For the first time in the history of Ekiti state, the state owned football team, Ekiti United finished among the top two in the Nigeria National League and qualified for the Super 8.
The team which used to be known as Fountain fc and later rechristened Ekiti United fc by govemor Kayode Fayemi in 2013 had previously struggled to retain its NNL status since 2011 when it was founded.
The sterling performance of Ekiti United in the just concluded NNL 2021 that earned them second place on the Southern Conference B1 group behind saw them garnering 33 points from 20 matches.
The team proudly finished behind high flying Shooting Stars of Ibadan who top the group with 41 points from 20 matches.
The last match of the season against Dynamite Force fc from Iyahmo in Edo state was as important as all other previously played matches and thanks to the duo of experience midfielder, Isiaka Olawale (Nigeria Beach Eagles captain) and rising striker, Kamoru Adebari (Headmaster) whose goals sealed maximum points for the host team.
Ekiti United fc scored 22 goals and conceded 16 goals in 20 matches excluding the two legged matches against Stores.
Some of the outstanding players whose goals helped Ekiti United in the just concluded season included Pius Ojo, Kehinde Olajuyin and Taofeek Abdul while the input of the likes of captain, Anthony Silva, ageless Julius Adeyanju, and revelation of the season, Seyi Akinyemi could not be over-emphasised.
The campaign of the team was shaken during the mid-season when Sunshine Stars of Akure lured Coach Ayodeji Ayeni away from Ekiti United in a bid to help the Ondo state team retain its premier League status.
His assistant, Samson Omiponle took over the reign as head coach of Ekiti United fc for the second stanza of the season and his reign was a consolidation on the height attained by Coach Ayodeji Ayeni.
The 2021 season ended at the Oluyemi Kayode stadium in Ado Ekiti on Sunday with celebrations from players, coaches, fans and other stakeholders on the feat achieved despite the challenges that rocked the team including an auto-crash that left many players and officials injured on March 16, 2021 along Ikere-Ado road.
