Diokpokowa FC wins Amiyi Akah Unity Cup.
3 min read
The football match that took place on Sunday January 12, 2025 was indeed real soccer in action. The match was the finals of Amiyi Akah Unity Cup which was sponsored by Dr Perry Uche Ekwunazu, a US based pharmacist, businessman and politician. Odogwu Njaba as he is fondly called by close admirers bankrolled all the logistics and activities of the 2024 edition of the tournament. Around 4 pm, uncountable number of football fans and many others who came from the 14 “villages” in Amiyi Akah Autonomous Community had all gathered for the big show slated to kick off between Dioribe and Diokpokowa villages that made it to the finals.
By exactly 4:30 pm, the kickoff was done and both teams were seriously playing optimistic soccer, each assuming it would emerge the champion. Fans also displayed support and admiration to both teams. As the first half of the match was still ongoing, two players, each from both sides received yellow card and the soccer still continued on a normal slate.
In the heat of the game, Diokpokowa village scored the first goal of the match at exactly 4:39 pm and the entire stadium practically went gaga. The goal was scored following a free kick against Dioribe players.
The first goal against Dioribe somehow became an inspiration to play better and face her opponent at every inch.
The firebrand resolve of Dioribe paid off by 5:04 pm as the team equalized the goal via a kick by the famous ace and lanky footballer and perhaps the most dangerous player of the tournament named Iwuamanam Chidubem Vincent.
As the goal was equalized, each team somehow became a wounded lioness and brought out the best it could. The fight to take home the prestigious cup gathered momentum from fans as they divided themselves into two, supporting each team.
At this point of the second half, Football analysts at the stadium envisaged that victory could go for either of the teams. The fans and the players as well as match officials all knew it. Just by 5:45 pm the god of soccer visited Duruokpokowa and goal number two was successfully and dramatically scored against Dioribe. The second goal was considered controversial as many fans as well as the players went into argument to ascertain if the goal was real or not. After some minutes of football arguments which almost became violent, the referee considered it a goal and thereby making Duruokpokowa to lead by 2 goals against her opponent Dioribe that scored a lone goal.
Few minutes after the goal, the final whistle was blown by the young referee. The Duruokpokowa FC has won the 2024 edition of Amiyi Akah Unity Cup which was played at Amiyi Akah Township Stadium.
While presenting the cup to the winning team, Dr Ekwunazu expressed deep thanks to all the people, the Amiyi Akah Football Association and all the players who played in the tournament and eventually the winning team. He assured the people of Amiyi Akah that by December 2025, he would package the tournament in a better form.
After the epic speech by the Odogwu Njaba himself, he handed over the prestigious cup to the captain of Duruokpokowa FC. Immediately after the statement from Dr Ekwunazu, the fun, entertainment and razzmatazz shifted to the country home of the sponsor where there was an excess supply of food and drinks.
