Lagos Derby: Ikorodu FC, MFM in supremacy contest

The Nigeria Premier Football League Match Day 5 games will swing into action on Sunday with an expected explosive Lagos Derby between Ikorodu United FC and Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM).

Ikorodu United will host MFM at the Onikan Stadium on Sunday as the newly Lagos-based clubs struggle for supremacy in the league when their match kicks off at 4 p.m.

The Manager of Ikorodu, Edema Benson, has expressed confidence of his side triumphing over MFM in spite of their 0-1 loss to Enyimba in the mid-week game in Port Harcourt.

“We are not going into the league as an inferior side.

“We will justify our place in the premier league as worthy representatives of the good people of Lagos State and Ikorodu in particular,’’ Benson said.

On his part, Fidelis Ilechukwu, Coach of MFM, said that he would capitalise on the “superb’’ 2-1 victory against Sunshine Stars at home in the Match Day 4 encounter.

“We hope to continue in the way we have started, the performance against a strong opposition like Sunshine Stars must be sustained in subsequent games.

“The game against Ikorodu FC will be tougher but we remain focused on improving our players performances consistently,’’ Ilechukwu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ikorodu United had played three games in the league so far and recorded four points which placed them on the 12th position on the log.

They drew 1-1 with Abia Warriors at home in their season’s opener, defeated Lobi Stars 1-0 in Lagos and lost to 0-1 to Enyimba in Port Harcourt, while MFM have won two games at home, and lost 0-3 to 3SC in Ibadan.

MFM, 2nd on the log, beat Nasarawa United 2-1 away in their first match of the season; the team also defeated Rivers United 2-0 in Lagos but lost 0-3 to 3SC.

MFM bounced back to their winning ways by defeating Sunshine Stars of Akure 2-1 at the Agege Stadium in the Match Day 4 on Wednesday.

The team also defeated Lobi Stars 1-0 in Lagos but lost 0-1 against Enyimba in Aba.

Meanwhile, Dotun Coker, Chairman, Technical Committee, Lagos State Football Association, has said the association was expecting a fluid and exciting encounter between the Lagos-based sides.

“The association expects good organisation and a full capacity house and it is sure that we are going to have an entertaining and exciting match.

“In terms of security, I can assure you that we have mapped out strategies for security during and after the match.

“We also have an ambulance and qualified medical team on ground, so we expect the game to be very exciting for the fans and families,’’ Coker said.

In the other Match Day 5 fixtures; Rivers United will host Nasarrawa United at Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, Giwa FC of Jos travels to Lekan Salami Stadium to keep a date with 3SC in Ibadan.

Ifeanyi Ubah, will be guests to Sunshine Stars at Akure Township Stadium.

El Kanemi Warriors host defending champions, Enyimba at the El Kanemi Stadium in Maduguri.

The current league leader, Lobi Stars, will travel to Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri to face Heartland.

Kano Pillars will welcome Akwa United at Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

Newly promoted Plateau United will host Abia Warriors at Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos.

Wikki Tourist will also be guests of Enugu Rangers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, while Warri Wolves squares up with Niger Tornadoes at Warri Township Stadium.