The final game of match day 8 of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will see Heartland FC play host to Bayelsa United on Wednesday, 15th November, 2023 in their rescheduled fixture at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri. The game which was postponed due to State elections in will kick off 4pm Nigerian time.
NPFL newcomers, Heartland FC who have had a really poor start to the season haven gone seven games without a win this season will be looking to change the tide of their season as they play fellow bottom club, Bayelsa United who are also struggling.
Ahead of this fixture, the Naze Millionaires have played seven games, lost three, shared the spoils on four occasions; conceding nine goals, finding the back of the opposition net on just five occasions in that process.
The Owerri based team gained promotion to the NPFL after a sterling performance in the Nigeria National League (NNL) that saw them go on a 14-game unbeaten run which coincided with a 2-0 win over Kano Pillars at the Championship final last July. One would wonder what has gone wrong for the Southeast club? This very game against their South-south counterparts is a good game to get themselves back on track.
It’s not a different tale for Bayelsa United who are 19th on the log, just 2 points ahead of their hosts. The Restoration Boys are also having a turbulent season after been able to pick up just two wins in seven games, losing five in that sequence.
Kicking starting their 2023/2024 NPFL season with a 5-3 home win over Akwa United in September, was supposed to signal a high flying season for the Yenagoa outfit but things took a downward turn as the Restoration Boys lost three games on the bounce, before picking up a nervy home win against Kwara United on match day 5 and have now gone two consecutive games without a win.
Traveling to Owerri in midweek, redemption is all they seek and getting back on the right track as the season unfold will be top of the manager’s tactical agenda.
The last five meetings between these two have featured a flurry of goals and fans will be expecting the fireworks as two of Southern Nigerian clubs lock horns. In their last five meetings, Heartland have had the upper hand, picking up three wins compared to Bayelsa United’s two.
Players to Watch
Heartland FC’s Patrick Nwogbaga have found the net twice this season, he will be hoping to steer his team back on track against the Restoration Boys. Bayelsa United’s forward, Robert Mizo is the division top scorer with six goals in seven games, the crafty no.9 will look to add more to his tally in Owerri.
Hot Stat
Since 2013, there have been a winner in all the ties played between these two – a win should be on the card for one of them in this very game.
