It was a nightmarish weekend for football fans in Uyo as both Dakkada International and Akwa United FC of Uyo failed to flourish in their respective matches in match day 22 of the ongoing Nigeria Professional League.
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It all started on Saturday when Dakkada FC put up an insipid performance against visiting Kwara United of Illorin to end their tie on a goaless situation. Dakkada FC who came into this fixture on the hill of poor results in their last five matches including that of the league leaders, Plateau United which ended in a very disappointing fashion, they needed a strong performance against Kwara United to earn a good result in order to boost their standing in the log. However, the newly promoted team were undone by their profligacy in front of goal despite creating several begging chances to put the game to bed.
Dakkada’s fairy tale in the ongoing season seems to have been momentarily waned as they struggled to maintain the form that earned them plaudit and accolades by football fans and pundits across the country.
Reacting to his team’s poor run of results, Coach Caleb Esu refused to heap the blames on the doorstep of his players, rather, he rued the team’s inability to replace two of their top strikers who left for greener pastures elsewhere. According to Coach Esu, “we could not replace two of our top strikers who used to take risk to get us the goals when the going is tough.” He, however, praised his boys for their tenacity so far in the campaign despite playing in the Nigerian top-flight league for the first time.
Dakkada International FC are still occupying 6th position on the table after twenty-two matches with 31 points and will be traveling to Kano to confront one of the Nigeria’s best league campaigns Kano Pillars on Match day 23 of the Nigerian Professional Football League.
On the other hand, Dakkada FC neighbours, Akwa United FC, failed to replicate their match day 21 performance at Nigeria’s football Cathedral, Enugu, after they outclassed Enugu Rangers International by 2 – 1 against less-fancied Warri Wolves by forcing their visitors to 1 – 1 draw. The Promise Keepers dominated the game from the blast of the whistle with good possession and territorial advantage but failed to make their chances count in what was adjudged a one-sided affair.
However, luck ran out of Akwa United in the 2nd half when their player was brought down in the box in one of their occasional breaks and the centre referee wasted no time in awarding Warri Wolves a penalty that was neatly and calmly converted by Jumbo Wisdom to put the visitors in the lead. It looked like Akwa United were giving to drop another maximum points at home as the game was gradually dragging to an end with Akwa United throwing everything at their visitors with a view to salvaging something from the match, at least to save themselves the blushes of being humiliated by a non-celebrated side like Warri Wolves who had their goalkeeper Ameh Godwin to thank as he stood between Akwa United and goals.
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As fans were about vacating their seats at the stadium, Nigeria’s international, Ndifreke Effiong rounded off a brilliant teamwork at injury time to rescue a crucial point for Akwa United. The result has placed Akwa United on 4th position with 33 points from 22 matches. The Promise Keepers will be away to relegation-threatened Abia Warriors of Umuahia at Umuahia Township Stadium for match day 23 of the Nigerian Professional Football League.
