Kwara United host Bayelsa United on Sunday (today) at the Kwara State Stadium, in a pivotal matchday 18 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League as the first stanza of the season draws to a close, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Harmony Boys enter the contest determined to secure maximum points and climb the table after a disappointing 3–1 defeat away to Enyimba International in Aba last weekend, a result that marked a difficult outing for head coach Ashifat Suleiman.
The defeat put the team under pressure to respond, with this Ilorin fixture offering a crucial opportunity to steady their campaign.
The Ilorin side hold a slight historical edge over Bayelsa United.
Last season, Kwara United earned a 1–1 draw at the Samson Siasia Stadium before securing victory in the return leg at home, while they also enjoyed the upper hand when both teams met at the preseason Duye Diri football tournament.
League positions underline the importance of the encounter. Bayelsa United sit 10th with 23 points from 17 matches, while Kwara United are 13th with 21 points from the same number of games, making the clash a vital six-pointer.
For Kwara in particular, failure to secure all three points could leave them finishing the first round in relegation waters, with only a two-point cushion over Plateau United in 17th place and a challenging away trip to Bendel Insurance in Benin still to come.
Suleiman has expressed confidence in his squad ahead of the match, insisting the players are fully prepared and focused solely on winning at home as they received a timely boost with Olarewaju AbdulRahman, Issa Gata, Aule Johnmark and Obiora Kingsley returning to full training, although Saheed Olaniyi and Ibrahim Yahaya remain sidelined through injury.
With both teams seeking a strong finish to the first half of the season, the Ilorin encounter promises an intense contest with significant implications at the lower end of the table.
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