- Kelviano Media International

MATCH PREVIEW: ABIA WARRIORS VS NIGER TORNADOES

Niger Tornadoes Technical Adviser, Abubakar Bala believes that his former boss, Abdullahi Usman Biffo of Abia Warriors do not know much about the side he left before the end of last season.

Abia Warriors will be host to Niger Tornadoes at the Umuahia Township Stadium, Umuahia on match day 11 of the Nigeria professional Football League (NPFL), Wednesday.

Coach Bala said that he relish the opportunity to meet his former boss who he said they had a cordial working relationship until the time he left the club.

“He was my boss, the technical adviser and I was his chief coach. Our relationship is more than the pitch of play, in fact, we are brothers”, Tornadoes gaffer said.

However, Coach Bala is of the opinion that Biffo has lost touch with Tornadoes team considering the fact that majority of players in the team are new.

“Seventy-five percent of our players are new and they are the ones that are making the starting list, Abia Warriors coach has little or no knowledge about them.

“Our host has lots of quality players, we are going to capitalize on their defeat by Elkanemi and Akwa United on matchday 9 and 10 respectively to get a decent result in Umuahia”, said Coach Bala.

According to him, his side returned to winning ways on matchday 10 with a 1-0 home over Gombe United at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.

“Confronting wounded Abia Warriors now will be tough, but we have marshalled out our strategies to catch them unawares. Am sure at the end of the day we will return home with smile”, he said.

Niger Tornadoes has been boosted by the return of Andrew Evans Ikefe, their central defender that was injured on matchday 9 against Enyimba of Aba at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.

Ikefe and Sunday Akinmulandun have found good pairing at the central defence. His return will be pivotal to the Ikon Allay Boys to get a good result in Umuahia.

Placed 5th with 15 points, Coach Bala’s Niger Tornadoes will want to score a point against Coach Biffo’s 12th placed Abia Warriors on the NPFL log.

NIGER TORNADOES FORM GUIDE (LAST NPFL 5 MATCHES)

(DWWLW)

Niger Tornadoes 1-1 Katsina United

Remo Stars 0-1 Niger Tornadoes

Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Enyimba Intl

Plateau United 2-0 Niger Tornadoes

Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Gombe United

ABIA WARRIORS FORM GUIDE (LAST NPFL 5 MATCHES)

(WDLLL)

Abia Warriors 1-0 Gombe United

Abia Warriors 1-1 Sunshine Stars