The battle for survival in the Nigeria league will be fiercer than the battle for the championship as two teams are set to join Taraba and Bayelsa United on relegation with Kwara United, Dolphins, Sharks, Lobi Stars and El Kanemi Warriors all in danger.
FC Taraba and Bayelsa United are already doomed for relegation to the Nigeria National League (NNL) with two rounds of games to the end of the season on November 15.
Both teams currently with 34 points from 36 games cannot tally more than 40 points with two games to go which won't be enough to save them from going down to the second-tier of Nigeria league.
Kwara United look destined to make an instant return to the Nigeria National League (NNL) having secured promotion to the elite league just last season.
With 39 points, Kwara can be sure of three points from the remaining two games. On Sunday, they travel to fellow strugglers Sharks who must win the game to escape the drop.
Their final game will be at home against IfeanyiUbah, which they are expected to win, but with 42 points from 38 games, Kwara could still be demoted.
Dolphins currently with 41 points got some respite coming their way after Sharks were docked three points from their accrued points following the abandonment of a Week 36 game against Nasarawa United in Lafia.
Their final two matches are at home against Heartland and away at Shooting Stars.
Dolphins city rivals Sharks were good to escape relegation until the LMC hammer fell on them after they abandoned a Week 36 game at Lafia against Nasarawa United.
They had 42 points before the LMC decision and now they have 39 points after three points were deducted from what they had previously for violating the rules.
They are now in a must-win situation for the last two games so as to end with 45 points with their last two games at home to Kwara United and away to Abia Warriors.
Lobi Stars and El Kanemi Warriors are not safe with 43 points and 46 points respectively.
Lobi have an outstanding game, an abandoned Week 37 game at Sunshine Stars, which they were leading 1-0 and which will now be completed on November 11 in Abuja.
If Lobi held on to the 1-0 lead, they would only need to win their home game against Rangers to end with 49 points, while El Kanemi need at least three points from two games – vs Wikki (home) and vs Heartland (away) to be sure of their premiership status.
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