The fifth edition of the Ifeanyi Ekwueme powered TICO/SELECT Preseason tournament for NPFL sides kicked off in Uyo on Tuesday August 29, 2023 with mouth watering ties.
The tournament which has over the years served as a dress rehearsal for the NPFL has four NPFL sides and four NNL teams in two groups.
In the first game, NPFL defending champions forced newly promoted NNL side, Ona-PAL FC to a 2-2 draw.
Abede Jerry put the Umuahia side into the lead at the 18th minutes of play but Daniel Ekpo who recently joined Enyimba from Bayelsa United restored parity for the Nine times league winners.
The resilient NNL side with good attacking fley regained their lead in the 51st minute in the second half but Enyimba’s experience came to bear especially at the later stages of the game as their relentless pressure payed off when Enyimba’s Chisom was brought down in the box for a spot kick which he also converted at 82nd minute of play but all efforts to get the winning goal by the People’s Elephant didn’t come through before the referee brought the game to a close.
The second game of match day one saw two NPFL sides Rivers United and Abia Warriors test their mights with the news of the NPFL draws filtering in from Abuja as both teams under the tutelage of very experienced Coaches, Eguma and Erasmus Onu failed to cancel each other out.
Both teams fielded very strong line up to the delight of the fans who defied the rain to see the preseason games played in Uyo for the first time.
Match day two continues today Wednesday August 30, 2023 as Rivers United take on FC One Rocket by 10am and Apex Krane squares up against Abia Warriors by 12noon.
Also, Enyimba returns to action when the take on Coal City FC by 2pm while the last game of the day will see hosts, Akwa United taking on FC Ona-PAL by 4pm.
/Samson
