In a seemingly unapproachable fixture, Sunshine Stars FC of Akure took its destiny in its hands and played a rare 1-1 draw with Enyimba FC in Aba on the penultimate matchday of the 2020/21 NPFL season.
Ejike Uzoechi stole the show again, with a crucial equalizer in the 75th minute, and secured a crucial 1-1 draw against the People’s elephant at their backyard.
Ejike, Ekelojuoti, and Kehinde Adedipe had chances to hit the hosts, but the entire team endured a frenetic first half and absorbed so much pressure from the hosts, with Seun Olulayo, Emma James, and Kehinde Adeyemi making crucial interventions to prevent Enyimba from scoring before the break.
The second half opened up like the first but the people’s elephants were too handful to stop at the stroke of the hour mark, as they broke the deadlock through Apiah who scraped home from a loose ball inside the area.
Sunshine Stars didn’t trail for long, replying sixteen minutes later through defense defender, Ejike, who guided home from an initial Ekelojuoti’s header which was parried by the goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper Uche Okafor handled the rest, making two crucial saves while youngster, Kolade Adeniji could not pounce decisively late chance to bring all points home, regardless the team held on for a vital point on the road.
With safety still to play for, the Deji Ayeni tinkered side return home against Rivers United on Thursday for the final matchday of the season.
POST-MATCH QUOTES 🎙
Ayeni: “All the bookmakers did not give us a chance before the game, but I made the boys understand that no team is unbeatable in the world and they rose up to it. Enyimba is a very big Club in Africa and we respect them but we needed this point.
“Everyone knows the last match of the season will determine our status and we cannot leave any stone unturned, we are going to work assiduously with dedication and determination and I think at the end of the day we will make it.”
