Gombe United’s Afolabi Abdulwaheed, Ayo Saka of Rivers United and Enyimba’s Ugochukwu Leonard have been shortlisted for the inaugural VAT Wonder Goal award for Match Day 20. The three made the cut from the total of 18 goals scored across the centers in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) last weekend. The video footage of […]
via Saka, Abdulwaheed and Ugochukwu make VAT Wonder Goal Cut — newfanzoneblog
An 80th minute scrambled goal by Clement ‘Sago’ Ogu was just enough to save the day for a collection of players from the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), as they settled for a 1-1 draw against foreign-based products of Ajegunle, Lagos-based youth club, Bello Boys FC. The players from overseas had gone ahead as early […]
Kick Off: 4 pm, Nigerian Time
Date: Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Nigeria Professional Football League
Venue: Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt
TEAM NEWS
Festus Austin, Sunday Rotimi, Ayo Saka and Godbless Asamoah return to Dolphins’ match day squad for the game against Sunshine Stars in Port Harcourt.
Festus Austin served a one match suspension for the game against Warri Wolves because he had picked up five yellow cards while Sunday Rotimi served the last of his three match suspension for his red card against Nasarawa United.
Godbless Asamoah was in Ghana for his wedding ceremony and only just returned to Nigeria and Port Harcourt on Saturday.
Ayo Saka was given the match in Warri off to rest his troublesome knee that has slowed him down this season.
As a result, Joseph Onwuga, Ifeanyi Egwim, Ayobami Asekunowo and Ebuka Nnaebue were left out.
Omoh Johnson is still out with a hamstring injury suffered in Ilorin against Kwara United while Chiwendu Ali (ankle) and Igwe Nwosu (Crack on the shin) are other injury absentees for the team.
MATCH FACTS
This fixture in Port Harcourt on Match Day 4 ended 2-1 in favour of Sunshine Stars after Chiwendu Ali put Dolphins ahead in the first half.
Dolphins have lost at home this season to Enyimba 3-1 and have failed to win 6 other games against Kwara (0-0), Warri Wolves (0-0), Sharks (1-1), Giwa (1-1), Wikki (1-1), Abia (1-1).
Dolphins form in last six matches
16/08 NPFL Warri Wolves A 1-0
09/08 NPFL Abia Warriors H 1 – 1
05/08 NPFL Kwara United A 2 – 1
02/08 NPFL Nasarawa United H 3 – 1
18/07 NPFL Nasarawa United A 1 – 0
15/07 NPFL Shooting Stars H 1 – 0
Head-to-head with Sunshine Stars FC
Premier League 2015
Sunshine Stars Dolphins 2:1 19.04.2015
Premier League 2014
Sunshine Stars Dolphins 0:0 17.08.2014
Dolphins Sunshine Stars 2:1 29.03.2014
Premier League 2013
Sunshine Stars Dolphins 3:0 11.08.2013
Dolphins Sunshine Stars 1:1 28.03.2013
Premier League 2012
Sunshine Stars Dolphins 1:0 13.06.2012
Dolphins Sunshine Stars 1:0 07.01.2012
Premier League 2011
Sunshine Stars Dolphins 3:2 23.10.2011
Dolphins Sunshine Stars 1:0 05.02.2011
Dolphins FC Match Day Squad
Godwin Ayalogu
Isiaka Olawale
Israel Abia
Joseph Douhadji
Victor Ezuruike
Christian Weli
Ebitimi Agogo
Chigozie Ihunda
Godwin Obinze
Oghogho Oduokpe
Chidiebere Okolie
Onyekachi Akakem
Jonathan Zikiye
Festus Austin
Sunday Rotimi
Ayo Saka
Godbless Asamoah
Daniel Victor
Christian Weli, the Port Harcourt based rookie may begin to play League games for Dolphins as the second round of the league resumes on Saturday.
Weli, a home grown talent was registered to play in the Federation Cup at the start of the season and featured in two games in the competition.
His performances in two games against FC Jalingo in Makurdi and Niger Tornadoes Feeders in Ado Eki were spectacular and he may be ripe for the big occasion.
Dolphins have had problems in midfield ever since the start of the season with Tijani Adamu, Victor Alegbe and Ayo Saka in and out of injuries and Emeka Atuloma falling out of line in recent times.
With coaches of the team working around the club to strengthen the squad ahead of the League’s July 31 deadline, Weli may be number one on the list of players to be registered in the mid season transfer window.
Already the club has penciled down changes in the central defence area, midfield and center forward positions.
Weli was signed on by Dolphins at the start of the current season
A controversial goal in added time by Prince Aggrey gave Sunshine Stars a 2-1 win over Dolphins in the league on Sunday evening.
It was a game Dolphins drew last season and when Chiwendu Ali put the Pride of Rivers ahead after 37 minutes it seemed like another day in the office for the 2011 league winners.
Ayo Saka turned round his marker in midfield and passed to Victor Alegbe who in turn freed Ifeanyi Egwim on the left.
Egwim’s cross who struck in ferociously by Chiwendu in only his second game for Dolphins after joining from National Division One side, Go Round FC.
Two minutes later, referee, John Charles called a penalty for Sunshine after a Dolphins defender was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box, but Tunji Adeniyi shot the kick wide.
At half time, Sunshine Stars coach, Kennedy Boboye brought in Dele Olorundare and he made his impact felt two minutes later.
Joseph Douhadji failed to head clear a cross into the Dolphins area, Olorundare latched on the loose ball and found Adeniyi who controlled well before slotting home behind Sunday Rotimi in goal for Dolphins.
With the game in added time, Sunday Rotimi failed to take care of a cross into his area and Prince Aggrey scored though it seemed he handled the ball before turning round to score, a glaring hand ball both the referee and his assistant missed.
Dolphins’ players protested the goal for two minutes before restarting the game.
Stanley Eguma was livid at the end of the game, blaming the referee for the loss
“The referee made us to lose this game. The whole world has seen it. Even under live television this happened. We have to do something about this because it is not the best,” Eguma said.
Kennedy Akinboboye of Sunshine Stars described it as a very difficult game but that he noticed the Dolphins players got complacent thinking they had escaped with a draw before he punished them with game changing substitutions
“It was difficult playing against a very experienced side. I never gave up. I brought in some people to push the attack and when I noticed Dolphins were relaxed thinking they had gotten a draw, we pushed up,” Boboye said.
Nigeria Professional Football League
Rescheduled Match day 2 fixture
Abia Warriors v Dolphins FC
Kick Off 4pm
Abia Township Stadium
TEAM NEWS
Dolphins return to the league after ouster from the CAF Confederation Cup two weekends ago where they were walked over by Club Africain without kicking a ball.
Technical Manager, Stanley Eguma keeps faith in eleven of the players who were in Tunis for last the game against Club Africain as Sunday Rotimi, Joseph Onwuga, Victor Ezuruike, Jonathan Zikiye, Onyekachi Akakem, Tobins Zikalla, Joseph Doujhadji, Emeka Atuloma, Hope Fiberesima, Omoh Johnson and Chigozie Ihunda all make the match day squad.
Cyril Oriakhu, who joined Dolphins from Rangers International returns to the match day squad after making his debut against Kwara United on March 7 in the opening game of the league.
Festus Austin also returns to the match day squad for the first time since September 24, 2014 when he cracked his shin against Warri Wolves in Warri.
He only resumed training two months ago.
Chiwendu Ali who signed up from Go Round FC was in the match day aquad against Kwara United but did not get to play so could make his debut against Abia Warriors on Wednesday.
Ayo Saka who got his Dolphins debut against Kwara United is in the match day squad after he missed the trip to Tunisia because he was not registered for the competition.
Ifeanyi Egwim returns from injury he sustained against Kwara United and Sochuma Elum, who signed up from Dynamic Africa Stars, an Academy may also get his debut for the club against Abia Warriors
MATCH PREVIEW
Dolphins managed a draw at home to Kwara United on match day 1 and haven’t played a league game ever since as the team had to travel to Tunisia for the game against Club Africain in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Last season Dolphins kept only two clean sheets away from home, against Sunshine Stars in Akure and against Sharks in Port Harcourt.
They have started this season with a clean sheet at home against Kwara United on match day 1.
Recent form
Last five matches
Abia Warriors
3/22/15: El Kanemi Warriors 3 – 1 Abia Warriors
3/8/15: Giwa FC 0 – 0 Abia Warriors
11/16/14: Gombe United 4 – 1 Abia Warriors
11/2/14: Abia Warriors 3 – 0 Sharks
10/26/14: Crown 0 – 1 Abia Warriors
Dolphins
3/14/15: Club Africain 3 – 0 Dolphins (Walk over)
3/8/15: Dolphins 0 – 0 Kwara United
2/28/15: Dolphins 1 – 0 Leones Vegetarianos
2/14/15: Leones Vegetarianos 1 – 0 Dolphins
23/11/14: Enyimba 2-1 Dolphins
HEAD TO HEAD
10/5/14 : Abia Warriors 2 – 1 Dolphins FC
4/30/14: Dolphins FC 3 – 0 Abia Warriors
Match Day Squad
Sunday Rotimi
Joseph Onwuga
Victor Ezuruike
Cyril Oriakhu
Festus Austin
Jonathan Zikiye
Onyekachi Akakem
Tobins Zikalla
Chiwendu Ali
Joseph Doujhadji
Emeka Atuloma
Hope Fiberesima
Ayo Saka
Damiel Israel
Omoh Johnson
Ifeanyi Egwim
Sochuma Elum
Chigozie Ihunda
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