Nigerian Football
Dakkada first away win of the season may be their survival thread from relegation
Embattled Dakkada got an unusual result on Sunday when against all expectations, Enyimba crumbled 2-0 at home.
The victory was Dakkada’s first away win of the season and their first since June last year. However, their coach, Umar Danlami does not believe the result was a fluke.
He told the LMC news platform, www.npfl.ng
that ‘it was a result his side came to Aba earn.’
After drubbing Enyimba 2-0 in Aba to end the team’s continental aspiration via the NPFL, Dakkada head coach Umar Danlami strongly believes that his side still swimming in the murky waters of relegation will not sink.
Enyimba had needed the game to remain in contention for the third position on the log which attracts a ticket into the CAF Confederation Cup.
But the dreams have ended up in smokes. But in a battle of contrasting interest, Dakkada fighting to remain in the elite league division proved stronger than their hitherto highly respected sides and easily one of the legacy clubs in Nigerian football.
After a goalless first half, Dakkada went in front in the 56th minute when centre back Arise Ogundare rifled home from close range after the Enyimba defence failed to clear a corner kick.
With the game drawing to a close, in-form attacker Edidiong Ezekiel headed home beautifully from Uwana Asuquo’s cross in stoppage time to seal an unquantifiable win for his side.
“It’s a mixed feeling,” the former Kada City coach told www.npfl.ng when asked how the feeling was.
“I know definitely we came here to pull out something and it came our way so we thank God. It’s been a very difficult season but the boys were able to keep their heads down to produce such an important result.”
Dakkada still have a realistic chance of beating the drop but must earn it on the final day with a good win over Sunshine Stars while also hoping that results from other grounds favour them.
Danlami says his side must give it their all.
“We need to approach our last match with all we’ve got. I think, hopefully, with the way things are going now, the boys will do well.
“It is football anyway, sometimes, what you hear is not what it is but anybody that knows Dakkada knows that we play good football since way back but this has happened and we’re trying to come back and there is still hope of escape,” he added.
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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