NPFL: Who Will Be Nigeria Football League Champion?

The fullest attendance is expected this Sunday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena as the Nigeria Premier League Championship play-off gets to its peak.

It will be suspense galore as the eventual champion may not be ascertained until about 9pm when the third match of the day will likely end.

Even though front runners have been ascertained, nothing is guaranteed as the title quest has become a three-horse race.

There are two major contenders, leaders, Enyimba and defending champions, Rivers United; a dark horse has merged posing a major threat to the top dogs.

Remo Stars potentially have four possible positions at the end of the series tonight. Should they lose by a two-goal margin, they drop to the fourth, while their current position will be taken by Bendel Insurance.

If they win by a lone goal, they move to the second position if the latter match of front-runners, Enyimba and Rivers United ends in a draw.

If Remo Stars win by 3-0 and both Enyimba and Rivers United draw, Remo Stars will run away with the title.

It will then turn to the old age adage published by the Oxford University Press: “While two dogs are fighting for a bone, a third runs away with it.”

But it will be a nervy wait by Remo Stars if their title dream were to be realised even as it is well known that their clash with Bendel Insurance is grudge-laden.

Enyimba will be attempting to extend their record as the most decorated Nigerian club having won eight titles since their first victory in 2001.

Yet, not many will remember that this great club was once relegated in 1991, the second year of the introduction of professional football in the country.

Rivers United, highly motivated by the previous administration of Nyesom Wike and the sports commissioner, Christopher Green who was grinning the day Rivers United beat Bendel Insurance 2-1.

He reportedly further motivated Rivers United for even more ceaseless flow with a package of N5million.

Should the motivation work, Rivers United will be the runaway champions and the first to achieve back-to-back winning since 2014.