The maiden edition of the Governor Ikpeazu Pre-season Tournament enters day two on Monday after four impressive games lit up the tournament on Sunday at the magnificent Enyimba International Stadium, Aba with 11 goals scored on the opening day.
The stage is set for the second day of the tournament and the Dasportstainment247 crew previews the four games on offer on Monday with all matches billed for the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba.
JEWEL FC vs ENYIMBA (10 am)
Enyimba began the Governor Ikpeazu Pre-season Tournament in Aba with a flourish on Sunday with a one-sided 4-0 spanking of Cynosure FC of Abakaliki.
They are up against Jewel FC an unknown quantity from Aba. Jewel were not listed for action on Sunday and so must come out gun blazing against the People’s Elephants whose fans are already predicting another massacre.
The Governor Ikpeazu Preseason Tournament is the first time Nigerians are getting to see Enyimba in competitive action as they are the flag bearer of the country in the CAF Champions League. With the way they decimated Cynosure on Sunday, I doubt if they have disappointed anybody. But can they maintain their winning streak?
NGWA UNITED vs FLIGHT FC (12 pm)
Flight FC took off impressively when they were mesmerised 4-0 by Abia Warriors on Sunday but they have an opportunity to make amend for their bad start when they trade tackles with Ngwa United.
Ngwa United sent tongue wagging some seasons ago when they eliminated some Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL) teams in the Aiteo Cup but in recent seasons they have hit that height again. The Governor Ikpeazu Pre-season Tournament presents an opportunity for them to show that they are no flash in the pan.
CYNOSURE FC vs A&A FC (2 pm)
Cynosure FC got a reality check on Sunday in their first game of the Governor Ikpeazu Pre-season Tournament when they were whitewashed by Enyimba. The margin of the defeat was unexpected because the same Abakaliki based side performed poorly in another tournament they attended in Port Harcourt before their detour to Aba.
Cynosure have a wonderful chance to redeem themselves when they host A&A FC of Uyo who are a no small team based on the upset they created when they thrashed Abia Comets 2-0 on Sunday. Sunday Afolabi coached Cynosure must make hay against A&A FC if they are to still be rated as having an outside chance to progress from the group.
A&A FC is on everyone’s lips in Aba after the finesse with which they dispatched Abia Comets. Can they make it back to back victory?
ABIA WARRIORS vs PLATEAU UNITED (4 pm)
Abia Warriors tango with Plateau United is no doubt the star match of the second day of the Governor Ikpeazu Pre-season Tournament on Monday after both teams opened the tournament with victories over Flight FC and Abia Greater Tomorrow respectively on Sunday.
Abia Warriors had an excellent first half against Flight FC of Gboko and the four goals they plundered showed they still have a lot in the tank as they prepare for Plateau United tie on Monday evening. The Warriors are still bouyed by the appointment of Imama Amapakabo but can he influence anything the Peace Boys?
Plateau United have not really wowed their fans with their cagey 1-0 win over Abia Greater Tomorrow on Sunday. They are Nigeria’s other CAF Champions League representatives but the results they have posted in the preseason thus far have been less than stellar. Defeats to Niger Tornadoes(2-0), Katsina United (4-0) and a few others indicated that all is well with the 2017 NPFL Champions.
The Peace Boys must come up with their A-game against Abia Warriors with barely 13 days to their CAF Champions League preliminary round fixture with Simba SC of Tanzania.
