The 2013/2014 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season is just two matches away from producing a champion.
The NPFL Week 37 fixtures will be played nationwide on Sunday.
The champion along with the second placed team will represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League while the third placed team will do battle in the CAF Confederation Cup.
After week 37 matches on Sunday, the race to lift the NPFL trophy will become even more interesting.
Kano Pillars, who were in cruise control at the top of the log, are just two points better than Enyimba who got a vital three points away from home in Nembe City to boost their title chase.
Unknown to many, Enyimba have quietly crawled without notice but made a loud statement in week 34 when the People's Elephant of Aba also got an important away win in Kaduna.
Kano Pillars who have won the league in the last two seasons want to do a third one this year, and Enyimba are not looking back while Warri Wolves' destiny is in their hands.
In the bottom half, the race for survival looks done and dusted as Kaduna FC, Crown FC and Nembe City’s days in the elite division appears numbered.
However, there will be the contest of continental football-seeking teams between Nasarawa United, Abia Warriors, Dolphins and Enugu Rangers.
Dolphins vs Enyimba
The most talked about match and the cracker of Week 37 is the match between Dolphins football club of Port Harcourt and Enyimba Football Club of Aba.
The two teams are in desperate need of three points to guarantee a chance at the league title or a continental slot.
As for Dolphins, they are hoping for a continental slot, while a win for Enyimba will move them a step close to the title.
Dolphins having lost 1-3 away to Bayelsa United in Week 36 and just returning to training on Friday after embarking on a strike due to non-payment of outstanding allowances, will be lest favourites in this encounter.
The Garden City boys currently occupying the sixth position in the Nigerian elite league also have an unfinished business with Enyimba in the FA Cup final which is scheduled for Nov. 23 in Lagos.
So, this will more or less be a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup at the Teslim Balagun Stadium.
Enyimba with 60 points know that a win in this match will put them in pole position for the title since their last game will be at home against the log leaders, Kano Pillars on 62 points.
Highest goal scorers, Dolphin's Emem Eduok and Ufon Udoh of Enyimba with 20 goals each this season will be looking to set a new record of number of goals scored in a league season.
Both players had already equaled the 20 goal mark earlier set by Jude Aneke in the 2010/2011 season.
This should hopefully make for an interesting as well as explosive encounter.
Kano Pillars vs Nembe City
This match looks to be a one-sided encounter considering the fact that the log leaders are at home and know what is at stake.
A win for Pillars will be a big boost ahead of their away cracker against fellow title contenders, Enyimba, while a draw a loss will definitely jeopardise their dream of a third consecutive title.
The likes of goalkeeper TheophilusAfelokhia, Eneji Otekpa and, Shehu Shagari, ex-U-23 players as well as Rabiu Ali and Zango Umar, ex-CHAN players would bring a lot of experience and depth to the Kano Pillars squad.
Nembe City, currently languishing at the bottom of the league with 28 points and already sure of regulation this season will have no place to hide as they confront the all-powerful Kano Pillars.
Warri Wolves vs Gombe United
The Paul Aigbogun’s Seasiders would seek positive results to close up on league leaders when they host the struggling Savannah Scorpions of Gombe at the Warri Township Stadium on Sunday.
Coach Austin Eguavoen will hope to ensure Gombe United secure their topflight survival with victory against Warri Wolves, after their 1-0 home victory against Enugu Rangers in Week 36.
Warri Wolves are currently third with 59 points, while Gombe United are sevententh with 46 points from 36 games.
Giwa FC vs Elkanemi Warriors
The Jos-based team who were walked over by Nasarawa United in a rescheduled Week 35 match as well as the `Desert Warriors of Maiduguri’ will be looking to consolidate their position on the NPFL table.
Both Giwa FC on 11th position with 51 points and Elkanemi Warriors on 14th position with 48 points have nothing to lose as they are neither fighting for continental tickets nor in the relegation zone.
So, this should probably be a mere formality game as both teams look to play to the gallery and entertain theirs fans.
It promises to be a tricky and mouth- watering encounter as Week 37 of the NPFL gets underway on Sunday.
Week 37 fixtures
Bayelsa United vs Lobi Stars
Akwa United vs Heartland
Taraba FC vs Crown FC
Abia Warriors vs Sharks FC
Warri Wolves vs Gombe United
Enugu Rangers vs Nasarawa United
Sunshine Stars vs Kaduna United
Giwa FC vs El-Kanemi Warriors
Kano Pillars vs Nembe City
Dolphins vs Enyimba FC
The NPFL Week 37 fixtures will be played nationwide on Sunday.
The champion along with the second placed team will represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League while the third placed team will do battle in the CAF Confederation Cup.
After week 37 matches on Sunday, the race to lift the NPFL trophy will become even more interesting.
Kano Pillars, who were in cruise control at the top of the log, are just two points better than Enyimba who got a vital three points away from home in Nembe City to boost their title chase.
Unknown to many, Enyimba have quietly crawled without notice but made a loud statement in week 34 when the People's Elephant of Aba also got an important away win in Kaduna.
Kano Pillars who have won the league in the last two seasons want to do a third one this year, and Enyimba are not looking back while Warri Wolves' destiny is in their hands.
In the bottom half, the race for survival looks done and dusted as Kaduna FC, Crown FC and Nembe City’s days in the elite division appears numbered.
However, there will be the contest of continental football-seeking teams between Nasarawa United, Abia Warriors, Dolphins and Enugu Rangers.
Dolphins vs Enyimba
The most talked about match and the cracker of Week 37 is the match between Dolphins football club of Port Harcourt and Enyimba Football Club of Aba.
The two teams are in desperate need of three points to guarantee a chance at the league title or a continental slot.
As for Dolphins, they are hoping for a continental slot, while a win for Enyimba will move them a step close to the title.
Dolphins having lost 1-3 away to Bayelsa United in Week 36 and just returning to training on Friday after embarking on a strike due to non-payment of outstanding allowances, will be lest favourites in this encounter.
The Garden City boys currently occupying the sixth position in the Nigerian elite league also have an unfinished business with Enyimba in the FA Cup final which is scheduled for Nov. 23 in Lagos.
So, this will more or less be a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup at the Teslim Balagun Stadium.
Enyimba with 60 points know that a win in this match will put them in pole position for the title since their last game will be at home against the log leaders, Kano Pillars on 62 points.
Highest goal scorers, Dolphin's Emem Eduok and Ufon Udoh of Enyimba with 20 goals each this season will be looking to set a new record of number of goals scored in a league season.
Both players had already equaled the 20 goal mark earlier set by Jude Aneke in the 2010/2011 season.
This should hopefully make for an interesting as well as explosive encounter.
Kano Pillars vs Nembe City
This match looks to be a one-sided encounter considering the fact that the log leaders are at home and know what is at stake.
A win for Pillars will be a big boost ahead of their away cracker against fellow title contenders, Enyimba, while a draw a loss will definitely jeopardise their dream of a third consecutive title.
The likes of goalkeeper TheophilusAfelokhia, Eneji Otekpa and, Shehu Shagari, ex-U-23 players as well as Rabiu Ali and Zango Umar, ex-CHAN players would bring a lot of experience and depth to the Kano Pillars squad.
Nembe City, currently languishing at the bottom of the league with 28 points and already sure of regulation this season will have no place to hide as they confront the all-powerful Kano Pillars.
Warri Wolves vs Gombe United
The Paul Aigbogun’s Seasiders would seek positive results to close up on league leaders when they host the struggling Savannah Scorpions of Gombe at the Warri Township Stadium on Sunday.
Coach Austin Eguavoen will hope to ensure Gombe United secure their topflight survival with victory against Warri Wolves, after their 1-0 home victory against Enugu Rangers in Week 36.
Warri Wolves are currently third with 59 points, while Gombe United are sevententh with 46 points from 36 games.
Giwa FC vs Elkanemi Warriors
The Jos-based team who were walked over by Nasarawa United in a rescheduled Week 35 match as well as the `Desert Warriors of Maiduguri’ will be looking to consolidate their position on the NPFL table.
Both Giwa FC on 11th position with 51 points and Elkanemi Warriors on 14th position with 48 points have nothing to lose as they are neither fighting for continental tickets nor in the relegation zone.
So, this should probably be a mere formality game as both teams look to play to the gallery and entertain theirs fans.
It promises to be a tricky and mouth- watering encounter as Week 37 of the NPFL gets underway on Sunday.
Week 37 fixtures
Bayelsa United vs Lobi Stars
Akwa United vs Heartland
Taraba FC vs Crown FC
Abia Warriors vs Sharks FC
Warri Wolves vs Gombe United
Enugu Rangers vs Nasarawa United
Sunshine Stars vs Kaduna United
Giwa FC vs El-Kanemi Warriors
Kano Pillars vs Nembe City
Dolphins vs Enyimba FC
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