Edidiong STEPHEN
Nine matches are on offer this Sunday as the Nigeria professional Football League enters Match Day Twenty-Three. Enyimba have had their fixture away to Akwa United postponed as they are already in Conakry hoping to progress at Horoya’s expense in the second leg of a CAF Confederations Cup Quarter Final tie.
Two sides without a win and without a goal in their last two outings face off in Uyo when Dakkada FC welcome Heartland to the grand Godswill Akpabio Stadium with both sides in dire need of a win.
Although both sides arrive this contest on the back of 2-0 defeats and are, at present, going through rough patches but Dakkada are worse hit by poor form having failed to win in their last six outings while Heartland have mustered two wins and two draws in the same period; making this a must win for the Uyo-based side.
A lot has changed for both sides since Samuel Nnosiri converted a late penalty to salvage a point for Heartland in the reverse fixture on November 17, 2019, after Femi Ajayi had put Dakkada ahead with his first goal of the campaign.
Dakkada have got to be weary of an incalculable Heartland who have racked up 2 wins, 2 draws and have scored 5 goals in 11 matches on their travels and whose last away goal came in Uyo in a 1-3 away loss to Akwa United on January 26.
It’s difficult to preempt Dakkada’s Head Coach, Caleb Esu, during these trying days but the gaffer made 5 alterations to his start list against Pillars last Sunday to inject some much needed freshness into his squad and handed a first start to Chukwuebuka Okeke and a second start to David Enobong.
Esu’s opposite number, Fidelis Ilechukwu, made two changes to his starting line-up against Rivers United last weekend with the duo of Julius Emiloju and Apatuziem Ugochukwu coming in to replace Benjamin Francis and Emmanuel Nnamani but the move seemed to have backfired with Rivers United handing Heartland only their second home loss of the campaign.
There will be many interesting on-the-field battles to look forward to including Femi Ajayi (Dakkada) against Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland) and Samuel Nnosiri (Heartland) against Imo Obot (Dakkada).
Kick-off in Uyo is at four o’clock in the afternoon while live text updates and video highlights are available on Dakkada’s social media handles.
Form Guide
DAKKADA FC
Kano Pillars 2-0 Dakkada
Dakkada 0-0 Kwara United
HEARTLAND
Heartland 0-2 Rivers United
MFM FC 0-0 Heartland
Next Fixtures
DAKKADA FC
FC Ifeanyi Ubah Vs Dakkada
Dakkada Vs Rangers Int’l
HEARTLAND
Heartland Vs Lobi Stars
Jigawa GS Vs Heartland
