MATCH DETAILS

Ekiti United vs Sporting Lagos

Today

3:00 PM Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ekiti.

THE STATE OF THE GROUP

11 matchdays have been finalised, we are 2nd on the log, one point behind the league leaders and a promotion spot. Going into today’s fixture, we are 4 points ahead of Ekiti United, who are in 4th place.

OPPOSITION SPOTLIGHT

Ekiti United sit in 4th place, 4 points behind us with 6 wins and 5 losses in 11 matches. In the reverse fixture last December, we won 2-1 at the Onikan. Goals from Alex Leme and late minute winner from Seun Akanji sealed the three points for us. 

TEAM NEWS

Chidera remains injured. He's into his second week of rehabilitation.

Joseph and Kelvin are also returning this weekend from participating in Roc Cup, Ghana.

COACH JEFF SPEAKS

Looking at the current table and how close things are at the top, how do you assess the importance of this away game at this stage of the season?

“It's a very important game, and it can become one of the most important games of the season. So we have to approach it as that. That is what we are doing. We are approaching it as that. So yeah, we are positive about what we can get. Also, given the past antecedents of away games, we know how good we can be. So we are positive about it.”

Earlier in the season, the team found itself in similar positions and dropped points. What has changed in this group that gives you confidence this time around?

“The fact that we can overturn negative results into positive results. We have shown it time and time again that one not-so-good result does not define our season. We can always turn things around. So that is what has kept me positive and is keeping me going. We are working extremely hard, twice or three times more than we used to work. We know that it's not an easy task, but we can achieve it.”

Ekiti United will be playing at home and looking to make that advantage count. What kind of game are you preparing for?

“We are preparing a game that gives us victory. Basically, that is what we are preparing. We know they have a very good home record. We also know we have a very good away record. We have won our last two away games. So I think it's something that gives us confidence as much as it gives them confidence that they are playing at home. We are also confident that we can go there and spoil their party. We need the game as much as they do. So we are preparing the best possible way we can to be the ones that come out on top.”

In a game like this, away from home, which specific players do you expect to step up and lead the team, both mentally and on the pitch? 

“Right now, it's not about specific. It's about the collective. I mean, we need everybody to be at their best. We don't need two or three people. We don't need four people. We need 11 players. We need 15 players because we have five substitutes. So we need at most 16 of them to be at their best. So we are not banking on one or two people. We are banking on the whole team to make sure that we get the result that we need to get today. I'm expecting everybody who plays to step up. That's what we need.”

At the end of the game, beyond the score line, what would tell you the team has done its job in Ekiti? 

“Beyond today's results, six more games are still a chance to promote. Whatever it is, I am still going to keep it the same. The message will be that we have to gain promotion. To win or lose, or draw, does not guarantee promotion. The message is the same from pre-season. It's the same as the first game of the season. It's the same from mid-season. It's the same as now. We have to promote. So it's one game after the other until mathematically it's proven that we have promoted. I don't think the second one is even an option. So the message remains that we have to promote.”

WHAT TO EXPECT

We will look to assert ourselves from the first whistle, control the tempo, and play with the proactive, front-foot style we have committed to this season. Ekiti United have the 3rd best defence in the group with eleven goals conceded, we have to be effective in attack to break them down.

HOW TO WATCH

Stream Here!