Though technically four teams are still in the hunt for the league title but the Oriental derby between the Flying Antelopes and the People’s Elephant and the tie in Lafia between Lobi Stars and Remo Stars will tell a lot where the season’s title race pendulum will swing, writes TUNDE LIADI

The most talked about fixture in the Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 35 is the Oriental derby between Enugu Rangers and Enyimba while Sunshine Stars versus Akwa United tie in Akure and Bayelsa United versus Sporting Lagos are also other key games this weekend as we hit the defining moments of the season.

Last weekend, Enugu Rangers got a valuable point at Sporting Lagos and till top the table with 61 points while the Noisy Lagosians’ inability to secure maximum points before their fans saw them slip to the relegation zone in 17th spot with 42 points.

On the other hand, Sunshine Stars and Akwa United zoomed out of the drop zone following victories over Gombe United away and Heartland FC in Uyo. The defeat also put the Naze Millionaires on the brink of lower league return but is not yet mathematically relegated.

Tomorrow at the Cathedral- The NnamdiAzikiwe Stadium in Enugu-Rangers will host second placed Enyimba in a game that could define the destination of the league title with third place Remo Stars with 59 points facing Lobi Stars who are fifth with 52 points in Lafia.

Fourth placed Shooting Stars with 56 points, are visiting Port Harcourt as guests of Rivers United who are ninth on the log with 47 points in another cracker billed for tomorrow.

Matchday 35 fixtures start today with three loaded games with the North Central derby between Plateau United and Kwara United at the New Jos Stadium to be telecast live by league sponsor, StarTimes on Beta Sports channel 244.

The Peace Boys have gone down the radar after picking just four points from their previous four games and are without a win in the last three matches. They have slipped to the sixth spot with 51 points and must win to save face in their penultimate home game before the season ends.

Kwara United are unbeaten in their last seven games and have moved to the 11th spot with 45 points. They famously ended their winless streak against Remo Stars two weeks ago and were within minutes of an away win in Kaduna against Niger Tornadoes before they let in the equaliser in stoppage time last weekend.

The Harmony Boys are still unsafe in the relegation battle as they are just three points away from drop zone. A point will be more than precious for KabiruDogo led Kwara United in Jos.

In Katsina also today, Katsina United will hope to get their revenge on Gombe United whom they lost the first leg to 1-0 in the first round. The Changi Boys are eighth with 49 points and will relish a home win that will all but confirm another stint in the topflight next season against already relegated Gombe United.

Another tie billed for today is the encounter billed for the SaniAbacha Stadium, Kano between Kano Pillars and Niger Tornadoes. Tornadoes pinned Pillars 1-0 in the first leg played in Kaduna.

SaiMasuGida under an interim coach are flying in recent games. They are through to the semi-final of the President Federation Cup having eliminated Sunshine Stars on penalties past midweek.

They are 10th on the log with 47 points and need a win to stop last minutes calculations.

Tornadoes who are in 12th position with 44 points are barely two points away from the drop zone. They cannot afford to lose the game in Kano today with Bayelsa United (18th spot with 42 points), Sunshine Stars (15th spot with 43 points) and Abia Warriors (13th spot with 44 points) projected to go above them if they win their home games.

In Umuahia, Abia Warriors will welcome Bendel Insurance tomorrow to the Umuahia Township Stadium in a game the three points are pivotal to their elite division survival.

The Warriors with Bethel Orji at the helms are through to the semi -final of the President Federation Cup for the first time in the club’s history but must grind out at least two more wins from the remaining four league games to remain in the topflight next season.

Bendel Insurance on the other hand with 49 points in seventh spot can afford to enjoy themselves in the game and care less about its outcome with three points from the remaining three games looking good enough to guarantee their third consecutive season in the topflight.

At the Lafia City Stadium, Lobi Stars with under-fire Eugene Agagbe in charge, will host Remo Stars tomorrow. It is a game the Pride of Benue need to win to halt their five game winless streak.

The Dominic Iorfa-led Lobi Stars started the season impressively and were among the top three throughout the first round but their form has been abysmal in the second round.

Even though they are untroubled by relegation, Lobi Stars fifth with 52 points need to beat Remo Stars to assuage their fans’ restiveness.

With Rangers playing at home, Remo Stars cannot afford to drop any point in Lafia to stay in close touch with the Flying Antelopes. They are third with 59 points but could see Rangers opening up a five point gap if they beat their Oriental brother, Enyimba and the Sky Blue Stars are beaten in Lafia. (The Nation)

•Action during a past encounter between Enugu Rangers and Enyimba

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