Following a very good win against MFM FC to extend their unbeaten streak in the NPFL, Kano Pillars travel to Makurdi for the biggest game of the season so far: Sai Masu Gida lost their first meeting 1-0 2019 season before the Covid19 outbreak which forced the league to be suspended.
Sunday encounter will witness a lot of firepower for both teams as they are both title chasers, the visitors are sitting comfortably in the third position of the standings with 20 points from 10 games, a point behind surprise leaders Kwara United.
In contrast, the Afonja Warriors faced an intimidating trip to the coal city to take on 2016 champions Rangers Internationals, with a surprise 3-0 thrashing of Dakkada FC in Ilorin last weekend, it shows that Kwara United are pulling strings without respect of any team this season.
Kano Pillars have recorded six-win across the board with two-loss and two draws across the board, while the host Lobi Stars were beaten 2-0 in their last match at the Okigwe Township in the hand of heartland who now sit 12th position on the standings.
Kano Pillars manager Emmanuel Soccocia is beginning to prove himself and winning one of the most followed teams in Nigeria, and it’s hard to get any bigger than this one. Given their away record since the beginning of the season, but must get a result against the pride of Benue this season especially since there’s a good chance that some of the key players are not injured and the return right back Jibrin Mustapha will add more bite from the right flank.
The league form is amazing, and Kano Pillars are slightly healthier coming into this one, but they are yet to win a truly big game this season. In fact, they haven’t even played well in a truly big game. If they don’t on Tuesday and get beaten badly, it’s really hard to see them pulling off another 1-0 in 2019/20 NPFL season.
Lobi Stars players look dejected after conceding 2-0 to Heartland on Saint Valentine’s day inside the Okigwe Township Stadium last weekend.
The scale of the pride of Benue’s demise over recent weeks is beginning to be laid bare in the NPFL standings, where the 2018 Nigeria’s CAF Champions League representative currently sit in the eleventh with 13 points and now 8 points adrift of joint leaders Kwara United and Enyimba FC. The Pride of Benue faithful (who will be monitoring the encounter via the NPFL TV app and the club social media platforms) will be praying that a confidence-boosting win against Kano Pillars will act as a catalyst for change in the NPFL campaign this season.
Prior to making the trip to the Okigwe Township Stadium to face Heartland, Lobi Stars had taken to the pitch 9 times in the current campaign, winning 3 times, drawing 4 times and losing thrice.
The encouraging news ahead of this game is that those three defeats came away from home, where Lobi Stars have now picked up 4 point from four games since the turn of the year.
March 2016 was the last time they enjoyed a longer unbeaten streak away from home in the top flight, while only the league’s top three have picked up more points on their travels throughout 2020-21 so far.
The Pride of Benue faithful (who will be monitoring the encounter via the NPFL TV app and the club social media platforms) will be praying that a confidence-boosting win against Kano Pillars will act as a catalyst for change in the NPFL campaign this season.
Lobi Stars will be relying on their acquisition Okoronkwo who joined the team during the offseason transfer window, with an attacker in this type of goalscoring form, the sky really should be the limit for Lobi Stars. A win against Kano Pillars will see them put two foot in the top ten of the table for the first time in five seasons, and this time they may well be a greater threat to sides than they have been in any of those years.
Let’s dance.
Goal Overall
Lobi Stars Kano Pillars played so far 24 matches.
Lobi Stars won 8 direct matches. Kano Pillars won 9 matches. 7 matches ended in a draw. On average in direct matches both teams scored a 2.17 goals per Match.
Lobi Stars in actual season average scored 0.90 goals per match. In 2 (40.00%) matches played at home was total goals (team and opponent) Over 1.5 goals. In 2 (40.00%) matches in season 2021 played at home was total goals (team and opponent) Over 2.5 goals.
Kano Pillars average scored 1.10 goals per match in season 2021. In 3 (60.00%) matches played away was total goals (team and opponent) Over 1.5 goals. In 1 (20.00%) matches played away team was total goals (team and opponent) Over 2.5 goals.
Last matches Lobi Stars
Heartland Owerri 2-0 Lobi Stars
Lobi Stars 0-0 Wikki Tourist
Kwara United 2-1 Lobi Stars
Lobi Stars 0-0 Abia Warriors
Enugu Rangers 0-0 Lobi Stars
Lobi Stars 2-1 Dakkada FC
Sunshine Stars 2-2 Lobi Stars
Lobi Stars 3-0 Warri Wolves FC
Last matches Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 1-0 MFM FC
Ifeanyi Ubah United 0-1 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 2-0 Jigawa Golden Stars
Akwa United 1-0 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 1-0 Rivers United FC
Enyimba 2-1 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 1-0 Plateau United
Nasarawa United 1-1 Kano Pillars
Previous Matches
Lobi Stars 2-2 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 0-1Lobi Stars
Lobi Stars 0-1Kano Pillars
Lobi Stars 1-0 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 2-1 Lobi Stars
Lobi Stars 1-0 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 3-0 Lobi Stars
Lobi Stars 2-2 Kano Pillars
Team News
Lobi Stars Emmanuel Onuwa and goalkeeper Aliko Mustapha are expected to be on the line up this Sunday as they face Kano Pillars at home.
Report reaching Felele247.com.ng few players are on the injury list, Okonrokwo is also expected to conitunue his run of form this season.
Kano Pillars right wing back Jibrin Mustapha might make his second start for the Sai Masu Gida since his return from injury.
Also the captain Rabiu Ali will also make the lineup as his expected to cause damage from the midfield.
Ghanian international goalkeeper Idrisu Ibrahim will continue in goal for the Sai Masu Gida with Jibrin Mustapha attacking from the right flank
Possible Lobi Stars Lineup
Emmanuel Daniel; Buruku John; Ebube Duru, Osimaga Duke; Moses Tsehuan; Zenke Thomas; Ossy Martins; Douglas Achiv; Alex Aghaowa; Chinonso Okonkwo
Kano Pillars Possible Lineup:
Idrissu Ibrahim; Victor Dennis; Fahad Usman; Jibrin Mustapha; Ndasi Denis Kadiang; Auwalu Ali Malam; Bright Silas; Nwagua Nyima; Yusuf Bala Maigoro; Rabiu Ali; Abbas Rabiu
