Former Flying Eagles striker Jerome Akor has told SCORENigeria tomorrow’s Norwegian promotion playoff game against Mjondalen is “the most important game of my life”.
Akor’s club Sogndal are now just 90 minutes away from a much-awaited return to the Norwegian top league three years after they were relegated.
Interestingly, Sogndal had to go past the team who relegated them three years ago, Ranheim, to reach tomorrow’s playoff clash.
It was a sweet revenge.
They beat Ranheim 3-1 with Akor coming off the bench to score his team’s third goal in only his third appearance this season.
The media in Norway described the 20-year-old striker as an “ice-cold killer” because of the manner he despatched his goal.
He got to the end of a through ball, sprinted past his two markers before he rounded up the goalkeeper.
His joy knew no bounds so much so that he was booked for pulling off his shirt in the goal celebration.
Akor himself told SCORENigeria that while it was great to come back from an eight-month injury layoff in such style, the target now is to get Sogndal playing again in the top league once more.
“This is the most important game of my life,” the big centre-forward declared.
“After all the pains, disappointments and hard work this season, it will now all come down to this game.
“We’re all focused on us playing in the top league again after such a long absence.
“Then the real celebrations can begin.”
Sogndal have benefitted from the team who made history two years ago by winning the Norway Youth Cup with Akor the cup final hero after he smashed an unforgettable hat-trick past Rosenborg BK.
“There are six of us from that team in the first-team squad now and that is why the average age of the team is 23 years,” he told SCORENigeria
One of the six players from the youth team is midfielder Sivert Mannsverk, who has been named the best player of the Obos League.
However, Akor said he expects Mjondalen to provide them a tough contest.
“They are a difficult team to play against and even Victor Boniface (Bodo/Glimt striker) warned me they can be tough customers.”
Mjondalen will parade Nigerian striker Shuaibu Ibrahim, while Sogndal will have Akor, winger Peter Michael as well as former Flying Eagles stopper Igho Ogbu.
