BY SAB OSUJI

It certainly appears a 'festival of football' across the South East on the opening day of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier League season, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

With the Nigeria domestic top flight back on its full steam after the 2022/2023 season conducted on abridged format, all South East teams----Heartland, Rangers, Enyimba and Abia Warriors----were handed home fixtures on matchday one after the draws were conducted Tuesday at Sandralia Hotel, Abuja.

Newly promoted Heartland, the Naxe Millionaires, will welcome Kabiru Dogo's Lobi Stars. Same day and same time, close neighbours and bitter rivals, Enyimba, will test the resolve of Monday Odigie's Bendel Insurance at their Aba slaughter slab.

George Finidi's People's Elephant are still ruing their CAF Champions League nightmare and Insurance, unbeaten although the regulation schedule last term will need to cross the Aba Rubbicorn if they would continue from where they left off last term.

From Aba, the thrills trains moves to close city, Enugu (or Awka), where Flying Antelopes, Rangers, will attempt to put Doma United to the sword.

It wasn't a pleasant campaign for the seven-time champions in the last campaign but the arrival of the 'Working One', Fidelis Ilechukwu as successor of Abdum Maikaba, as well as the filling of the administrative vacuum created by erstwhile General Manager, Davidson Owumi by Barrister Amobi Ezeaku in the capacity of GM/CEO, appear to have steadied the Antelopes ship and brought new hope for the Coal City side.

Completing the,'South East Festival of Football Meni' is the big match-up at Umuahia Stadium involving Abia Warriors and Niger Tornadoes.

Abia,Warriors underwent a total administrative overhaul, with coach John Obuh replacing Pastor Emeka Inyama as Chairman of the club.

On the technical side, not much changes were effected, save for the arrival of 'Bigman goalkeeper trainer', Ike Anubi Shorunmu to bolster the coaching department which already has Erasmus Onu as Technical Adviser.

With such rare combination, Abia Warriors could be on line to better their last season's 4th place finish, the best ever in the club's history.

Leaving Umuahia, or even Owerri, or Aba, depending on which venue the football freaks are won't to watch, and heading for Omagwa, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where Stanley Eguma's Rivers United will lay siege for rampant Remo Stars.

The Sky Blue side are in a rich vein of form since their return to the elite league last term, finishing as overall runners-up and earning a bite at the top continental showpiece. Sadly, that campaign was painfully cut short following the defeat by Madeama of Ghana on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate scoreline over the two legs.

With a fresh beginning uppermost in their minds, Eguma's Pride of Rivers will have to be at their utmost best as Coach Ogunmodele's side play similar pattern with Rivers United but have youthful players as advantage.

In the 'South-South Derby', Bayelsa United will welcome Akwa United at Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa just as Coach Bolu's Katsina United hosts Kwara United in a -Northern Derby'.

ALL MATCHDAY 1 FIXTURES

Bayelsa United vs Akwa United

Shooting Stars vs Plateau United

Abia Warriors Vs Niger Tornadoes 

Enyimba Int'l vs Bendel Insurance 

Rivers United vs Remo Stars

Katsina United vs Kwara United 

Sunshine Stars vs Kano Pillars

Heartland FC vs Lobi Stars

Sporting Lagos Vs Gombe United

Rangers United Vs Doma United