Struggling Pride of Abia host free-scoring Bees

Abia Warriors. Photo: Abia Warriors/ Facebook

Abia Warriors welcome Ikorodu City to the Umuahia Township Stadium on Sunday, with the home side desperate to arrest a poor start to the Nigeria Premier Football League season against opponents who have made light work of their own opening fixtures.

Warriors are still without a win after two matches, having begun the campaign with a goalless draw against Kun Khalifat before suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Ranchers Bees at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium on Matchday Two.

The result left Abia with four defeats from their last five matches in all competitions, piling early pressure on the Pride of Abia ahead of Sunday’s meeting.

• Savannah Tigers maintain perfect start
• Rangers gift players $10,000 after Sobemap win
• Rivals clash in first Lagos derby in 10 years

Ikorodu City, by contrast, have enjoyed an ideal start, coming from behind to beat the same Ranchers Bees side 3-1 on the opening weekend. Their Matchday Two fixture against Sporting Lagos was postponed after the Mobolaji Johnson Arena was made unavailable, leaving the Lagos side to head to Umuahia searching for their first win in almost a month of inactivity on the pitch.

Abia Warriors, however, hold an unbeaten record against Ikorodu City on home soil, a statistic that will offer the hosts some encouragement as they look to end their winless run against a side that has scored freely whenever they have played.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.