ANALYSIS: It’s fight to finish on NPFL final day

The final day of the NPFL season – Sunday, May 24 – will bring the curtains down on one of the most exciting ever editions of the league as the title race, the two remaining teams to be relegated as well as the player to finish as Goal King will all be the decided then.

Enugu Rangers remained top of the standings going into the final day of action after they beat Bendel Insurance 2-1 at home.

They now have 65 points from 37 matches, a point ahead of second-placed Rivers United, who won 3-2 Sunday to relegate Wikki Tourist to the second-tier NNL.

For the final day, Rangers will be away to fourth-placed Ikorodu City, who need to win to topple Shooting Stars, who sit in third place and hold the final continental ticket on offer in the competition.

Shooting Stars face a daunting trip to relegation-threatened Niger Tornadoes, who have to win and hope other results go their way for them to stay up in the top division.

Rivers United, on the other hand, will be expected to beat Katsina United at home.

A win for the Port Harcourt outfit and a draw or loss by Rangers will give coach Finidi George his second NPFL championship as a coach.

The fight for survival will involve a lot more clubs as only eighth-placed Katsina United and the rest of the front runners are mathematically safe.

Besides Tornadoes, Warri Wolves are the other teams in the relegation zone with 46 points, same as three other struggling clubs – Remo Stars, Kun Khalifat and Enyimba.

Remo Stars are away to Bendel Insurance, Kun Khalifat home to already relegated Wikki Tourist, while Enyimba battle El Kanemi Warriors in front of their home fans.

El Kanemi Warriors, Plateau United and Kwara United are all on 47 points each and so remain in serious danger of going down on the final day of the campaign.

Plateau United know a home win over Kano Pillars will get them across the finish line, while Kwara United will be away to already relegated Bayelsa United.

It is still therefore too close to call the two other teams to be demoted to the second division.

It is also a close contest for the NPFL Goal King prize for the season.

Enugu Rangers striker Godwin Obaje leads the race with 14 goals, while Joseph Arumala (Ikorodu City) and Victor Mbaoma (Remo Stars) are both on 13 goals.

Michael Chidera of Enyimba is on 11 goals, while as many as five players have each scored 10 goals thus far.

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