The 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) enters it home stretch as a nail-biting ending is eagerly anticipated particularly in the relegation battle given the pedigree of teams fighting to beat the drop. Two of such teams is Enugu Rangers FC and Sunshine Stars FC who both face off on Sunday in the Coal City in a week 34 pairing.
Both sides head into the game on the heels of impressive results secured on match day 33. Sunshine Stars who are placed 11th, though two points above the red zone edged Akwa United FC 1-0 at home last Sunday while Rangers braced the odds in Bauchi to return home with a point after a 1-1 draw with Wikki Tourists FC to move out of the bottom five.
Sunshine Stars humbled Rangers 2-0 at home in the first half of the season, however in this tie in 2016 Bobby Clement's brace helped the Flying Antelopes swept aside the Akure Landlords at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium (The Cathedral) to close in on their 7th league title.
Dedenders, Orji Kalu and Osas Okoro will not be available for Enugu Rangers given their inclusion in Nigeria's list for 2018 CHAN qualifier against Benin Republic on Sunday.
Sunshine Stars' Alaba Adeniyi who scored one of the goals in the sides first meeting this season will miss the game to serve the last of his two much suspension While midfield maestro Dayo Ojo will continue serving his three match ban.
Captain, Sunday Abe will not be involved given his one match suspension for accumulation of yellow cards. Sikiru Alimi is unvailable for the visitors while Beniniese defender, Rock Durand is also out injured.
In place of the missing players Sunshine Stars FC Head Coach, Duke Udi has again included Kehinde Adedipe, Ezekiel Boboye, Peter Iyanmu and few others in the match day rooster.
Duke Udi in a pre match chat with Sunshine Stars FC Media maintained nothing is won or lost yet in the campaign and posited 15 points remained available to fight for heading into the last five matches of the season.
Despite the high profile absentees, a highly explosive ecounter is on course at The Cathedral on Sunday with the two traditionally strong teams not prepare to lose ground any more at this critical stage of the campaign.
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