CAF Confederation Cup: Dolphins Swim Past The Vegetarians

After a pulsating ninety minutes of football, Dolphins scored one goal, took the game to penalty shoot outs and won 5-3 to edge past Leones Vegetarianos FC in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round.

Dolphins lost the 1st leg 1-0, and started the return leg the same way they did in Malabo by missing glaring chances.

As early as the 2nd minute Ifeanyi Egwim found space in the Vegetarianos area but his cross went way of mark and an overlapping Ayobami Asekunowo could not connect.

In the 16th minute it was the turn of Victor Alegbe to miss as some good passing moves by Dolphins completely split the Vegetarianos defence open but Alegbe who had just the post in front of him with goalkeeper Yannick out of the way blasted wide.

Fredor for the visitors had his chance to get a crucial away goal for his side in the 27th minute when they had a free kick after Jonathan Zikiye had fouled his man but his free header went wide after Sunday Rotimi had been beaten.

Players of Leones Vegetarianos rue their loss

However, it was Emeka Atuloma who turned hero of the day a minute later as he curled a free kick from about 25 yards to put Dolphins 1-0 up and tie the game on aggregate.

On the hour mark, Stanley Eguma took off Ifeanyi Egwim for Omoh Johnson and then Isiaka Olawale replaced Chidiebere Okolie who had missed a chance just a minute before he was substituted.

Christian Pyagbara freed him and with just the goalkeeper facing him after beating the offside trap, he blasted wide.

With eight minutes left on the clock, Victor Alegbe shook off his marker and tried a shot that was spilled by the goalkeeper but Pyagbara failed to bury the rebound.

In the ensuing penalty shootouts, Tijani Adamu, Emeka Atuloma, Victor Ezuruike, Chigozie Ihunda and Christian Pyagbara all scored while Yumby Nicanor, Pendah and Esoto Ada scored for Leones but Sunday Rotimi saved Guy Yannace’s kick.

Dolphins players led by Onyekachi Akakem and Sunday Rotimi celebrate the shootout win

Start list

22. Sunday Rotimi, 6. Ayobami Asekunowo, 26. Jonathan Zikye, 8. Emeka Atuloma, 30. Victor Ezuruike, 5. Joseph Douhadji, 3. Chidiebere Okolie, 13. IFeanyi Egwim, 9. Christian Pyagbara, 20. Tijani Adamu, 10. Victor Alegbe

Subs

7. Isiaka Olawale replaced Chidiebere Okolie

24. Omoh Johnson replaced Ifeanyi Egwim

14. Chigozie Ihunda replaced Victor Alegbe

CAF Confederation Cup: Dolphins v Leones Vegetarianos

Team News

Kick Off time 16: hrs Nigerian time

Date: Saturday, February 28, 2015

CAF Confederation Cup 1st round 2nd leg

Venue: Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium

TEAM NEWS

Dolphins coach, Stanley Eguma has made just one addition to the match day squad from the one that played in Malabo against Leones Vegetarianos two weeks ago.

Hope Fiberesima who missed the game has been included for the return leg.

Christian Pyagbara who left camp nine days ago to join up with the National U20 team has also returned and makes the match day squad.

Victor Ezuruike tries to stop an Enyimba player in the League last season

MATCH PREVIEW

In Malabo two weeks ago, it was a game of two halves.

Dolphins controlled the first half and had four clear chances to score. Isiaka Olawale, Ifeanyi Egwim, Christian Pyagbara and Tijani Adamu all missed while facing the goalkeeper when it would have been easier to score.

The home side got two chances in the second half and scored one.

Dolphins before now had never played against Leones Vegetarianos but have come up against two clubs from Equatorial Guinea.

In 2005 in the CAF Champions League first round, Dolphins lost 1-0 in Malabo to Renascimiento FC and won 3-0 in Port Harcourt.

In 2012, also in the CAF Champions League, Dolphins beat Sony Ela Nguema 3-0 in Malabo and 3-1 in Port Harcourt.

MATCH FACTS

How they played in first leg

Start list

22. Sunday Rotimi, 6. Ayobami Asekunowo, 26. Jonathan Zikye, 8. Emeka Atuloma, 30. Victor Ezuruike, 5. Joseph Douhadji, 7. Isiaka Olawale, 13. IFeanyi Egwim, 9. Christian Pyagbara, 20. Tijani Adamu, 10. Victor Alegbe

Subs

Omo Johnson replaced Christian Pyagbara, Chigozie Ihunda came in for Victor Alegbe and Ifeanyi Egwim was taken off for Chidiebere Okolie.

Match Day Squad

Goalkeepers

Sunday Rotimi

Joseph Onwuga

Defenders

Tobins Zikala

Jonathan Zikiye

Joseph Douhadji

Victor Ezuruike

Ayobami Asekunowo

Onyekachi Akakem

Midfielders

Hope Fiberesima

Emeka Atuloma

Chidiebere Okolie

Tijani Adamu

Isiaka Olawale

Victor Alegbe

Attackers

Christian Pyagbara

Ifeanyi Egwim

Omoh Johnson

Chigozie Ihunda

Rotimi, Douhadji, Egwim Make Dolphins Confederation Cup Team

Dolphins Fc

Captain of Dolphins, Sunday Rotimi, Togolese born defender, Joseph Yaovi Douhadji and attacker, Ifeanyi Egwim are some of the players registered by Dolphins for the CAF Confederation Cup.

Dolphins start their campaign on the continent on the 14th of February in Malabo against Leonas Vegetarianos FC and have already submitted a list of twenty two players to the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF.

Sixteen players from the team of last season will join five newly acquired players to do battle in the Confederation Cup.

Victor Ezuruike tries to stop an Enyimba player in the League last season

Sunday Rotimi is the only goalkeeper returning from the squad of last season while defenders who are returning to the team are Chidiebere Okolie, Joseph Douhadji, Ayobami Asekunowo, Tobins Zikalla, Jonathan Zikiye and Victor Ezuruike.

The returning midfielders are Tijani Adamu, Tasiu Lawal, Hope Fiberesima, Victor Alegbe, Emeka Atuloma and Isiaka Olawale while attackers are Chigozie Ihunda, Omo Johnson and Ifeanyi Egwim.

The names of the newly registered players will be made available to the press next week.

GLO NPFL: Dolphins Lose Again

Dolphins lost 2-0 to FC Taraba on Sunday in the Glo Professional Football League.

Starting without five regulars- Emem Eduok, Chidiebere Okoli, Emma Olowo, Ebube Okpokwu and Emeka Atuloma, rare starts were given to Omo Johnson, Stone Evbuomwan and Hope Fiberesima.

Just before half time, Usman Mohammed jumped high to head home a cross after Dolphins goalkeeper, Pius Ibrahim had completely mistimed the ball.

Dolphins

Two minutes into the second half, an FC Taraba player was fouled in the box and the referee wasted no time to call a penalty that was scored by Aminu Abubarkar.

Dolphins head coach, Stanley Eguma blamed loss of concentration by his players for the loss while FC Taraba’s coach, Tony Ogarandukwu said they will take each game as it comes as they continue their “operation stay up” campaign.

GLO NPL Week 4, Ayobanmi, Ibrahim make Dolphins match day squad

Ayobanmi Asekunowo, a central defender, formerly of Wikki Tourists and Pius Ibrahim a goalkeeper from Rangers have made the Dolphins match day squad.

Both Ayobanmi and Ibrahim could make their debuts for the club if they get to play on today against Sunshine Stars.

Stone Evbuomwan who made the match day squad against Heartland in Owerri but didn’t get to play is also in line for his first Dolphins’ start against Sunshine Stars.

The Dolphins Squad and jersey numbers

Goalkeepers

18- Austin Brown, 1- Pius Ibrahim

Defenders

31- Victor Ezuruike, 16- Chizoba Amaefule, 3- Chidiebere Okolie, 5- Joseph Douhadji, 6- Ayobanmi Asekunowo

Midfielders

15- Hope Ikiriko, 24- Nazeem Abutreka, 8- Emeka Atuloma, 20- Tijani Adamu, 4- Stone Evbuomwan, 7- Isiaka Olawale, 10- Victor Alegbe

Attackers

11- Emem Eduok, 9- Fred Okwara, 13- Ifeanyi Egwim, 32- Omo Johnson

Team News

Pius Ibrahim, Ayobanmi Asekunowo and Stone Evbuomwan are all set to make their debuts for the club if they play today.

Austin Brown, Victor Ezuruike, Chizoba Amaefule, Chidiebere Okolie, Joseph Douhadji and Hope Ikiriko have played every minute of both games for Dolphins so far this season.

Victor Alegbe who joined Dolphins from Wikki Tourists on a yearlong loan deal made his debut for the team in Ibadan last weekend against Crown FC.

The longest serving player in the match day squad is Austin Brown who joined the team in 2000. He however left in 2006 to play for Heartland but returned to the team in 2011.

Ifeanyi Egwim has already scored twice this season- in Owerri against Heartland and in Ibadan against Crown

Fred Okwara was the club’s joint top scorer in the League last season with seven goals. He is yet to score a goal this season.

Recent head to head

2012/ 13 season: Dolphins 1-1 Sunshine: Sunshine 3-0 Dolphins

Debuts: Tijani Adamu (Kaduna United), Hope Fiberesima (Sharks) got their debuts for Dolphins on match day 1 against Heartland in OWerri

Victor Alegbe (Wikki Tourists), Bolaji Sarkin (Wikki Tourists), and Ebube Okpokwu (Elkanemi) got their Dolphins debuts against Crown in Ogbomosho last weekend.

Injuries: The Dolphins team will have a clean bill of health as they go into Today’s game against Sunshine Stars as they have no injury worries ahead of the game.

Joseph Douhadji: “We need to win against Sunshine Stars on Today. Sunshine is a good side and they are always difficult for us to play. We still remember what happened last season to us against them.

“Besides, we will not expect any favours from referees because it seems like Nigerian referees have changed. After what we saw in Ibadan against Crown we now believe that Nigerians referees no longer aide home sides so we will give our best against Sunshine Stars.”

GLO NPL Debut day draw excites Fiberesima of Dolphins FC

Hope Fiberesima says he is excited to have been part of the Dolphins team that got a milestone draw against Heartland in Owerri.

Incidentally, it was Fiberesima’s first game for the club and he says the thought of Dolphins never getting a result in Owerri spurred him to give his all.

“I was surprised when I came to Dolphins to hear that they have never picked a point at Owerri before.

“I am coming from Sharks and we have done that lots of times, even getting a win so when I heard Dolphins always lose in Owerri, it spurred me to give my all,” Fiberesima said.

“I joined Dolphins because I wanted to play for a club that will win either the League or Federation Cup. I want to play in Europe but I want to win a trophy in Nigeria before I leave and I believe that Dolphins will give me that opportunity,” he said.

Hope Fiberesima, Dolphins FC

Education a priority

Hope says he comes from a family of graduates and if he wasn’t a footballer, he would have been in school pursuing a good education.

“If I wasn’t a footballer I would have been in school chasing a degree and going further than first degree because that is what my family is about.

“Most of us in the family are all graduates… well, except me and I still want to continue my education to meet the family standard.

“Though I am playing professional football now, I still have my eyes on education and I hope to continue one day,” he enthused.

He described the Dolphins as a great team with exceptional players and adds that he is really excited to be part of the group.

Defence or midfield

At Sharks, Fiberesima was known for his exploits in the center of defense but he played as a defending midfielder against Heartland in Owerri.

“I can play in the center of defence or in midfield but I prefer midfield because I help the central defenders a lot when I play in front of them.

“I often use my size and strength as well as my marking skills so I prefer that position and I am happy the coaches used me in that role and I hope I will continue to play from midfield for Dolphins.”

Fiberesima played all ninety minutes and was called to action in the dying minutes of the game against Heartland when the pressure was much on his side.

Playing in front of Victor Ezuruike and Togolese, Joseph Daohadji, all three of them as well as goalkeeper, Austin Brown were instrumental in Dolphins getting a point

As the Heartland wingers continued to whip the crosses in they got to the balls first and sent them out of the Dolphins box.