By Kayode John
Table toppers Remo Stars will hope to maintain their perfect start to the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season when they face Kwara United in a Matchday 5 clash at the Kwara State Stadium on Sunday.
Remo Stars have won all their four league matches so far and they did not concede a goal until on matchday 4 last weekend, which was in their 2-1 victory over champions Rangers in Ikenne.
This fixture on the road against the Afonja Warriors will provude a tough test for Remo Stars, with two of their four wins so far away from homr– at Abia Warriors and Kano Pillars.
Second-placed Rivers United will hope to maintain their unbeaten run when they host struggling Akwa United in a South-South derby at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
Rivers United, Remo Stars, Niger Tornadoes and El-Kanemi Warriors are the teams yet to taste defeat in the league this term. Coach Finidi George and team continued their impressive start to the campaign with a 2-0 victory over Enyimba last weekend.
Heartland will hope to turn the table on their season by getting their first win when they host Tornadoes at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.
Former Super Eagles star Emmanuel Amuneke has struggled to meet the expectations of those who have followed the club very keenly since his appointment as coach, with Heartland yet to win this season and languishing in 17th place in the table.
Like Amuneke, former Flying Eagles coach Ladan Bosso is also having a difficult time at Bayelsa United, with the club 16th in the NPFL table after two draws and two losses so far.
They travel to Nasarawa United on Sunday, and they would need to grind harder than before to end their winless run.
Enyimba will hope to make it four wins in five matches this season when they host Katsina United at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba. The Peoples Elephant moved to the third spot on Wednesday, following their 1-0 victory over Akwa United in their outstanding game.
Also, Enugu Rangers would seek to move to within the top four with a win in their Oriental Derby clash against Abia Warriors on Sunday.
The champions are currently seventh in the table after their slim 1-0 win over Bayelsa United in a rescheduled game on Thursday. The Flying Antelopes have recorded two wins, a draw and a defeat so far this term.
Ikorodu City have a daunting task in Jos where they will take on Plateau United. The newcomers have suffered three losses and picked only one point in four matches so far, and are also yet to win a game. Their hosts Plateau United Arab are 10th and would hope to move further up the table with a win.
Kano Pillars will face Sunshine Stars, who are coming on the back of four points in the last two matches. The Akure-based side drew at home against Abia Warriors in their penultimate league game and defeated Akwa United 2-1 in Uyo last weekend. Their hosts have lost their last two matches against Remo Stars and Abia Warriors.
Fixtures
Kwara United vs Remo Stars
Nasarawa United vs Bayelsa United
Enyimba vs Katsina United
Heartland vs Niger Tornadoes
Kano Pillars vs Sunshine Stars
Plateau United vs Ikorodu City
Rangers vs Abia Warriors
Rivers United vs Akwa United
