• as Remo, Insurance wait in the wings
After four exhilarating match days sandwiched between seven days, the 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League title race is going down between eight times champions Enyimba and defending champions Rivers United, as both sides face-off in the last game of the Super 6 playoffs on Sunday (today), Sunday PUNCH reports.
Enyimba and Rivers run into the final day in a neck-and-neck race, although Enyimba lead the way on goals difference having scored seven goals and conceded three, while Rivers United scored five goals and conceded three as well.
With eight points each, both teams are sure of a place on the continent next season, but this final battle will also dictate which CAF competition either side will play, depending on the outcome of the game between Remo Stars and Bendel Insurance, which comes up earlier.
Remo need to avoid defeat in that game to seal their continental spot, but a win by at least three goals margin could also put them in contention for the title. For Insurance, they must also beat Remo by at least four goals to leapfrog them into the third continental position.
Aside from the need to beat each other to the title eventually, Enyimba and Rivers must avoid a draw, as that could hand the title to Remo, if the Ikenne side are able to beat Insurance by at least three goals.
Regardless of how tall the order of the permutations are, the most successful club in the league and the title holders might go toe-to-toe without looking over their shoulders as their game is the last kick off.
For Enyimba, Finidi had the luxury of resting league top scorer Emeka Obioma in their 3-0 rout of Sunshine, just as Adiele Eruigo, Pascal Eze and others were later called up to be part of the comfortable win.
The first game of the final day of the Super 6 is a dead rubber between Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars, which will be followed by the fierce battle between Remo and Insurance.
Enyimba versus Rivers United will kick off by 7pm.
