NPFL: Remo face Tornadoes, set to clinch title in Ikenne
*Late Tade Azeez to be honoured at match venues
Nigeria Premier Football League leaders, Remo Stars, will on Sunday file out for one of their most important games of the current campaign when they fsce Niger Tornadoes in one of the MatchDay 35 games at the Remo Stadium, Ikenne, with history beckoning.
With Kano Pillars defeating the closest rival Rivers United 2-0 on Friday, Remo Stars will be crowned champions if they defeat Niger Tornadoes in their next match — a potential title-winning fixture on home soil.
With the title almost sorted, the battle for continental slot and survival will see Ikorodu City, currently in third position travel to Uyo to keep a date with Akwa United, who at the moment are fighting for survival as they are in the 18th position on the log.
It is going to be an oriental derby in Enugu as the record winner of the NPFL, Enyimba, will be up against defending the champion of the league Rangers while Kwara United will host already relegated Lobi Stars.
Other games for the weekend will see Sunshine Stars play at home against Katsina United as Abia Warriors host Shooting Stars with Insurance traveling to Jos as guest Plateau United while the last game of the weekend will see Bayelsa United play at home against El-Kanemi Warriors.
Meanwhile, to honour the late former President of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Otunba Tade Azeez, players and officials of NPFL will observe a solemn 60 seconds silence before the start of remaining fixtures of Matchday 35 fixtures this weekend.
Azeez was reported to have died Friday afternoon following a brief undisclosed illness.
One of the fixtures of the Matchday 35 between Kano Pillars and Rivers Umited had been played before the sad news of his death broke on Friday. But, Davidson Owumi, the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, said, “We have directed that a minute silence be observed before the start of the remaining fixtures on Saturday and Sunday.”
A former vice chairman of the Lagos State Football Association (LAFA), the late Azeez was a foremost referee, earning a FIFA badge before retiring and later leading the Referee’s Association.
