Sunshine Stars take on defending champions, Plateau United at the new Jos City Stadium in one of the standout fixtures of matchday seven in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
Sunday’s heavyweight tussle in the Tin City represents a litmus test for both sides’ early season momentum as two of the youngest and enterprising coaches in the land in Duke Udi and Kennedy Boboye go head-to-head.
While Boboye won an unprecedented league title with Plateau United last campaign, Udi picked up Sunshine Stars at the verge of relegation with 13 games remaining on the calender and remarkably guided the Akure Landlords to safety, recording the season’s highest away win (3) in the process.
So far the title defence has gone so well for United who are second on the NPFL log with 12 points from the opening six games, though just a point better than their visitors who are joint third after three home wins and two draws in the 2017/18 season.
*Previous Meetings*
In the sides last meeting in Akure, Boboye led Plateau United inflicted a controversial 2-1 home loss on his former side, Sunshine Stars and the team did not only fell to the relegation zone but also got banished to Ijebu Ode in the aftermath of the heated game.
07/06/17 Sunshine 1-2 Plateau
22/01/17 Plateau 3-1 Sunshine
10/09/16 Sunshine 3-1 Plateau
08/05/16 Plateau 0-0 Sunshine
*Plateau United – WWLWWL*
Kano Pillars 2-0 Plateau United
Plateau United 1-0 MFM FC
Plateau United 3-0 El Kanemi
Abia Warriors 1-0 Plateau United
Plateau United 2-0 Rivers United FC
*Sunshine Stars – DWLWDW*
Sunshine Stars 1-0 El Kanemi
Abia Warriors 0-0 Sunshine Stars
Sunshine Stars 2-0 Rivers United
Nasarawa Utd 2- 0 Sunshine Stars
Heartland 0-0 Sunshine Stars
*Sunshine Stars Team News*
Adebayo Adigun and Kehinde Adeyemi have recovered greatly from health challenges but the clash with the champions come too soon for the defensive duo.
Sikiru Alimi is available for selection after shrugging off a shoulder injury sustained in the last match against El Kanemi Warriors.
Credit – Sunshine Stars FC(Chris Okunnuwa)
