Football League returns with a bang

The Elephant is down again.

FOOTBALL Enyimba vs Bendel Insurance sets the tempo as NPFL returns with a bang

NPFL Football League returns with a bang

Izuchukwu Akawor • 08:31 - 26.03.2023

It's blockbusters everywhere in the NPFL as the football league returns with Enyimba vs Bendel Insurance the pick of the pack.

The Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL,  is back for the second half of the season and with a big bang.

After what seems like a long break, the 2023 NPFL returns with some interesting fixtures across the country on Super Sunday.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ng/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

Here are three (3) of the best clashes that will herald the second half of the season for you to keep close tabs on this Sunday.

Let's start with the biggest of the fixtures between the Elephants and Benin Arsenal in Aba.

Enyimba vs Bendel Insurance: NPFL star game

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ng/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

These two will meet again to begin proceedings for the decisive second half of the 2023 NPFL season when they go head-to-head in Aba.

Enyimba and Bendel Insurance also ended the first half of the season against each other after they clashed in Benin just before the break on February 19 in the NPFL.

NPFL: Enyimba vs Bendel Insurance
Chukwuemeka Obioma of Enyimba praying for three points. [PHOTO: Enyimba FC]

Insurance snatched all three points on the day against Finidi George and his Elephants in a match that was decided by Imade Osarenkhoe’s first-half strike.

Enyimba will be looking for revenge in this top-of-the-table clash which could also see them close between them are the NPFL Group A leaders, Insurance.

The last time these two met, Enyimba were beaten, and their host also mocked the People's Elephant in Benin after the fall.

The newly promoted Bendel Insurance are still the only team yet to taste defeat and sit comfortably at the top of the log with seven (7) points.

Key stats

  • Enyimba are unbeaten in the last four (4) home games and have scored six (6) goals in their last five (5) matches.
  • Bendel Insurance are unbeaten in the last four (4) away matches and have scored five (5) goals in the last five (5) matches.

Akwa United vs Shooting Stars

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ng/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

This is another encounter between two teams who ended the first stanza in the NPFL against each other before the break.

Former champions Akwa United went, saw and held Shooting to a share of the spoils at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan following a four-goal thriller that ended 2-2.

NPFL: Akwa United vs Shooting Stars
Auwal Mohammed caught in the act before the game against Akwa United in Ibadan.

The game before the break produced fireworks and both sides could provide even more entertainment when they clash again in the NPFL at the beautiful Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

United, who are the host, will see this game as the perfect chance to close the gap between them and the top two teams in Group A, Insurance and Enyimba, who face each other in Aba.

Key stats

  • Akwa United have scored eight (8) goals in the last five (5) matches.
  • Shooting Stars have scored seven (7) goals in the last five (5) games.

Rivers United vs Abia Warriors

It's a regional rivalry in the city of Port Harcourt when NPFL champions. Rivers United host neighbours Abia Warriors.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ng/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

This is the game of the day in the NPFL Group A as defending champions look to pile on the pressure on leaders Lobi Stars, who are away in Gombe to Doma United.

Defending NPFL champions Rivers United have hardly had a break due to a busy and successful schedule in the CAFCL.

NPFL: Rivers United vs Abia Warriors
Rivers United are through to the CAFCC quarterfinals.

However, they will welcome the Warriors later today with confidence that they can extend their unbeaten run in all competitions.

The Pride of Rivers are on a run of seven (7) matches unbeaten in all competitions which have seen them close the gap between them and Lobi Stars to just one point.

However, they face the Warriors from Abia who are just four (4) behind them and motivated to end their run of three (3) matches without a win and looking to move up the table per their boss.

Key stats

  • Rivers United are on a run of seven (7) unbeaten matches vs Abia Warriors.
  • Abia Warriors have not scored in each of their last two matches.

Bonus matches

  • Plateau United vs Gombe United 
  • Remo Stars vs Nasara United 
  • Doma United vs Lobi Stars 

Related content

Tags:
Enyimba Rivers United FC NPFL Bendel Insurance Abia Warriors Akwa United Shooting Stars