Ndifreke scores brace as ruthless Akwa United win away at Nasarawa United

The 2021 NPFL champions Akwa United, finally got their 2023 campaign on track as they managed their first win of the season after three games, defeating Nasarawa United 3-0 in Jos.

The Uyo club had suffered a torrid start to the new season, losing in their opening game to Bendel Insurance at home, before failing to get their first win in a goalless draw with Enyimba on game week 2.

The win also became the first game in which the Promise Keepers scored their first goal of the season.

Heading into the fixture at the New Jos Stadium - Nasarawa United's temporal home ground - the hosts had lost two of their opening games and were at the bottom of Group A.

Sunday, however, was going to be no different from their previous matches as they started the game on the defensive foot.

The visitors finally got the breakthrough just two minutes into the interval, as James Ajako blasted home the opener off a cross into Nasarawa United's box.

The return of Akwa United talisman Ndifreke Effiong also meant that the visitors had more firepower in their trunks.

In as early as the second minute of the second half, a cross from Cyril Olisema into the hosts' box got to Effiong who headed it home for his side's second and his first of the 2023 season.

The centre forward then made it three in the 74th, skipping past the entire Nasarawa United defence and slotting the ball past Ameh Godwin in a classic 1-on-1 situation, making it 65 times he had scored for the Uyo club in his career.

The eventual 3-0 victory became the first away win by that margin in NPFL since Akwa United themselves as well as Heartland, both lost 3-0 at home to Rangers last season.