After a 1-1 draw at Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Boxing Day, Akwa United gained the respect of Shooting Stars fans as the visitors made daring football possession at the over-crowded Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.
Akwa United’s Utibe Archibong gave Akwa a lead when he scored the goal in the 29th minute, connecting with Seth Mayi’s right-wing cross.
Playing on Sunday with the most ball possession, the visitors dazzled the Oluyole Warriors faithfuls who earlier taunted Akwa with 3-0 defeat but had to applause the visitor’s heroic feat.
Right from the 30th minute of the first half, Shooting Stars were in trouble until Isiaka Mutiu’s 90th-minute goal elicited wild celebrations and long-awaited relief from humiliation.
‘Operations Akwa must fall’ earlier planned by Shooting Stars almost backfired as “Akwa United played not as visitors buy with exceptional confidence”. Oludotun Agibola, an Ibadan based sports journalist observed.
Shooting stars point man Gafar Olafimihan missed a couple of scoring chances alongside his counterparts, Odeyemi Ebenezer, Alalade Wasiu as they were no match for Denis Nya and Charles Okafor defence for Akwa.
Meanwhile, coach Kennedy Boboye was not pleased with the late-game equalizer and blamed his team’s late defensive play.
For Oyo State Sports Commissioner, Hon. Seun Fakorede, the 1-1 draw was a great delight with more pleasure at the return of football culture in the state.
Fakorede was happy to see spectators filling the stadium’s 10,000-seat capacity with overflowing spectators.
