NPFL: Continental Battles, Struggles To Beat The Drop Characterise The Final Match Day

NPFL: Continental Battles, Struggles To Beat The Drop Characterise The Final Match Day By Omolagba Oluwayemi Arguably one of the best NPFL season in recent years, the 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League season is set for a mouthwatering finish, BSNSports.com.ng reports. With winner already determined last weekend (Akwa United), the battle for the continent and the drop enters the final match day. For the continental battle, from second on the log down to the team occupying the sixth place, everyone of them still stand a chance of picking a continental ticket while in the drop zone any two of the teams occupying from 13th to 18th mathematically can find themselves joining FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Adamawa United who are already relegated. Continental Race 2- Nasarawa United 65pts 3- Kano Pillars 64pts 4- Rivers Utd 63pts 5- Enyimba FC 63pts 6- Kwara Utd 62pts Relegation Battle 13- Heartland 45pts 14- Abia Warriors 44pts 15- Jigawa GS 43pts 16- Wikki Tourist 42pts 17- Sunshine Stars 42pts 18- Warri Wolves 41pts Abia Warriors vs Nasarawa United: In their quest to pick up at least a CAF Confederation Cup ticket, Nasarawa United must avoid a defeat against Abia Warriors in their last game. Their superior goal difference makes it look impossible for them not to pick a continental ticket even if their contemporaries gets to win and they draw but with Abia Warriors, their opponent in the game also still within the relegation zone, it'll be a crunchy encounter and result might go either way. Heartland FC vs Kano Pillars: A tricky it for 3rd place Kano Pillars. Pillars are set to visit Heartland who mathematically can still relegate. It'll be a tough task for the Sai Masu Gida boys but should they pick a win, they will automatically pick a continental ticket but should they fail to win, they will have to pray results from other games go their way. Sunshine Stars vs Rivers United: Rivers United will have their hands full when they visit relegation threatened Sunshine Stars in Akure. An interesting tie its going to be at the Akure Township Stadium as both teams need an outright win to either qualify for the continent or survive the drop. Although a win for Rivers does not determine their qualification as they will need teams above them to either draw or lose, and as for Sunshine Stars, they will need either of Wikki Tourist or Jigawa Golden Stars to drop points in their games for them to escape relegation that is after they must have beaten Rivers United. Dakkada FC vs Enyimba: Enyimba have a relatively easy fixture of the team contesting for a place on the continent next week season. The People's Elephant will visit Dakkada FC who practically have nothing to play for going into the final match day. Dakkada FC may decide to field in a weak side for the match which will be a good advantage for Enyimba but having seen them bottled a host of opportunities this season, one just might not tell the kind of Enyimba that will turn up for the game. Kwara United vs Kastina United: Kwara United might just sneaked into the top three after today's game as they have the easiest fixtures teams vying for a continental slot and unlike Enyimba who is away, they will be at home where they've been massive this season. The Harmony Boys although will have to pray the teams above them gets to lose while they win if they are to relish their dream of going continental. MFM FC vs Jigawa Golden Stars: A visit to Lagos is not a good one for Jigawa Golden Stars at the moment when things look rough at the bottom of the log where they belong. Currently a point above the relegation zone, Jigawa Golden Stars will be save if they get a win in Lagos, but a draw or defeat for them will mean they'll have to depend on other results going their way to avoid the drop. Wikki Tourist vs Adamawa United: It looks like Wikki will be safe at the end of the day as they visitors, Adamawa United have been relegated. It's definitely going to be an easy one for them against the league's whipping boys. FC Ifeanyi Ubah vs Warri Wolves: Warri Wolves will need to play their heart out today against FC Ifeanyi Ubah whose place in the lower division is confirmed already. They will also need other teams above them to falter if they're to stand a chance of remaining in the NPFL for next season. It's really going to be a bomb filled with a lot of fireworks on this last day but if you ask me where the pendulums will swing, I can only tell you two teams will join FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Adamawa United in the drop and two also will join Akwa United on the continent. Match Day 38 Fixtures Lobi Stars vs Akwa United Abia Warriors vs Nasarawa United Heartland FC vs Kano Pillars Sunshine Stars vs Rivers United Dakkada FC vs Enyimba Kwara United vs Kastina United MFM FC vs Jigawa Golden Stars Wikki Tourist vs Adamawa United FC Ifeanyi Ubah vs Warri Wolves Enugu Rangers vs Plateau United Colours : Light Green: In contention for Continental ticket Blue: Safe Orange: In relegation mix Red: In relegation zone