NNL Super 8 Playoff Matchday One Preview:* *Barau, Wikki Tourists, Kun Khalifat, Warri Wolves in tough starts

NNL Super 8 Playoff Matchday One Preview:* *Barau, Wikki Tourists, Kun Khalifat, Warri Wolves in tough starts
NNL Super 8 Playoff Matchday One Preview:* *Barau, Wikki Tourists, Kun Khalifat, Warri Wolves in tough starts

 

The prestigious season ending Nigeria National League Super Eight playoff kicks off Saturday morning with Conference C runners up Barau FC of Kano up against Conference D  winners, Yobe Desert Stars by 9am at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State. 

Barau FC in their debut season in the NNL stormed to the Super 8 ticket with 5 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses during the regular season including the all-important goalless draw in Jos against Mighty Jets which confirmed their spot in the playoff at the expense of Gombe United.

Financed by the incumbent Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin who only turned 66 years last month, Barau FC will be more than motivated to hand a fitting birthday gift to their owner with a winning start.

Yobe Desert Stars have never been a pushover. Though they qualified for the Super 8 on the strength of their home invincibility, they have been eager to return to the topflight since their demotion to the lower league in the 2019 season. Could this be their season?

In the second game of the morning session, Wikki Tourists of Bauchi will begin their bid for NPFL return with a tough fixture against Doma United of Gombe by 11:30am also at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Saturday.

Having stayed two consecutive seasons in the lower league, Wikki Tourists turned to their former coach, Abdul Maikaba to help restore their NPFL status. The former Rangers and Akwa United gaffer had led the team during their most prosperous seasons in the topflight in 2015 and 2016 seasons where they finished the season in the 4th and 3rd positions in that order at the end of both seasons. 

Maikaba, also then marshalled their return to Africa in 2016 where they played in the CAF Confederation Cup. 

They were impressive during the recently concluded regular season winning 7, drawing 2 and losing just 3 games from 12 matches to emerge as the first team to qualify for the Super 8. They were in Northern Conference C.

They will face equally dangerous Doma United who only got relegated from the NPFL just last season by their whims after posting such incredible performances in the first stanza of the 2023-24 season  and where even second on the league table at some point and went over 10 games unbeaten in that period, too. 

Doma United have put themselves in a great position to stage a return to the topflight at the first time of asking with their qualification for the Super 8 having placed second in Northern Conference D with 19 points. The result against Wikki Tourists will confirm their intent and  readiness for a premier League return. 

In the afternoon fixture slated for 2pm, Crown FC of Ogbomosho will square up against Kun Khalifat of Owerri in a fierce contest billed for the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

Crown FC, led by experienced Ayodeji Ayeni finished second in the Southern Conference A with 36 points from 18 games and with a record of 11 wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats. They got three wins away from home in those games. 

Ever since the Ajilete Warriors' demotion to the lower league in 2014 season, this is the closest they have been to a return to the topflight but can they stop the rampant Kun Khalifat FC of Owerri?

Kun Khalifat FC have punched way above their weight to nick Super 8 ticket in their debut campaign in the NNL. It is a no mean feat. The Owerri based side qualified from Southern Conference B as winners with 37 points from 20 games with a record of 10 victories, 7 draws and 3 losses. 

Led by a young and bullish Obinna Uzoho and bankrolled by a young entrepreneur, Michael Amaefula, Kun Khalifat have shown they have the capacity to compete among the elites.  A lot will be at stake against Crown FC and they must step up to the challenge.

Osun United and Warri Wolves will lock horns in the last game of Day One of the NNL Super 8 with a cagey fixture at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba by 4pm.

Osun United have enjoyed a rebirth this season under the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke after some woeful outings in previous seasons but it is yet to be known if that will be enough to return a team from Osun to the elite division since 2007-08 season. They ended the regular season in second place in the Southern Conference B with 36 points.

Warri Wolves are the most in-form team going to the Super 8 judging by the regular season results where they acquired 39 points with 14 of those points from away games. They were the highest scoring side with 27 goals and among the least conceding sides.

Ever since their demotion from the topflight in the 2020-21 season, this seems to be Warri Wolves' best chance to stage a return to the NPFL at the back of the magnificent regular season they have had and the factor of being the host team, which gives them a psychological advantage.

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