Edidiong Stephen
Rivers United will be guests to Dakkada FC this weekend in an NPFL Match Day fourteen fixture which is scheduled for the grand Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Sunday afternoon.
Fifth-placed Dakkada, who suffered their first away loss of the season at MFM in midweek, will be looking for an immediate response against a Rivers United side riding on a streak of four successive wins.
These two sides last met on Monday, October 21, 2019, in a pre-season friendly to herald this current campaign at the football pitch of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. Ojukwu Ifegwu who scored Dakkada’s solitary goal in an action-packed 1-1 draw is unavailable for selection as he will be serving his last of a three-match ban.
This will be the seventh home fixture of Dakkada’s maiden NPFL sojourn with the stats standing at four wins and two losses in their last six outings which represent 66.67% in terms of points return while Rivers United have a 38.89% points return on their travels – two wins and a draw in their last six matches on the road.
Dakkada’s Coach Caleb Esu has received the cherry news of Harrison Ibukun’s availability after the towering defender shook off a minor knock in midweek and is again hale and hearty as well as the return of Isaac George who sat out the last two outings due to a combination of suspension and fatigue.
Dakkada’s trio of Femi Ajayi, Isaac Geroge and Moses Efffiong who have four goals each will be looking to add to their magnanimous tally when they come face-to-face with one of the division’s most parsimonious defenses which comprises Goalkeeper Darlington Ovunda, Kunle Odunlami, Chigozie Ihunda et al.
It would be interesting to see how Coach Stanley Eguma, who is a lover of squad rotation, lines up on Sunday.
In his second successive home match in midweek against Nasarawa United, the Rivers United boss made four changes to the first eleven which defeated MFM 2-0 on Match Day twelve with the quadruplet of Konan Ruffin, Temple Emekayi, Joseph Abiodun and Cletus Eba taking the places of Festus Austin, Ishaq Rafiu, Ifeanyi Onyeali and Nelson Esor.
The Nest of Champions, in all its magnificence and splendour; under the prairie sun which beams over it and the emotional melody of its vociferous fans, will be in for a Sunday afternoon specialty.
Kick-Off in Uyo is at four o’clock in the afternoon while live text updates are available on Dakkada’s social media handles.
Form Guide
DAKKADA FC
MFM FC 1-0 Dakkada
Dakkada 4-1 Adamawa United
RIVERS UNITED
Rivers United 1-0 Nasarawa United
Rivers United 2-0 MFM FC
Next Fixtures
DAKKADA FC
Dakkada Vs Nasarawa United
Lobi Stars Vs Dakkada
RIVERS UNITED
Rivers United Vs Lobi Stars
Jigawa GS Vs Rivers United
