NPFL: Tough Midweek Battles for Top and Bottom Benchers

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season continues today with Matchday 15 games and the big focus will be the six-pointer between struggling sides Sunshine Stars and basement boys Kwara United FC.

As expected, there will be significant interest at the other end of the standings with table-toppers Lobi Stars playing on the road at Abia Warriors and four-time champions Kano Pillars playing hosts to former cup champions FC Ifeanyiubah at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

Bottom-three in the division, Sunshine Stars and Kwara United go head-to-head in this clash at the Akure Stadium. It is the first time both teams will meet in the NPFL since September 2015 after Kwara United made a return to the division from the second tier.

Kwara United have had to part ways with former Under-20 coach John Obuh as he appeared to be marching to the beat of a different drum, and they brought in Abubakar Bala who got off to a winning start against Kano Pillars though the Harmony Boys had to work their socks off to win 2-1 with Lukman Binuyo in the heart of inspiring that comeback.

However the trip to troubled Sunshine Stars comes on the back of their poor run against the Akure team. Sunshine Stars have not lost in their last five meetings with Kwara United since a 1-0 loss in Ilorin in May 2012 (3W 2D).

Kwara United have had to rely heavily on Stephen Alfred for goals with their last season leading scorer in he second tier Michael Ohanu still struggling to find his feet in the top division so far.