Football
Dami Ugbane, Special to ESPN 6y

NPFL big guns prepare for midweek clashes

Three of Nigeria's representatives in CAF competitions return to domestic action with a series of engrossing NPFL clashes on Wednesday.

In the highlight fixture of the midweek games, Plateau United are at home against Enugu Rangers at the Rwang Pam Stadium, a perfect test ahead of their crunch CAF Champions League tie against Etoile du Sahel.

This fixture holds special memories for the home team, as Plateau United were crowned champions last season on the final day after beating dethroned champions Enugu Rangers in the same fixture.

The champions have enjoyed a 100-percent record on home turf so far this term, and will be confident of seeing off the Flying Antelopes, although the visitors are unbeaten in their last four games.

Despite having played two games less after matchday 10, sixth-place Plateau United could temporarily lead the table with a win, a major statement of intent in their title defence.

By contrast, Lobi Stars could present a major hurdle to Akwa United's bid to stay within reach of the early-season leaders as both teams clash in Makurdi.

Lobi earned an impressive away draw at MFM FC at the weekend, a morale booster ahead of this massive midweek home encounter.

They need to sustain that tempo, and require the goals of Samad Kadiri - the man running the show in the absence of Anthony Okpotu - against the high-flying Promise Keepers, who have lost on their last three visits to the Aper Aku Stadium.

Finally, the South West Derby involving Sunshine Stars and MFM FC in Akure concludes the rescheduled midweek games.

Neither team have experienced the best of starts to the season, and their bottom-half placement is testament for the need to improve.

Despite having failed to win away from home this season, MFM could bank on their strong historical record in this fixture which has seen them emerge victorious in three of the four previous games.

If they succeed in earning a result in Akure, it would further stretch Sunshine Stars' winless run to four games and leave them in trouble at the bottom of the table.

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