Despite being recognized as the rookie defender of the 22/23 NPFL season Akwa United defender Wisdom Ndon might have experienced the toughest game of his young but bright career with a 5-3 thumping of the Promisekeepers in the hands of Bayelsa United on opening day.
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In his debut league match since joining Akwa United, Coach Fatai Osho aimed to make a strong start. Striker Hadi Mohammed provided the Promise Keepers with a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute, but Alex Jerry's goal in the 27th minute equalized the score.
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The 2021 champions reclaimed their lead just before halftime when Oguntayo Seyi's volley found the net after a deflection. However, the home team fought back, and Robert Mizo leveled the score just before halftime.
After the break, both teams pushed forward, creating scoring opportunities, but their efforts were either saved by the goalkeepers or missed.
With fifteen minutes remaining in the game, midfielder Oguntayo Seyi put the Promise Keepers ahead for the third time with a powerful shot into the top left corner of the net. The home team equalized once more in the 82nd minute when striker Robert Mizo intercepted a back pass from Etim Mathew. He then secured the lead for Bayelsa United by heading home a corner kick three minutes from time.
In a swift counter-attack, substitute Emmanuel Nneoyi sealed the comeback win for coach Teibowei Diepreye's team.
Individual brilliance not really standing out on the day as collective efforts would be more needed - a spirited Ndon making a number of blocks and clearances (4) yet not able to stop the influx.
We as a team recognize that our performance today was not the Akwa United standard and that we had to do better, we would love to do so in our next game and make sure that our fans believe in us. They were better tha us today, but we will try our best to make sure that this does not repeat itself as the season goes on. - Ndon siad while talking to Abraham Joseph of Comfort 95.1FM, Uyo after the game.
This result unfortunately keeps Akwa United bottom of the NPFL after just a game played via conceding the most number of goals on the match week.
Fatai Osho's men will aim to right their wrongs in their match week two fixture against high flying, two years in existence, debut game winning Sporting Lagos at the Nest Of Champions in Uyo on Sunday, October 8, 2023, in a redemption game which yet might not be easy as they take on the same side who three months ago knocked them out of the Naija Super 8 in the semi finals to ahead and win it in Lagos.
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