Aniekan Ekpe inspires Dakkada comeback victory against Jigawa Stars

Aniekan Ekpe scored one and set up another, as Dakkada came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory against Jigawa Golden Stars at Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Sunday.
Mohammed Abubakar put the visitors in front in the 25th minute, but Aniekan Ekpe fired in a freekick to ensure that the home side went into the break level — and then assisted Solomon Chigozie to score the winner.
The hosts made the first goal attempt of the game, with Christian Ekong aiming a shot at the near post. The tame effort was coolly collected by goalkeeper Paul Godwin.
Stone Onukwube, who scored the only goal in Jigawa’s opening-day win against Sunshine Stars, then caused a scare at Dakkada box. The former Go-Round striker sent a nice low cross into the Dakkada box, but none of his team-mates could make contact with the delivery. It wouldn’t have counted anyway, as the offside flag had gone up.
In the 15th minute, the away side again went close to breaking the deadlock — this time through James Ajako, who sent a lovely volley towards Thomas Omokhudu’s goal. The Dakkada goalkeeper managed to parry the ball behind for a corner.
And barely ten minutes later, the moment Badaru Boys were waiting for arrived. Abubakar prodded in from close range after the ball was nodded into his path, to give his side the lead.
On the half-hour mark, the visitors nearly extended the lead after Peter Dogara latched onto a long ball. Omokhudu went down to punch the midfielder’s effort and his defence did well to clear the rebound.
Ekong then connected with Unwana Asuquo’s cross, but his header failed to trouble Godwin. Moments later, the former Akwa United man failed to make the most of another opportunity.
Ekpe, though, levelled things up just before the stroke of half-time. The captain curled a freekick from just outside the box around the wall and into the back of the net.
Eight minutes after the break, Chigozie nodded in Ekpe’s brilliant cross to give Umar Danlami’s side the lead.
The final 30 minutes were largely boring — though substitute Kokoete Udo, with 20 minutes of normal time left to play, caused panic at the visitors’ goal area. After latching onto a through ball, the winger picked out fellow substitute Philip Archibong with a square pass, but the no.9 failed to guide in from four yards.
And in added time, Udo hit the sidenetting after cutting in from the left.
The result keeps Jigawa seventh in the table, but pushes Dakkada up to fourth.
 
Dakkada XI Vs Jigawa Stars: 13 Thomas Omokhudu (Gk), 25 Unwana Asuquo, 3 Ubong Williams, 8 Arinze Ebuka, 15 Olawale Doyeni, 28 Francis Odinaka, 6 Isaac George, 26 Solomon Chigozie, 30 Christian Ekong, 10 Aniekan Ekpe (c), 12 Yazid Adamu
Subs: 1 Olawale Oramade (Gk), 19 Ubong Idio
24 Samuel Akpan, 40 Kokoete Udo, 9 Philip Archibong, 32 Lawal Muritala, 29 Ukeme Umoh
34 Emmanuel Charles
Jigawa Stars XI: 30. Paul Godwin, 3 James Ajako, 2 Bilal Yakubu, 8 Richards Christopher, 5 Olanrewaju Rahman, 33 Papa Idris, 21 Mohammed Abubakar, 22 Peter Dogara, 11 Abdullahi Musa Lala, 10 Ali Kalla Musa, 9 Stone Onukwube
Subs: 1 Mukhtar Ibrahim, 12 Halilu Obadaki, 15 Ibrahim Umar, 17 Yusuf Abdullahi, 19 Mubarak Bello, 20 Andrew Idoko, 36 Olasunkanmi Quadri