NPFL: Enyimba Vs Akwa United (Live Match!)

The Glo Premier League season is

back and what a fixture to kick

things off for these teams.

Enyimba International of Aba host

neighbours Akwa United on

Sunday 8th of March and going

by history, this is a fixture of no

dull moment both on and off the

pitch.

The main event is 4:15pm Sunday

evening when these two teams

will go head to head seeking

maximum points. We bring to you

an array of stars to watch from

both sides, key battles that could

decide the encounter.



Ezekiel Bassey v Nnamso Edo



Following in the footsteps of

record goalscorer Mfon Udoh and

Femi Thomas, Bassey switched

sides in preseason to join the

Peoples Elephant. His displays

especially during the Super-4

Invitational Tournament were

promising and surely a sign of

good things to come. Pacy, quick

feet and full of tricky, Bassey has

an opportunity to win over the

hearts of the Aba fans who will as

usual pack out the Enyimba

Stadium to see him make a debut

for Enyimba on Sunday. In other

words, the brotherly hugs and

high fives with his former

teammates will surely wait till

after the game.

Standing in his way will be the

energetic, strong and versatile

Nnamso Edo. His nose for long

range volleys and free kicks is a

nightmare to any opposition.

Enyimba will be cautious

conceding free-kick yards off the

area, particular when they reflect

on his rattling 25 yarder that

sealed a win for the Promise

Keepers in Uyo a couple of

seasons ago. Edo however

understands the quality of the

man facing him on the flanks and

this may limit his attacking forays.

An exciting one for the neutrals

watching these two former

teammates try to edge it over

each other.



Ifeanyi Anaemena v Aniekpeno

Udoh



Few Enyimba fans will forget the

goalless draw with Giwa FC last

season. It was a game many

defined as the low point of last

season and it eventually cost the

manager his job. At the heart of

the visiting defence that day was a

tall well built centre-half, Ifeanyi

Anaemena who gave the Enyimba

strikers a torrid afternoon. The

reward he eventually got was a

move to Enyimba in pre-season. A

strong commanding presence,

Anaemena already looks at home

in the Enyimba defence. Played all

but one game at the Super-4, He

surely looks the mould of previous

Enyimba center backs.

Sunday's game pits him against

Aniekpeno Udoh whose rise has

been steady since joining the

Promise Keepers from Amateur

side, Hill FC. His strong and

captivating performance in the

closing stages of last season

simply won over the hearts of

fans of the Uyo side. The big

striker who is being likened to

Chelsea’s Didier Drogba is poised

to give Anaemena and his co

defenders a torrid time on Sunday

but you cannot help but admit that

it is a good matchup. Akwa

United’s hope for goals or a

positive outcome in the epic

fixture lies on the power and pace

of Aniekpeno.



Chima Uluocha v Ini Akpan



Kadiri Ikhana will slip in yet

another new recruit into his

starting eleven on Sunday. The

coach ripped state rivals Abia

Warriors of their influential

captain and midfield general

Chima Uluocha and his first task

for the league season will be to do

a tidy 'dirty job' in heart of the

Enyimba midfield. Shielding the

defence is one, but also vital will

be his attacking contribution.

Chima is a natural leader, so

expect his usual 'barking and

pointing' throughout the game.

As an influential captain and

source of inspiration to his

teammates, Ini Akpan is expected

to rally his colleagues for a swipe

at the Peoples Elephant in the

opening fixture. The schemer, who

was injured for most of the second

half of last season is fully fit and

back to action. His wealth of

experience and versatility will be

very key to delivering quality

passes required by the strikers for

goals to emanate.

In all we are set for a feisty tasty

encounter on Sunday. The game is

live on SuperSport 9 from 4pm.