.88 goals per match.
Prediction
Rivers United 1-0 Heartland FC
Rivers United is expected to bounce back to winning ways but it will not be a mere walk over as they will face resilience from Heartland.
FC IfeanyiUbah Vs Abia Warriors
Another Oriental derby is before us again on Matchday 5 after we witnessed two on Matchday 4.
FC IfeanyiUbah after two consecutive loses will host winless Abia Warriors at Nnewi.
This encounter will be one of the most interesting game on Sunday with the three points at for both teams who badly need it.
Abia Warriors management gave head coach Imama Amakapabo a three games win ultimatum or face sack.
His ultimatum starts with the trip to Nnewi and Amakapabo and his lads have been condemned to win the game.
Form Guide
FC IfeanyiUbah kicked off the season on a bright note but suddenly, they lost the finesse.
They lost back to back and the only way to remedy matters is to return to winning ways.
For Abia Warriors, or seems they are still basking in the euphoria of the yuletide as they are dashing out the points to opponent easily.
Their loss to Jigawa Golden Stars is one that was least expected to happen by the club management.
Head-To-Head
History favours Abia Warriors to get their first win of the season against their neighbour.
Both teams have faced each other in 10 previous games with Abia Warriors claiming victory 4 times.
Games between both teams have ended in a draw in 6 matches.
Nnewi is more like home to Abia Warriors having not lost any game there.
In 2019 Abia Warriors snatched a 2-1 win in Nnewi.
On average in direct marches both team scored a 2.00 goals per match.
Prediction:
FC IfeanyiUbah 1-2 Abia Warriors.
A game of this magnitude , both side will be playing cautiously.
However, we except Abia Warriors to win based on their previous away record against their host.
MFM FC Vs Enugu Rangers
Rangers three games run is at stake when they take on MFM FC at the Agege Stadium.
Both teams ties have produced much draws as win in Lagos or Enugu.
The ‘Soccer Temple’ as the Agege Stadium is known has been a tough ground for opponents to pick a win.
With Enugu Rangers cruising in three consecutive win both home and away, they have to be wary of Agege.
Form Guide
Both teams head to the game drawing from a high spirited morale from their last league game.
MFM held Dakkada FC to a 1-1 draw in Uyo while Rangers defeated FC IfeanyiUbah 2-1 in Enugu.
Head-To-Head
MFM FC and Enugi Rangers have played 9 matches with each winning 3 apiece while 3 ended in a draw.
The last time Rangers visited the Soccer Temple was March 8 2020 before the NPFL was suspended and the game ended goalless.
Prediction
MFM FC 1-1 Enugu Rangers
There are scarcity of goals when both teams lock horns.
Lobi Stars Vs Dakkada FC
2018 champions Lobi Stars will turn their focus to getting the maximum three points in Markudi.
But it will not be an easy task against a Dakkada FC side that have the pedigree to stun any team.
Kabiru Dogo and his lads flufed their chances of picking their first away win in the mid-week 2-2 draw against Sunshine Stars in Akure.
Form Guide
Dakkada FC and Lobi Stars have been able to gather 4 points from their last two games.
Lobi Stars defeated Warri Wolves 3-0 in Makurdi in Matchday 3 before playing 2-3 against Sunshine Stars.
Dakkada stunned FC IfeanyiUbah at Nnewi but we’re held to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday.
Head -To-Head
Both teams have met just once and it ended goalless.
On average in direct matches both teams have failed to score.
Prediction:
Lobi Stars 2-0 Dakkada FC
Other Matchday 5 Fixtures
Plateau United Vs Adamawa United
Nasarawa United Vs Katsina United
Akwa United Vs Wikki Tourists
Jigawa G.S Vs Kwara United
Sunshine Stars Vs Warri Wolves
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