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Ex-Plateau United defender Andrew Ikefe excelling in Lebanon Premier League
By Wale Mustapha
Nigerian defender Andrew Ikefe picked it where he left in Nigeria with his weekly brilliance for his new Lebanese club, Shabab Al Sahel.
The defender joined Sahel for a short stint few weeks ago and has been impressive for his new employers, continuing in his rich vein of form while plying his trade in the Nigeria Professional Football League with Plateau United.
Ikefe, who missed the first two games of the season with Al Sahel has had a commanding performances in the last three guiding them to three consecutive victories.
Al Sahel are now joint second on the Lebanese Premier League table with 11 points from five games.
Ikefe made the league’s team of the week in the Matchday 4 as he helped Al Sahel to a comeback away win over Nejmeh Sporting Club.
When asked about coping with life in Lebanon, the 24-year-old Kaduna born defender said the new mates and other Nigerian footballers in the country were instrumental to his quick adaptation.
“I must say its a wonderful experience for me, I find it so easy to blend in, with the team and the city, with the help of my loving team mates and club officials,” Ikefe told NigeriaFootball.ng.
“I believe the (Nigerian) guys I met here, most of them have been my friends from Nigeria also made it easy for me to quickly settle down.
“They’ve showed me where I can get local foods which is very important and I have starting picking up some lines in their language here which is very helpful,” he said.
Ikefe has played for notable clubs in the Nigerian leagues including Kaduna United, Katsina United, Niger Tornadoes, Kwara United among others.
He has helped Tornadoes twice to the finals of the national Aiteo Cup where they lost both finals on penalties to Akwa United (2017) and Kano Pillars (2019).
Ikefe, who is good at both feet was also instrumental to Plateau United ending last season’s NPFL second and qualified for the CAF Champions League.
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