Following two serial defeats in the hands of MFM and Warri Wolves in Match Days 22 and 23 in Lagos and Ozorro respectively, Lobi Stars technical crew and players passed a joint resolution to up their game and bounce back to winning ways as they host deep necked relegation-threatened Sunshine Stars Akure in an NPFL 2020/2021 Match Day 24 of 38 on Sunday, May 30, 2021, at The Aper Aku Stadium Makurdi.
Placed 11th on the log, the lowest in six years, Lobi Stars will be out tomorrow to commence a redemption flight with the hope of exiting from the current position and moving deep into the first half of the league table to keep their status in the NPFL.
Taking a look at the opponent’s run in the league to have traverse 16 games without a win, amidst reported under motivation and Climaxed by the resignation of Coach Gbenga Ogunbote, one will simply give it to the pride of Benue, considering the fact that they have not dropped a home point since Match Day 11 having won all the last 6 home games, but there is no known formula to pre-calculate the result of a game in association football.
Though as embattled as Sunshine Stars appear to be, they are also committed to fighting their way out of relegation waters, and such zeal could spring a surprise in Makurdi, a fact Lobi Stars needs to acknowledge.
Statistically, Lobi Stars stand unattractively taller with 31 points from 22 games, placed 11th on the log, scoring 24 goals and conceding 22 at an average of 1.09 per game, while Sunshine Stars are 18th placed, played 23 games, scored 14, and conceding 22, with whooping 8 goal deficit. Coincidentally, the above stats put the defense power of the two clubs at equal strength and nothing else.
In the all-time head-to-head, Lobi Stars and Sunshine Stars played a total of 26 games with Lobi winning 11 games, 7 draws, and 8 losses. The most recent 5 encounters put Lobi Stars at 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss.
In the final analysis, as beautiful as the statistics seem to fall in favor of Lobi Stars, they are not a determinant for victory. Lobi Stars need to match words with action to appease their teeming fans who have recently shown displeasure on their recent outings, especially the last two serials losses.
