With a match to the end of the season in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) sponsored by Globacom, all eyes would be on Emem Eduok of Dolphins FC and Mfon Udoh of Enyimba International as their teams file out today in one of the Week 37 matches in Port Harcourt.
Both Eduok and Mfon are leading the goals chart with 20 goals apiece, having matched Jude Aneke’s record of 20 goals mark by a player in the league.
Aneke, then playing for Kaduna United, notched up 20 goals in the 2010/11 season to erase a previous record of 18 goals held by Super Eagles winger, Ahmed Musa, who starred then for Kano Pillars.
While Eduok scored his 20th goal in his team’s 1-3 loss to Bayelsa United in Benin City, Mfon struck twice for Enyimba in Omoku against Nembe City to take his tally to 20 goals and give Enyimba a 2-1 victory as well as rekindled the team’s seventh title aspirations.
Dolphins’ loss to Bayelsa United blew away its title dreams. It will now contend for continental glory through the Federation Cup finals which incidentally will be against Enyimba on Sunday, November 23, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
So today’s tie will be a dress rehearsal for the Federation Cup finals and also bring out the best in the two teams.
Dolphins is seventh on the log with 54 points from 36 matches, while Enyimba is second with 60 points from the same number of matches and two points adrift leaders, Kano Pillars.
In other matches lined up for today, third placed Warri Wolves with 59 points will host Gombe United, and a victory will keep alive Wolves’ title hopes.
Taraba United will also be at home for relegation-bound Crown FC, while Sunshine Stars will host Kaduna United.
Kano Pillars may compound the woes of Nembe City today and attempt to keep the title it won last season.
The club is on top of the table with 62 points, with a match to the end of the season. If there is any match that Pillars will not want to take chances with, it is this encounter.
In Umuahia, Abia Warriors will host Sharks FC who are having an outstanding match against Giwa FC on Wednesday, November 5, at the FIFA Goal Project of the National Stadium, Abuja.
Rangers International of Enugu will host Nasarawa United in another encounter that promises to be thrilling and entertaining, while Giwa FC will host Elkanemi Warriors at the FIFA Goal Project of the National Stadium in Abuja where the team has been banished to.
Heartland FC will travel to Uyo for Akwa United, while Bayelsa United will host Lobi Stars in the last match of the day.
Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the League Management Company (LMC), Salihu Abubakar, assured that there would be no outstanding games on hand before the games of the final match day on Sunday, November 9.
