The game always looks 'easier' from the couch. Crowned regular season champion a few hours ago, Bendel seemed to have figured out the cheat code for NSL in 2024. They have rarely commenced any regular season games with a full squad. Most of their coaches and/or executives have futured at least once this season. The likes of Best, Omo, Henry Just to name a few. Yet somehow, they sit comfortably atop the 2024 Regular Season table unperturbed. Manager and owner par excellence Oga Uche Ekeruche has a spy - gate like knowledge on EVERY NSL team. Uche has surrounded himself with trusted members and staff like the Coach Henry, Ofili, Abraham, Odi, Oruma, Joseph, Best, Anisha, to name a few. These gentlemen will take a slap for him, (maybe not a bullet).

The question on everyone's mind as the playoffs has arrived is; " How do you beat a full Bendel Squad"? If last year's final taught Bendel any lesson, it is that in NSL, there are no Real Madrids when it comes to Champions League. To win the big one, you have to show up and show out. In 2024 regular season, while other teams are playing checkers, Oga Uche is playing Chess. A major faux pas Bendel could make would be to focus too much on winning the FA Cup. That will be the Trojan horse crack that teams like Opopo or OGB Chiefs (Ogbunigwe) would be hoping for. The Odds for Bendel going all the way are a whopping 7/10.

Eastern, last year's super team, sits second, but not as pretty, as their most recent results have not been too encouraging. After basically winning the treble last year, Eastern stayed in the Champagne room a bit too long. Like Leicester City of England, they are finding it harder to "dominate" the league like they did last year. The loss of Ex Professional keeper with cat - like reflexes, Joel Ishaaq is damaging. Super manager and talisman, Neshang "Mutumina" has done a great job alongside his brethren Izah and Crespo to get Eastern to the well. The question remains, "shall they drink?". Coach Steven Nwamkpa's horn looks half empty, as he has traveled to Nigeria to appease the gods while technical coach Zico sharpens his barbing equipment to shave some hair. The Odds for Eastern United going all the way are average at best at 5/10.

Youngblood, two years ago champions sit third, again but not pretty, as last Sunday's humiliating defeat to Opopo looms in their minds. As the saying goes; " Never underestimate the heart of a champion". With that said, Youngblood 2024 lacks fire power. They started the season with grit and slowly ran out of steam. If they are to go all the way Manager and my former skipper Ihuoma must give several shots in the arm to his ailing team. The latter results have been so mediocre, Oga Mba has self - muted the Monday morning league updates. The Odds for Youngblood going all the way are similar to those of Warriors, 4/10 but then again, I know Coach Ihuoma to be a tactician. Rumor has it that the loss was strategic, time will tell.

Opopo lurks in fifth place, having walloped former champion Youngbloods in it's last regular season game. Opopo was once a three - peat Regular Season champions but kept falling short of the "Big Price". Is this a newfound strategy by Opopo to stay clear of the "Big Boys" early on? Time alone will tell. A blend of young aspiring talents and veteran leadership on the pitch has provided a perfect balance for their last four games, getting hot at the right time. Knowledge of French is no longer a prerequisite to partake in the lightning - like transitional play of Opopo. Coach Hervé, Coach Papi and Owners Adam and Papy are united in purpose. The Odds for Opopo winning everything is 6/10.

OGB Chiefs (Ogbunigwe), the hurricane whisperers, themselves struggled to stay out of the storms way this season, needing a last game stance to sneak into the big dance. From where I sit and watch, OGB chiefs is the Dark Horse of these playoffs. They are equipped with the arsenal to beat any team on any given day. Ignore them at your own peril. The moral boost and high they always got from Oga Josie and Oga Felix and Oga Yellow on the sidelines can partially be attributed to the much fewer hurricanes this season. Albeit, make no mistakes about it, Coach Kang and Veteran leadership from the likes Chidi Obiagu (half man, half machine), Emmanuel Elomobor, and Ejike has this team looking like a leopard prowling in the Savannah. The Odds for OGB winning everything are stacked at 6/10.

Team United, like a enigma can’t be predicted. They can be the most dangerous team in the playoffs but can be equally questionable by their wins and losses to certain teams this season. However, the team is fully loaded like a brand-new Mercedes G-Wagon. The question remains, which Team United will show. Last year, they were 2^nd place behind current Champ Eastern United. Under the tutelage of Coach Phil, a determined manager, the team is really hungry to be in the final rounds of the NSL competition. The Odds for Team United is 5/10 respectively. Virginia Community FC, yours is a Herculean task and a tall order despite having seasoned skilled ballers like Eiche, Baggio, Bash. Technically no nontraditional team has EVER won the coveted NSL post season championship. Opopo came really close just before being God - fathered into the status of a " Home team". The Odds for Team United and Virginia FC are 3/10 respectively.

Warriors 2024 is a candidate for the most improved team. Not just because it finished sixth and sitting good, but the play on the field was very ambitious. Warriors at one point of the season was a harbinger of two English Championship players. We saw less and less of Oga Rafiu and Oga Ibrahim in the starting squad. Warriors has never won "the big one" although they may make it to the last four, ladies and gentlemen will be where their post season ends. The Odds for The Warriors team are 4/10.

Several first round matchups are looking tasteful, but the one that has NSL fans preparing their efo and egusi soup with pounded yam is the Opopo Vs. Team United derby. Both mid table teams are still holding their jokers in hand, waiting for the right time to play it. The