The 2020/21 NPFL season will go down as one of the best in recent years with relegation and continental places set to go down the wire.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah bids the NPFL goodbye after falling 3-0 to Jigawa Golden Stars.
The Anambra Warriors gained promotion to the topflight in 2015 and went on to give a good account of themselves in their early years in the league. Won the Aiteo Cup in 2016, FC Ifeanyi Ubah played in the CAF Confederation Cup but a run of poor results this season coupled with administrative deficiencies, they’ll be playing in the second division next season.
Meanwhile Jigawa Golden Stars (JGS) gave themselves a surviving hope after the 3-0 win over FC Ifeanyi Ubah. JGS temporarily moved out of the relegation zone before returning there in the evening after Sunshine Stars scrambled to a 1-1 draw in Aba against Enyimba FC.
Sunshine Stars meanwhile dent Enyimba’s continental ambition while giving themselves a survival lifeline on Monday evening.
The Owena Waves after playing a 1-1 draw against Enyimba will now need a victory in their last game against Rivers United which will be played at the Akure Township Stadium.
Rivers United continued their charge for a continental ticket on Monday evening, beating Lobi Stars 3-1. The Pride of Rivers who moved to 4th after the win will have their hands full on the final day when they visit Sunshine Stars who are battling relegation.
Enyimba will have themselves to blame for dropping points at home against Sunshine Stars should they end up outside the continental places. The People’s Elephant who threw away their 1-0 lead to settle for a 1-1 draw will visit Uyo where they’d take on Dakkada FC on the final day and will need an outright victory in the match while also praying for teams above them (Kano Pillars and Rivers United) to drop points.
Kano Pillars won it very late against Wikki Tourist in Kaduna on Monday. The Sai Masu Gida had to wait till the 2nd minute of additional time before getting the breakthrough against a stubborn and resilient Wikki Tourist who on their own are also in the relegation battle.
Pillars next play Heartland in Owerri on the final date and a victory in the game will guarantee their place in the continent.
Talking about Wikki Tourist, they will play host to already relegated Adamawa United on the final match day. Their survival looks sure as Adamawa United have nothing to fight for.
He who is down have no fear of fall and will be ready to drag others into the mud with themselves, this is what Warri Wolves must know when they visit Nnewi for a match against already relegated FC Ifeanyi Ubah. A win in the game though will still not guarantee them a place in the NPFL next season as they will need results from other centers to go in their favour.
It promises to be a great ending to the league this season and with fans already picking up their calculators, it’s surely going to be a heated affairs across different venues.
