NPFL Matchday 3 Preview: Full Fixtures This Weekend

The NPFL’s opening weeks have already thrown up a genuine pace-setter. Doma United go into Matchday 3 with two wins from two, and this weekend’s fixtures — spread across Saturday and Sunday — will show whether that early form is built to last.

NPFL Matchday 3 Fixtures

Here’s the full weekend schedule for Matchday 3, kicking off with a standalone Saturday fixture before the bulk of the round plays out on Sunday:

• Saturday 12 September: Doma United vs Enyimba
• Sunday 13 September: Abia Warriors vs Ikorodu City
• Sunday 13 September: Barau vs Ranchers Bees
• Sunday 13 September: Bendel Insurance vs Kun Khalifat
• Sunday 13 September: Kwara United vs Katsina United
• Sunday 13 September: Niger Tornadoes vs Plateau United
• Sunday 13 September: Inter Lagos vs Sporting Lagos
• Sunday 13 September: Rangers International vs Nasarawa United
• Sunday 13 September: Rivers United vs Warri Wolves
• Sunday 13 September: Shooting Stars vs Kano Pillars

Doma United’s Perfect Start Meets Its Biggest Test

Doma United have set the early pace with maximum points from their opening two matches, and they open Matchday 3 on Saturday against an Enyimba side that will be eager to get their own campaign moving. Enyimba’s pedigree as one of Nigerian football’s most decorated clubs makes this an early litmus test for Doma’s title credentials, rather than a routine fixture.

Meanwhile, Barau enter the round as the league’s other unbeaten side, and their Sunday meeting with Ranchers Bees — still searching for their first point — looks like a strong opportunity to maintain that record.

Clubs Still Chasing a First Point

At the other end of the table, Sporting Lagos, Inter Lagos and Ranchers Bees remain without a point after the opening two rounds. Inter Lagos face Sporting Lagos directly on Sunday in a fixture that, in effect, both sides need to win just to get their season started. As a result, this is one of the round’s must-watch matches for anyone tracking the table’s lower reaches.

It’s also worth noting that several clubs go into this weekend with a game in hand because of CAF-related postponements earlier in the season, which means the table could look noticeably different once those fixtures are eventually played.

Games to Watch

Beyond the two unbeaten sides in action, Shooting Stars host Kano Pillars in a meeting between two clubs who sit comfortably in the top half, while Rivers United’s home game against Warri Wolves offers another chance for a side with a game in hand to close the gap on the pace-setters.

For our part, we’ll be tracking how Doma United respond to sterner opposition — a result against Enyimba would go a long way toward confirming their start is more than an early-season blip.

FAQ

Who is top of the NPFL after Matchday 2?
Doma United lead the table with two wins from two matches, the league’s only side with a 100% record heading into Matchday 3.

When does NPFL Matchday 3 kick off?
The round opens on Saturday 12 September with Doma United vs Enyimba, before the remaining nine fixtures are played on Sunday 13 September.

Which NPFL clubs are still without a point?
Sporting Lagos, Inter Lagos and Ranchers Bees have yet to register a point after two rounds. Inter Lagos and Sporting Lagos meet each other directly in Matchday 3.

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For more on how the table shaped up after the previous round, see our NPFL table after Matchday 2 and the full Matchday 2 results.