Enyimba look to conquer Gombe United

On paper the Gombe United versus Enyimba fixture looks like a David versus Goliath match up. Enyimba is second on the league table, tied on points with the first placed team Warri Wolves with 13 points, whereas Gombe United is wallowing in the murky waters of the bottom placed teams in the 19th position with four points from six matches. Enyimba are yet to lose in seven matches, while Gombe have lost four.

Overcoming the desert bogey

After the former African Champion defeated Sharks in Port Harcourt 3-2 on match day six,

a lot of their fans expected them to run away with victory at home to CAF Champions League finalists, Heartland FC, last weekend in Aba to open up a two point lead over the pack, but the 0-0 result dealt a blow to that aspiration.

This week they travel north to Gombe hoping to make amends.

For the Aba side, securing victory or even managing a draw in Gombe could be an herculean task. This is because all the previous five visits Enyimba had made there in the past had ended in defeat with the Aba club recording just a goal.

But Okey Emordi, Enyimba gaffer, is unperturbed about the past form of Gombe, saying their current form is all that counts. "All those are history, we will get the job done on Saturday," he said.

Top of the table duel

Another big fixture tomorrow is the Kwara United/Lobi Stars match in Ilorin, an encounter that may decide who sits atop the league table by the end of hostilities this weekend. Kwara United is fourth on the table with 12 points, same as Lobi who are fifth. The Afonja Warriors are in a very rich vein of form with three wins and a draw in the last four matches, had made them to be in touching distance to the leaders. Two away wins in two weeks have marked the Ilorin side as a team to watch on the road. Interestingly their home form in Ilorin is not quite as spectacular, with the team drawing two and winning one, a weakness Lobi might exploit to their advantage. The Markudi side has done fairly well from their travels, two goalless draw in three away matches, another draw might just be on the card today. It is a must see match.

In other matches of the day, 10th placed Niger Tornadoes take on title-chasing Kano Pillars, also tied jointly with both Warri Wolves and Enyimba on 13 points.

While the Godwin Koko Uwua-led Tornadoes have made Minna a sort of fortress, dissembling visiting teams, Kano Pillars have not recorded even a goal in three away matches, which is a major concern for the technical crew. Last season Tornadoes had the edge over Pillars beating them in Minna and getting away with a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture, a feat the Uwua-led team may reproduce, since Victor Namo, Bello Korfamata, Moses Ogaga of Kano are all goal shy away from Kano.

In Kaduna, two newly promoted teams, Ranchers Bees and a rejuvenated Dolphins of Port Harcourt slug it out. Ranchers Bees last weekend lost their third away match to neighbouring Kano Pillars, a result that ensures they are not so far from the drop zone at 17th position.