Lobi Stars vs Sunshine Stars Preview: Can Lobi pick up all three points as they unveil Lafia Township Stadium?
After the kickoff of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season across eight centres last weekend, all teams gear up to usher in match day two this weekend.
Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi will entertain Sunshine Stars FC of Akure at the Lafia Township Stadium on Sunday, 8th October, 2023 at 4pm Nigerian time.
The game against Sunshine Stars kick start the series of Lobi’s five games this October. Coming off the back of their disappointing opening day draw against Heartland FC after leading the tie for a large period of the game in Owerri, the Makurdi outfit will be looking forward to putting in a fine performance in front of their home fans as they lock horns with Sunshine Stars FC.
Although the Benue-based side were the only team to pick a point away from home last weekend, this tie will definitely be an uphill task for them as they have only registered one win in their last five meetings against the Akure Gunners (D1, L3).
It’s a different tale for Edith Agoye led side as they picked up an important home win against Kano Pillars on opening weekend of the 2023/2024 NPFL.
An eighth minute strike from Emmanuel Oge was all the Akure based team needed to kick start their NPFL season as they would have dreamt.
Travelling to Lafia this weekend to square up against a side they’ve had an upper hand against in their last five meetings, they will be hoping for a scintillating display and a victory inorder to extend their dominance over Lobi Stars in recent meetings.
Players to Watch
Lobi Stars’ Adebayo Waheed was the second player to score in the Nigeria Premier Football League 2023/2024 season last weekend.
The winger was brilliant on his debut for the Ortom Boys as he got his name on the scoresheet on his first official game for Lobi, he’ll look to add to his tally in front of the home fans.
Sunshine Stars goalkeeper, Mustapha Lawal, was the hero of the opening day victory, he delivered a clean sheet in their 1-0 win against Kano Pillars in Akure last weekend.
Stat Attack
Sunshine Stars last away win came against Standard FC in the Round-16 of the Nigerian Federation Cup last May. But considering that the Akure Gunners last win in 2022/2023 NPFL season was a 3-0 win over Lobi Stars, they will be poised to leave a mark on Ortom Boys to cement their that their last victory against the Makurdians was not a fluke.
