The NPFL resumes this weekend after a self-inflicted mid-season hiatus with the full bouquet of ten eye-catching matches – the reverse fixtures of match day nineteen – to look forward to.
In the garden city of Port Harcourt, Rivers United and Dakkada will go head-to-head on a Sunday afternoon fixture, with memories of a six-goal, reverse-fixture thriller which saw Dakkada triumph 4-2, reverberating.
For United, who have yet to pick up a top-flight point against Dakkada in two years, such dreadful memories must be quickly banished to the thrash heap of history and attention must now be paid to what might be in the offing in tomorrow’s contest especially having now experienced first-hand how venomous Dakkada’s biting attack can be.
With the just-concluded transfer window properly utilized, changes in playing personnel are expected at both sides. Sunday Adetunji, who was brought in from Abia Warriors, has already hit the ground running with his first goal for United against Enyimba a few days ago while Musa Bashiru’s brace on his debut for Dakkada set his side on course for a memorable victory over Rivers United on the last match day. Goalkeeper Ospina Egbe who had a day never to recollect is amongst the mid-season departures from United while Christian Ekong leads the movement out of Dakkada.
Rivers United are the only side left in the NPFL with the 100% home record courtesy of their nine wins from nine home outings and they, in company of Dakkada and four others, are one of just six sides with the record of scoring in every home match they have played.
These records are about to be gruesomely tested by a Dakkada outfit who have made spot-on fortifications in all departments with the recruitment of a host of dark horses who have already stepped up to the plate.
Afeez Awakan, Solomon Kantoma, Spencer Bassey and Sunday Awasa are four of seven time-tested and experience-laden arrivals at Dakkada and a chunk of them have already made the traveling party to Port Harcourt.
Kick-off is at four o’clock in the afternoon while live text updates and video highlights are available on all social media handles of Dakkada Football Club.
KEY STATS
• Both Dakkada and Rivers United possess the least total of drawn matches with two draws apiece.
• Rivers United are the only NPFL side left with the 100% home record.
• Rivers United have been brandished three red cards.
• Dakkada have been brandished one red card.
• Dakkada’s twenty-two goals have been scored by ten players with Aniekan Ekpe the joint-leading scorer with four.
• Rivers United’s twenty-two goals have been scored by nine players with Fortune Omoniwari the leading scorer with five.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
NPFL 2020/2021
Dakkada 4-2 Rivers United (04/04/2021)
NPFL 2019/2020
Dakkada 2-1 Rivers United (12/01/2020)
LATEST RESULTS
Rivers United 1-0 Enyimba
Dakkada 4-2 Rivers United
Dakkada 4-2 Rivers United
Enyimba 1-0 Dakkada
Rivers United 1-0 Sunshine Stars
Dakkada 1-0 Plateau United
Lobi Stars 4-1 Rivers United
Nasarawa United 3-0 Dakkada
Rivers United 1-0 MFM
Dakkada 1-0 Katsina United
NEXT FIVE FIXTURES
Rangers Vs Rivers United
Dakkada Vs Akwa United
Rivers United Vs Abia Warriors
Jigawa GS Vs Dakkada
Kwara United Vs Rivers United
Dakkada Vs FC Ifeanyi Ubah
Rivers United Vs Wikki Tourists
MFM Vs Dakkada
Heartland Vs Rivers United
Dakkada Vs Lobi Stars
