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From Port-Harcourt to the ancient Southwestern city of Ibadan, and to the freezing plateau in the Northern city of Jos, club football is set to become one of the most talked about sporting issues in the country, again.
After months of waiting for its return, and just one game to savour so far, the NPFL is set to enter a full wing this weekend.
From the city of the league champions to the ancient Southwestern city of Ibadan, and to the freezing plateau in the Northern city of Jos, club football is set to become one of the most talked about sporting issues in the country, again.
Already, the ball has been set rolling as a week earlier, newly-promoted Bendel Insurance stunned 2021 champions Akwa United 2-0 in the league opener.
With 9 more games scheduled to go down in the first week of this season's NPFL, there's definitely, an overdose of drama to look forward to.
In no particular order, here are 4 games you should look forward to this weekend.
Rivers United vs Lobi Stars
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Defending champions will start their campaign with a home tie against Lobi Stars. While this is no rivalry, expectations will be more on the hosts who dazzled in the 2021/22 season to win the NPFL title for the very first time and set new records while at it.
Should they maintain the form that they had last season is all down to them. But the big question remains: will they be stunned at home like their predecessors - Awka United, or live up to their rights as 'the Nigerian champions'?
Nasarawa United vs Enyimba
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The 2023 season will be one of those NPFL seasons in that some teams will be forced to play away from their home grounds. This is something that Enyimba appreciates. The People's Elephants have shown in most seasons that they won their league titles that, the easiest way to the top is by picking points away from home.
What better way to start your season than with a trip to Nasarawa United's adopted home - the New Jos Stadium?
Plateau United vs Shooting Stars
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This will be the first competitive game for Plateau United since their consecutive ouster from the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup last season. Considering their fantastic performances in the previous season that saw them give Rivers United a good chase, it is fair to say they would want to go one better than they did last year.
Even making this more mouth-watering is the fact that they play Shooting Stars who, only escaped relegation last season on goal difference. But will the Oluyole Warriors want to start another battle with relegation early in the season? Only Sunday can tell how they react when they visit last season's runners-up.
Doma United vs Sunshine Stars
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Sunshine Stars are your regular mid-table who do their best to escape relegation every season, and shuttle between that point and the top half. Their first game of the season will see them travel to Gombe to face little-known Doma United - a team, touted as one possible surprise of the 2023 season.
Doma comes into this game on a clean slate, and with no NPFL history to their name. It is unknown what level of havoc this Gombe-based club can cause against the Akure Gunners. Mysteries can be the worst.
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