ENYIMBA COME UNDONE IN THE RAIN IN RESCHEDULED NPFL MATCHDAY 20 GAME AGAINST AKWA

Enyimba put up a strong showing, but it proved inadequate in a 2-1 loss to Akwa United in Uyo on Wednesday.

For the rescheduled Week 20 fixture, Paul Aigbogun rang the changes, rewarding Maxwell Effiom for improved performances in training. Benjamin Francis returned, having recovered from a lengthy injury absence, while Uche John and Ernest Governor started together at the heart of the defence for the first time.

A torrential downpour prefaced what proved to be a thoroughly entertaining spectacle, with the hosts settling quickest. Akwa had two efforts from range which were comfortably kept out by Afelokhai, before taking the lead in the 17th minute.

Enyimba FC VS Akwa United FC

Enyimba, with two players down on the turf, reacted a tad slowly to Gabriel Wassa’s low cut-back, allowing Michael Ibe to run onto it first time and send a tame effort past Afelokhai.

Effiom had a presentable chance to level the scores in the first period, but he sent his shot wide after great work from Joseph Osadiaye down on the right flank. Chinonso Okonkwo then had a header saved from a Dare Ojo free-kick.

Osadiaye would himself come close to an equalizer early in the second period, as he made a great back-post run, but the cross to him from Francis was slightly too high.

A raft of substitutions turned the tide in the hosts’ favour once again, as Victor Mbaoma, fresh off the bench, twice tested Afelokhai. The hosts would then double their lead, as Dennis Nya rose highest to head home a corner by Aniekeme Asuquo in the 68th minute.

Enyimba pulled one back with 10 minutes to play, as forward Wasiu Alalade gratefully tapped home from close range, following an outstanding passage of play involving Andrew Abalogu and Chinonso Okonkwo on the right. There would, however, be no rousing comeback, as the hosts held on for all three points.

FINAL: Akwa United (Michael Ibeh 17′, Dennis Nya 68′) 2-1 (Wasiu Alalade 79′) Enyimba

Enyimba FC

Enyimba Starting XI: Theophilus Afelokhai, Andrew Abalogu, Uche John, Ernest Governor, Benjamin Francis, Dare Ojo, Austin Oladapo, Chinedu Udeagha (Wasiu Alalade 73′), Joseph Osadiaye (Freedom Omofoman 64′), Maxwell Effiom (Gabriel Orok 75′), Chinonso Okonkwo.

Unused subs: Friday Achimugwu, Ifeanyi Anaemena, Emeka Obioma, Tofic Omar.

Akwa United Starting XI: Ojo Olorunleke, Etim Matthew, Gabriel Wassa, Kelly Kester, Emmanuel Ariwachukwu, Dennis Nya, Asuquo Aniekeme, Michael Ibe, Ifeanyi Ede (Victor Mbaoma 62′), Ubong Essien (Nanen Imenger 60′), Paul Obata (Ubong Friday 83′).

Unused subs: Ismaila Shagari, Otobong Effiong, Godspower Igudia, Cyril Olisema.

Yellow cards: Omofoman, Oladapo (ENY); Essien, Aniekeme (AKW)

NPFL 2018 Match Day 19: DAUDA RED CARD LEADS TO STALEMATE

Ten-man Enyimba dominated proceedings, but could not find the breakthrough, drawing 0-0 against Akwa United on Sunday.

The two-time African champions were forced to play the entirety of the second half a man light, following the sending-off of goalkeeper Fatau Dauda five minutes before the break.

The Ghana international was one of a number of returnees to the team, with Isiaka Oladuntoye also returning after serving a three-game ban.

Enyimba United FC Vs Akwa United FC

In a game which started slowly, it was the visiting goalkeeper who was first called into action, as both Joseph Osadiaye and Chinonso Okonkwo tested him from free-kick situations. Ibrahim Mustapha then headed over an inviting cross, before the game’s entire dynamic changed.

Ifeanyi Ede called Dauda into a smart low save, but from the ensuing corner, the former Enyimba man seemed to get into an altercation with the goalkeeper, and went down off the ball. After consultations, the referee produced a red card to reduce Enyimba to 10 men.

This saw reserve Theophilus Afelokhai make his first league appearance of the campaign, but he had precious little to do, as the People’s Elephant came out fired up after the break.

Ifeanyi Anaemena had the ball in the net 10 minutes after the break, but was adjudged to have handled the ball, then Mustapha passed up a chance to score after Shagari flapped at a cross.

However, the best chance fell to Abdulrahman Bashir. The striker was out through one-on-one with the goalkeeper by Mustapha’s deft flick, but improbably poked his finish over the top.

The visitors then might have stolen the points late on, as substitute Daniel Ekpo’s shot, from the edge of the area, came back off the crossbar and ricocheted off Afelokhai to safety.

Enyimba United FC

FINAL: Enyimba 0-0 Akwa United

Enyimba Starting XI: Fatau Dauda, Andrew Abalogu, Nasiru Sani, Tofic Omar, Ifeanyi Anaemena, Isiaka Oladuntoye, Abdulrahman Bashir, Ibrahim Mustapha (Gabriel Orok 90′), Chinonso Okonkwo (Freedom Omofoman 48′), Austin Oladapo, Joseph Osadiaye (Theophilus Afelokhai 45′)

Unused Substitutes: Ernest Governor, Chinedu Udeagha, Dare Ojo, Leonard Ugochukwu.

Akwa United Starting XI: Ismaila Shagari, Etim Matthew, Gabriel Wassa (Daniel Ekpo 85′), Kelly Kester, Denis Nya, Godspower Igudia, Jamiu Alimi, Michael Ibe, Haggai Katoh (Victor Mbaoma 71′), Cyril Olisema, Ifeanyi Ede.

Unused Substitutes: Emmanuel Iwu, Otobong Effiong, Ayobami Asekunowo, Christopher Lolo, Gabriel Okechukwu.

Yellow card(s): Tofic Omar, Ibrahim Mustapha, Ifeanyi Anaemena (ENY); Ismaila Shagari, Etim Matthew, Kelly Kester, Victor Mbaoma (AKW)

Red card(s): Fatau Dauda

AITEO Cup Final 2017: It’s Tornadoes Vs Akwa United

Akwa United FC defeated Sunshine Stars 3-1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in the second leg of their AITEO Cup semi final fixture on Sunday.

during the 2017 Aiteo Cup Semi Final match between Akwa United v Sunshine Stars on October 78h 2017 at Godswill Akpabio Stadium
©Kabiru Abubakar/fotodezamora

Christian Pyagbara scored the second for The Promise Keepers in the second half to lead the Top Scorer’s race with seven goals. Akwa United’s first came from Cyril Oliseme.

The Owena Whales thought they had clinched a place in the grand finale when Franklin Sasere scored to make it 2-1, meaning they would go through on the away goals’ rule. But Super Eagles’ midfielder Ifeanyi Ifeanyi netted a third that took the hosts into next Sunday’s final in Lagos.

during the 2017 Aiteo Cup Semi Final match between Akwa United v Sunshine Stars on October 78h 2017 at Godswill Akpabio Stadium
©Kabiru Abubakar/fotodezamora

They went through on 3-2 aggregate, and will clash with Niger Tornadoes of Minna (4-3 winners over Cup holders FC IfeanyiUbah in the other semi final) in the men’s final at the Agege Stadium, Lagos on Sunday 15th October 2017.

Makinwa Names 18-Year-Old Ogbodo For ABS FC NPFL Match Day 21 Clash With Akwa United

Coach of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC, Henry Makinwa, has said that he included 18-year-old Chidi Ogbodo in the match 21 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) squad because the future of the club belongs to the youth.

Makinwa told the club’s Media on Friday that it is better for the young lads to start feeling the heat of playing at the top level from this moment.

He said encouraging the youth has always been the idea of the Proprietor of the club, Dr. Bukola Saraki, giving them a lifeline of playing football at the top level.

“We are a young side with some talented young players. “The future of this great club belongs to the youth and the process has started already.

ABS FC’s Chidi Ogbodo

“If you look around the league today, most teams have one ABS player or the other. “We are giving the young lads an opportunity to develop and I am happy some of them are responding.

“Against all odds, we played Ayinde in our game against El-Kanemi Warriors and he scored” Makinwa said.

The former Real Sociedad of Spain attacker, described Akwa United FC as a very good side. The ABS FC gaffer also said that their opponents have done so well this season but maintained that his players will not remember that on Sunday.