May, 21 2023.
As the curtains are drawn on the regular season of the 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Abridged League today, all eyes will be focused on Umuahia, Akure, and Ikenne centres, where the crunch battles for the remaining two spots in the Super Six and then in Jos where the remaining relegation dog-fight will go down.
Wikki Tourists of Bauchi's very slim chance of escaping the drop requires them to beat second on the log in Group B, Lobi Stars in Jos. The Stars from Makurdi, with 30 points were recently displaced from the top of the log, by Rivers United; but they had already done enough to secure their place in the Super Six.
Sunshine Stars are home in Akure to already relegated Dakkada FC of Uyo; and victory for the Akure Gunners gives them a good chance of finishing in the top 3, should there be no winner in Umuahia, in the potentially explosive fixture between Doma United FC (26 points) and Abia Warriors, who like Sunshine Stars are on 24 points.
Bendel Insurance of Benin and Enyimba of Aba already has two of Group A's three slots to the Super Six in their kitty.
Remo Stars will be hosting Kwara United in Ikenne today, and the Sky Blues are largely expected to win this one, and start preparing for the Super Six party in nearby Lagos.
Should Remo Stars slip up, Akwa United who are to play Gombe United at the Pantami Stadium, could finish in the top 3, with a Road Win at the North East.
Nasarawa United who are to host Insurance today and El-kanemi Warriors who are home in Maiduguri to Plateau United are already relegated from the Group.
Bayelsa United will also be needing at least a point, against Niger Tornadoes in Yenagoa; 3SC will welcome Enyimba to Ibadan; while Enugu Rangers will at their adopted home in Awka play host to Rivers United.
Ahead of today's regular season finalé, which the Interim Management Committee (IMC) has set to be played simultaneously; the IMC has also fixed the Super Six to hold from 2nd - 11th of June, 2023; with preference for an artificial surface that can stand the rigour of having 3 games played on it daily.
Without mincing words, the Interim Management Committee also reiterated that the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, in Onikan Lagos remains the venue for the showpiece. www.ckdmedia.ng reports.