9th July, 2017
Nasarawa United Football Club on Sunday lost 0-2 to hosts Abia Warriors FC in a Week 28 match of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
Abia Warriors took the lead at the 17th minute, when visiting defender Emma Makama shot into his team’s net in a failed attempt to clear the ball away.
He was trying to stop Abia Warriors’ Effiong Ndifereke who was goal-bound on a dribble run in a solo move.
The visitors, who were wasteful in front of goal, conceded the second goal when hardworking Sunday Adetunji converted Abia Warriors’ penalty kick in the 84th minute.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the penalty kick was awarded when Nasarawa United’s goalkeeper Sirajo Ayeleso brought down a rampaging Ndifereke in the goal area.
Ndifereke, who was earlier booked in the 72nd minute for gross misconduct, was injured on his left shoulder during a collision with Ayeleso and was stretchered off the pitch.
Speaking during a post-match interview with newsmen, Abia Warriors’ coach Abdullahi Biffo expressed delight with the victory.
Biffo said, having lost two matches consecutively, the victory against Nasarawa United would serve as a morale-booster.
“Losing two matches at a stretch put the players under pressure. So, this victory will help the team to approach their next match with greater confidence.”
Biffo said his team prepared well for the match, bearing in mind that the visitors would pose a serious challenge to them.
Also speaking, coach Kabiru Dogo of Nasarawa United expressed disappointment that the team could not take advantage of the goal-scoring chances they created.
Dogo said the difficulties his team’s strikers had in converting goal-scoring opportunities remained a major challenge similar to that of many coaches.
“The issue of goal-scoring is one major challenge coaches face across the world because the way strikers are losing their chances is worrisome.
“We shall continue to work on the strikers. We shall keep on psyching them up in order to be able to get the best from them,” he said.