Match preview: AS Racine vs. Osun United

With the second stanza of the Bet9ja Nigeria National League, resuming today Osun United Football Club will face AS Racine Football Club, in one of the Week 18 fixtures at the Soccer Temple, Agege Stadium, Lagos.

The Omoluabi Giants currently sit 8th on the log, having taken 24 points, while the Ibru Boys are on the relegation zone on the ladder with 19 points from possible 51 points.

The last meeting between the two teams at Oshogbo Township Stadium resulted in a 3-1, Osun United win, with the goals coming from Tosin Omoyele, and Adeyemi Adeyeye, while Fimihan Gafar scored for the Ibru Boys.

Osun United will be without three of their key players for the trip to Lagos, due to injuries.

First choice goalkeeper, Ayo Ojo, is still recuperating from the injuries he sustained during the robbery incident a fortnight ago, Adeyemi Adeyeye, twisted his ankle in training on Tuesday morning, and the team top scorer Tosin Omoyele, is yet to return to the team after the first round break.

Many of Osun United followers will be keen to see the duo of newly recruited attackers, Aderemi Yusuf, and Chinedu Enuademu Emmanuel  in action.

AS Racine will also miss the service of their free-kick specialist and box-to-box midfielder, Stephen Anyanwu, who last week completed a move to join relegation threatened Ikorodu United.

The contest is expected to be fiercely-fought and Racine gaffer, Victor Okechukwu Agali, said he expects a convincing win over Osun United.

"We are going for all three points on Wednesday. In as much as we respect Osun United, we do not fear them and that is why we will go all out to get the maximum points at stake," the ex-international said.

Osun United skipper, Hakeem Olalere, sees the tie as a big game and described AS Racine as a wounded Lions that can cause an upset going by their position on the log.

“This will be a big game, we will do our best to win the game but the truth is that the position of AS Racine on the table log make them look like wounded Lions.

“They will give us the fight of their lives, but we will do our best to get something meaningful from the match," Kebu as the diminutive midfielder is fondly called by his admirers told OSUN UNITED MEDIA.

Osun have not lost in Lagos this season, having drew with First Bank and My People FC. Can the Omoluabi Giants spring yet another surprise against the relegation bound AS Racine? Ninety minutes of total football will determine.