Kano Pillars and Dakkada will do battle in a match day thirty-three fixture of the NPFL this Sunday at Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
Dakkada came from two goals down to triumph by the odd goal in five when these sides met in the reverse fixture in an enthralling NPFL masterpiece in Uyo. Dark memories of that epochal outing will be lurking on the minds of Kano Pillars and would be a vicious reminder of just how brutal the Chosen Ones can be on their day.
One of the contributory factors which favoured Dakkada on that fateful day may not have been unconnected with the fact that the aging minds and lethargic legs of most of the senior players of Kano Pillars found it difficult to cope with the energy levels of the youthful composition of the Dakkada squad who were basically full of running and fast-paced counter attacks.
Pillars have since made moves to correct that ill with the injection of some youth into their squad via the acquisition of Akwa Ibom-born duo of Kokoete Udo and Aniekeme Okon as well as Ezekiel Tamaraebifha who joined from Lobi Stars to give them a balanced blend of youth and experience.
Pillars, who are one of only six sides yet to suffer a home defeat, are keeping a stuffy company in the continental places of the standings with Nasarawa United, Rivers United and Enyimba all breathing down their necks.
They go into tomorrow’s contest anxious for an immediate return to winning ways after suffering a hugely consequential defeat at a rejuvenated Sunshine Stars last weekend. Although Pillars omitted some senior players like captain Rabiu Ali from their start list for an Aiteo Cup fixture in midweek but such players did travel with the team, therefore the lack of freshness may prove problematic when they file out against a much fresher Dakkada opposition.
Dakkada arrive this contest off the back of a fascinating 1-0 home win over Heartland boasting a recent form guide of four wins, one draw and a defeat in their last six matches as well as a reputation of the ninth best away side in the division with eleven points amassed on their travels. The Chosen Ones will have to conjure up a sequence of strategies which they would deploy during the course of tomorrow’s match to emerge unscathed after ninety minutes.
When defending in and around the penalty area the players of Dakkada would do well to stay on their feet and just shepherd their opponents out of the box without even trying to get the ball. That would be the first strategy at leaving Kaduna without a defeat as no other NPFL side has been awarded more penalty kicks (10) than Kano Pillars who have a conversion rate of eighty percent.
There will be a sense of homecoming for the head coach of Dakkada, Umar Danlami, who will be returning to Kaduna, his state of origin, for the second time this season with the hope of a bit of a similar result as in his first return when Jigawa GS forced Dakkada to a 1-1 draw through a controversial stoppage-time penalty.
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Pillars’ duo of Aniekeme Okon, who spent three of the formative years of his career at Dakkada, and Kokoete Udo who joined Pillars during the midseason transfer window directly from Dakkada where he scored two goals and provided three assists in thirteen matches, will be up against their former colleagues, if selected.
KEY STATS
• No member of the current Dakkada squad has featured in the start list of each of all three previous meetings between the sides whereas the Kano Pillars’ quartet of Rabiu Ali, Nwagwa Nyima, Malam Auwalu and Chris Madaki all featured from the start in all three previous meetings between Dakkada and Kano Pillars.
• Kano Pillars’ thirty-four goals have been scored by eleven players with Rabiu Ali the leading scorer with twelve while Dakkada’s thirty-two goals have been scored by thirteen players with Isaac George the leading scorer with seven.
• Kano Pillars have been brandished five red cards while Dakkada have two.
• Kano Pillars have been awarded ten penalty kicks so far (two missed, eight converted); the highest tally for any side in the NPFL this campaign. Dakkada have been awarded four spot kicks.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
NPFL 2020/2021
Dakkada 3-2 Kano Pillars (28/02/2021)
NPFL 2019/2020
Kano Pillars 2-0 Dakkada (01/03/2020)
Dakkada 1-2 Kano Pillars (04/12/2019)
LATEST RESULTS
Sunshine Stars 1-0 Kano Pillars
Dakkada 1-0 Heartland
Kano Pillars 3-0 Lobi Stars
Wikki Tourists 2-1 Dakkada
MFM 2-1 Kano Pillars
Dakkada 2-0 Kwara United
Kano Pillars 1-0 FCIU
Abia Warriors 0-1 Dakkada
Jigawa GS 1-0 Kano Pillars
Dakkada 1-1 Rangers
NEXT FIVE FIXTURES
Rangers Vs Kano Pillars
Dakkada Vs Adamawa United
Kano Pillars Vs Abia Warriors
Katsina United Vs Dakkada
Kwara United Vs Kano Pillars
Dakkada Vs Nasarawa United
Kano Pillars Vs Wikki Tourists
Plateau United Vs Dakkada
Heartland Vs Kano Pillars
Dakkada Vs Enyimba
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