Austin Tyowua, Media Officer Lobi Stars FC, Makurdi
Aper Aku Stadium Makurdi for the second time in eight days serves as the battleground of the 2020/2021 NPFL Match Nr 30, Day 3 as Lobi Stars look forward to humbling visiting Warri Wolves to move further up the upper rungs of the league log on Sunday 10th January 2021. Lobi Stars had achieved their first 3 points last Sunday at the same venue over MFM.
Both Lobi Stars and Warri Wolves lost their matchday 1 game to Ifeanyi Ubah and MFM in Nnewi and Lagos and won their first three points in matchday 2 over MFM and Adamawa United in Makurdi and Ozorro respectively which places the two teams sharing the same spot on the table.
Ironically MFM that sniffed out the first three points from Warri Wolves in the matchday 1 was the same club that fell to the superior power of Lobi Stars in the matchday 2 game in Makurdi last Sunday, a fact that gave paper superiority of Lobi Stars over Warri Wolves at the moment if that result has anything to go by.
Though football is not mathematics and can not be calculated as such, Warri Wolves should not for any reason be taking for granted by Lobi Stars. As it stands, Warri Wolves equally need the three points as much as Lobi Stars to also improve the placement on the league table. The Match Day 3 looks likely to shape placement as there is so much equality on the log as it is.
Warri Wolves will not be coming to Makurdi as strangers as homeboy Evans Ogenyi is leading the pack, having been at one time or the other coached Lobi Stars, he will be advantageously threading on a familiar ground a fact that can not be taken for granted.
Lobi Stars also has a head to head advantage over Warri Wolves, as the sea siders have only one win to their credit 5 years ago in their last 5 games thus;
WOL 0-0 LOB Dec 8, 2019 NPFL
LOB 3-0 WOL Jul 31, 2016 NPFL
WOL 0-0 LOB Mar 27, 2016 NPFL
LOB 1-0 WOL Oct 29, 2015 NPFL
WOL 1-0 LOB Jul 1, 2015 NPFL
With the above performance imbalance in favor of Lobi Stars. The pride of Benue seems to have a comparative and analytical advantage over Warri Wolves and are most favoured to carry the day.
