Fisayo Dairo
Rivalries in global club football have often been confined within geographical co-locations. There’s also national rivalries such as Nigeria-Ghana, Argentina-Brazil etc.
These rivals tend to put every happening around them aside and throw everything to games that pit them together.
Players’ movements across these teams are also accompanied by resentment from fans of the departing club, fuelling the tension among both groups when and where their paths cross again.
For Enyimba FC of Aba, two-time African Champions League winners and Rivers United of Port Harcourt (formerly Dolphins), there has been a good dose of rivalry for the past two decades during which they consistently played in Nigeria’s top flight league.
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‘Tosin Oluwalowo
Jigawa Golden Stars were in superb form on Wednesday, defeating home side Abia Warriors 3-1 in their match-day four game of the Nigeria Professional Football League at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba on Wednesday.
Jigawa were the only side to win away in the 10 matches played across the country, securing their first away victory since 2008.
Warriors took an early lead through Utibe Archibong, who nodded home Nzube Anaezemba’s free kick in the seventh minute.
Olasukanmi Quadiri however drew Jigawa level in the 24th minute after a scramble in the box.
The home side missed a chance to go ahead, with Anaezemba missing a penalty kick on the hour mark.
Caption 2: Jigawa Golden Stars players arriving for a league match. Picture courtesy: LMC Media
Jigawa Golden Stars produced arguably the major talking point of matchday 4 in the Nigeria Profesional Football League today with a stunning 3-1 victory over Abia Warriors in Aba.
Before action commenced, the odds favoured Abia Warriors who were winless in three matches to cruise past the lowly rated Jigawa Golden Stars.
Coach Imama Amapakabo’s team started well, taking the lead early in the 7th minute when Arit Archibong’s header found the net with an assist from Nzube Anaezemba. It was the sort of start the Warriors wanted but their joy was short-lived as the visiting team found their way back into the contest with a scrambled goal scored by Olasunkanmi Quadri in the 24th minute.
Jigawa Golden Stars produced arguably the major talking point of matchday 4 in the Nigeria Profesional Football League today with a stunning 3-1 victory over Abia Warriors in Aba.
Before action commenced, the odds favoured Abia Warriors who were winless in three matches to cruise past the lowly rated Jigawa Golden Stars.
Coach Imama Amapakabo’s team started well, taking the lead early in the 7th minute when Arit Archibong’s header found the net with an assist from Nzube Anaezemba. It was the sort of start the Warriors wanted but their joy was short-lived as the visiting team found their way back into the contest with a scrambled goal scored by Olasunkanmi Quadri in the 24th minute.
Two minutes later, the in-form striker almost made it 2 nil after his efforts from 25 yards rattled the cross bar.
In the 26th minute, Abia Warriors’ Nzube Anaezemba almost equalised for his side but his acrobatic volley was brilliantly kept out by Akwa’s goalkeeprm Jean Efala.
However, a minute later, the visitors got the equalising goal through Ibukun Harrison who shot into the roof of the net.
Both teams tried to score before the first half ended but were unable to do with Akwa Utd having more shots on target than their visitors.
At the restart of the second half, Wisdom Fernando and Ubong Friday came in for Samuel Amadi and Morice Chukwu.