Botev Plovdiv’s title chase in the Bulgarian First Professional Football League took another exciting turn on Sunday, and at the heart of it were the Nigerian duo of Samuel Akere and Ehije Ukaki.

In a match filled with drama, lead changes, and late magic, the two rising stars each registered an assist to inspire Botev to a nail-biting 3-2 win over Spartak Varna, Footballrover reports.

It was an afternoon that kept fans jumping in excitement at intervals during the clash at Stadion Hristo Botev.

From early disallowed goals to late winners, the match had it all—Akere and Ukaki made sure they left their mark in bold.

Ehije Ukaki opens the show with first assist

The action kicked off in fast fashion, with veteran forward Ivelin Popov having a goal ruled out within two minutes.

But Botev didn’t take long to strike for real. In the 15th minute, Atanas Chernev found the back of the net following a smart move initiated by Ehije Ukaki, who grabbed his first assist of the season.

Ukaki, already sitting on six goals, showed once again why he will soon become one of the fans’ favourites.

Six minutes later, Popov finally got his moment, slotting home the second to give Botev a 2-0 cushion.

But Spartak Varna had no intention of going quietly. Dimitar Mitkov halved the deficit before the half-hour mark, breathing life back into the contest.

Samuel Akere delivers the decisive blow

The second half brought more tension. Milen Stoev stunned the home crowd with a 66th-minute equaliser, completing Spartak’s fightback.

But just when it seemed like the visitors might steal a point—or more—Akere stepped up.

With only nine minutes left on the clock, Samuel Akere set up Aleksa Maras, whose composed finish sealed all three points for Botev.

It was Akere’s 4th assist of the campaign, adding to his three goals in a season where he’s proving crucial in clutch moments.

With this victory, Botev Plovdiv pulled level with league leaders CSKA Sofia on 53 points.

Now, with just four games left, the two title rivals are set to collide in what could be the defining match of the season.

For Samuel Akere and Ehije Ukaki, Sunday’s performance shows their growing importance—and Bulgarian football fans are watching every move and Footballrover too.

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Last Updated on May 5, 2025 1:32 pm by Sir Kris