League leaders, Enugu Rangers, believe they are on course to win the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) title for the first time since they last took the crown in 2016.
Rangers are atop the table with 48 points after 27 matches, which is a point above second-placed Lobi Stars and three ahead of third and fourth-placed Remo Stars and Enyimba respectively.
The Flying Antelopes will take on Akure side, Sunshine Stars, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium as the league returns after the states’ FA Cup finals break.
Looking forward to another victory at the arena that has become a slaughter ground for the Fidelis Ilechukwu boys, Rangers’ defensive midfielder, Ejike Ugochukwu, said his dream is to join the league of Flying Antelopes’ greats, who crowned their stay in Enugu with the league title.
“I believe that we have all it takes to be crowned champions, but we are taking the matches one at a time as no two gamesare the same,” he said.
“We respect every team in the premiership, but we don’t fear any. With the discipline, determination, and hard work from everybody in our team, I am optimistic that we will end the season well,” he added.
The youngster, who joined Enugu Rangers from an amateur side this season, sees the game against Sunshine Stars as one ordained to aid his team’s passage to the title.
Elsewhere, Enyimba Coach, Finidi George, has assured his team’s fans that their game against Kano Pillars today will help them consolidate their position among the top sides in the league this season.
The defending champions will move to the second position if they defeat Pillars and Lobi Stars and Remo Stars fail to win their away games against Gombe United and Sporting Lagos.
Speaking on the midweek game yesterday in Aba, George said his boys are determined to return to the continent next season, adding that victory over Kano Pillars will aid them in achieving that goal.
“It is an important match against Kano Pillars; you all know that I have been away for some time, and it is good to be back for the club assignment .
“We will try to get the best result and anything short of winning is not good enough, so we will do everything possible to get the result in the match,” he said.
He assured Enyimba fans of an entertaining evening, saying: “I think we should expect good football. The players are in good form and hopefully, we will get the result against a good side like Kano Pillars.”
Other matches lined up for today are Sporting Lagos against Remo Stars, Gombe United versus Lobi Stars, Bayelsa United against Heartland, Akwa United versus Doma United, Shooting Stars against Kwara United and the game between Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes in Benin.
The Rivers United versus Katsina United game has been postponed by the NPFL to allow Rivers United to prepare for their CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal second-leg tie in Algiers against USM Alger.
