NPFL Crystal Ball Predicts: Exciting matchday 8 clashes with Lobi Stars, Enyimba, Remo and Rangers

Remo Stars will count on Sikiru Alimi to remain at the top. (Photo Credit: Rremo Stars/X)

NPFL Crystal Ball Predicts: Exciting matchday 8 clashes with Lobi Stars, Enyimba, Remo and Rangers

Izuchukwu Akawor 09:54 - 12.11.2023

What you need to know about the biggest games in the NPFL for matchday 8 and predictions from the NPFL Crystal Ball.

Get ready for what promises to be another action-packed matchday in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL as the Crystal Ball unveils its predictions for matchday 8. 

NPFL footballers will expect a treat from some of the league’s powerhouses led by league leaders, Lobi Stars, defending champions, Enyimba, and early title contenders Remo Stars and Rangers International. 

Ahead of the intense battles slated across the country on Sunday, he is a quick look at some key matches and their predictions. 

Enyimba’s Quest for Victory

The spotlight will be on champions Enyimba as they look to steer clear of the relegation zone. For more context, the People’s Elephant have only played four matches this season in the seven-week-old 2023/24 season.

Enyimba are currently 16th on the table. (Photo Credit: Enyimba/X)

However, they are flirting with relegation at the moment with seven points in 16th.

Finidi George and his champions are visitors to Kano Pillars, who are looking to bounce back to winning ways after seeing terrible things in Lagos last weekend. 

Prediction: Kano Pillars 1-0 Enyimba

Rangers’ Resilience to be tested

The Flying Antelopes are high-flying at the moment after a brilliant start to the season. Sitting pretty in second place, the Rangers will have their title credentials tested in Akure later today.

On and off the pitch, Fidelis Ilechukwu’s team have excelled but are yet to win away this season and will be looking for the first points on the road when they face Sunshine Stars.

Rangers players checking in at the airport in the stylish attire.

The home side will prove a stern test for Rangers having picked up four points from the last six in the Football League.

Prediction: Sunshine Stars 1-0 Rangers

Lobi Stars’ Stellar Form

Based in Lafia, Yes Father Boys are looking good this season after four wins and two draws in seven matches have seen them take control of the league. 

Lobi Stars have looked renewed under new management and sit at the top of the NPFL.

Lobi Stars host newly promoted Sporting Lagos in one of the keenly anticipated clashes of matchday 8 in the NPFL. This fixture will see two in-form forwards, Lobi's Tiza, and Jonathan Alukwu of Sporting, go head-to-head for the first time this season.

Lobi Stars have not dropped a single point at home this season and it will take an extraordinary performance from the Tech Boys to change that.

Prediction: Lobi Stars 2-1 Sporting Lagos

Remo Stars’ golden chance

With some of the table-toppers facing trickier ties, the Sky Blues have the chance to go top if as expected they take all three points at home.

Academy graduate, Ahmed Akinyele celebrates his first senior goal for Remo. (Photo Credit: Remo Stars/X)

Remo, who have looked comfortable and safe at home in Ikenne host Gombe United, with three defeats in three matches on the road this campaign. 

Prediction: Remo Stars 2-0 Gombe United

The NPFL Crystal Ball has had an interesting forecast for the past matchdays, with some nail-biting moments and unexpected twists.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

Matchday 8 could provide similar twists and turns, especially in some of the other ties in the Football League.

Do keep a close tab on the games between Plateau United and Abia Warriors and Kwara United vs Shooting Stars.  

Related content

Tags: