NNL OPENER: DAKKADA HELD TO A DRAW IN IKENNE

Edidiong Stephen
Sat. Dec. 7, 2024. Ikenne.

Dakkada began their 2024/2025 Nigeria National League – NNL, campaign with an impressive 1-1 draw against Beyond Limits at Remo Stars stadium, Ikenne, on Saturday morning.

Dakkada took the initiative from the get-go with some high-pressing football, and there was no surprise when, in the twenty-seventh minute, their intensity culminated in the opening goal.

Anietie Uko, fondly called “Iron”, found space in the box and reached at the end of Ubong Solomon’s low cross before burying a shot in the far bottom corner.

There was high refereeing drama just before half-time as referee Omotoye Toyese, in a VAR-styled fashion, had to bizarrely rescind both the red card he wrongfully issued to Dakkada’s Bassey Odiong and the yellow card he issued to goalkeeper Edidiong Usoro in one fell swoop before sending off the goalkeeper for fouling Limits’ Oladimeji outside the box after two successive consultations with his assistants.

With time running out in the second haf, the home side made their numerical advantage count when defender Mohammed Abdullahi caught the Dakkada defence ball-watching and rose highest to plant a header in an unmanned first post from a corner kick in the eighty-first minute.

The Chosen Ones would have goalkeeper Peter Daniel to thank for saving them the point following a brilliant double save from a direct free-kick and its rebound deep into the allotted seven minutes of added-on time.

With the spoils shared, both sides will now be looking forward to their matchday two fixtures next weekend as Dakkada welcome Warri Wolves to Uyo while Beyond Limits visit Ile-Ogbo Osun as guests to Igbajo United.