Coming from the background of rue, losing 1-0 against a less fancied Wikki Tourists in Bauchi, Lobi Stars are poised to undo the 2-0 loss in Okigwe in the first round of the NPFL 2020/2021 as they confront visiting heartland in a matchday 30 on Wednesday, June 30, 2021at The Aper Aku Stadium Makurdi.
Lobi stars placed 9th on the log having dropped by one place as a result of the loss in Bauchi with 43 points from 29 games will have to overrun Heartland who are currently on the trail of the glory to glory boys with 41 points from 29 games.
The performance index of the two clubs is almost at equilibrium with each other as statistics showed each with a superior show of strength in one department or the other.
On current form, Lobi Stars won 3 out of their last 5 games while Heartland won only 2, the all-time head-to-head places Heartland ahead with a total haul of 22 games with the Owerri-based club winning 9 against Lobi’s 8 with 4 draws in between.
Heartland have proven to be a high-scoring side having scored 37 goals in 29 games of The NPFL 2020/2021 as against Lobi Stars 31 goals but contrastingly, Lobi Stars won 13 of the 29 games while Heartland only win 11 out of same 29 games. A peep into the stats shows that Heartland lost fewer games in comparison with Lobi Stars standing at 10-12 in favor of Heartland.
The above statistics are intertwined with each club revealing distinct strength and capacity in different ways, which would have made the game unpredictable but the fact that Lobi Stars are currently placed first on the home log and have not dropped a point at home since matchday 11 dwarfed the chances of Heartland making anything out of the game.
A convincing win for Lobi Stars today will restore their earlier position but a result otherwise will see them handing over their current position on the Log to Heartland. The midweek cracker is a defining moment between Lobi Stars and Heartland on the log.
Coach Kabiru Dogo assured Lobi Stars fans of a total and convincing victory in revenge for the first-round loss in Okigwe and make-up for last weekend’s loss in Bauchi.
The game will be played under closed doors in strict observation of the COVID-19 nonpharmaceutical safety protocols as no fans will be allowed access in the stadium arena. However, critical stakeholders on matchday duties will have to report at 2:30 PM and thereafter the gates will remain close.
Any stakeholder on match duty but failed to report by 2:30 PM is considered a fan and will as well not have access to the stadium.
