NPFL24: Lobi Stars Is Work In Progress - Agagbe

NPFL24: Lobi Stars Is Work In Progress - Agagbe

Precious Oham

Head Coach of Lobi Stars of Makurdi, Eugene Agagbe has described his side's performance in the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League as a work in progress, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

The Pride of Benue, who currently tops the league table will trade tackles with title holders, Enyimba in a Matchday 9 fixture billed for the Enyimba Int'l Stadium, Aba on Sunday. 

Agagbe has charged his side to ignore the Coach Finidi George-led side's current form, who are placed in 17th position on the NPFL table, and remain focused as they file out on the pitch.

Lobi Stars will come into the encounter with motivation after beating Sporting Lagos 1-0 at the Lafia City Stadium in their last Premier League match.  

Both teams will be meeting in a regular season for the first time since the 2021/2022 season. Lobi Stars defeated Enyimba 1-0 in Makurdi while Enyimba won the reverse fixture in Aba, 2-1.

Both sides met again last season, this time, it was in the NPFL Championship playoff in Lagos after the Abridged League format was adopted by the football authorities. Both teams were paired differently in a split group of two. 

In the playoff in Lagos, Enyimba pipped the Pride of Benue 1-0 and eventually emerged as the League champions.  

Meanwhile, Moses Tsehuan, and Sunday Chinedu, who scored the winner against Sporting Lagos in Lafia and was eventually voted Man of the Match are the players to watch out for Lobi Stars.

The duo of Orji Kalu and Monday Akile are all vast in experience and would wish to continue to protect the goalpost come Sunday for the 'Yes Father Boys.'

Samuel Tiza and Danbani Alao have combined to score six goals and they will be hoping to wear their best boot on Sunday to continue their formidable pairing up front to achieve the desired goal. 

Enyimba will be without their combative midfielder, Daniel Daga due to suspension. However, the gaffer will turn to former Lobi Stars hitman Joseph Atule, Ini Edem, Mbaoma Chijioke, Gabriel Innocent, and Pascal Eze to curtail their visitors.

The 'Yes Father Boys' are without right-back, John Lazarus and Solomon Kwambe who are down with injuries. For Lazarus, he has missed consecutive games after picking up a knock. His replacement; Kwambe also had a knock in Lobi Stars' win against Sporting match in Lafia.