By Fisayo Dairo
After securing their first win in eight games, Abia Warriors head coach Imama Amapakabo said he had no doubts that the wins would come after his side recorded their first win on MatchDay 8 of the 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
Two well-executed set-piece deliveries in the first half set the tone for a spectacular five goals thriller as Abia Warriors romped to an impressive 4-1 win over Sunshine Stars in a MatchDay 8 game decided at the Okigwe Stadium.
Midfielder Fatai Abdullahi curled home a brilliant free kick in the 16th minute after Utibe Arit was upended at the edge of the box before Warriors doubled the lead five minutes later through Emmanuel Ugwuka who rose highest to head home Kabiru Muhammed’s free kick.
Sunshine Stars halved the deficit in the 61st minute courtesy of Sadeeq Yusuf’s sixth goal of the season but the Warriors restored their two-goal advantage five minutes later through substitute Lukman Bello’s header.
The young forward then made the game absolutely safe for Imama’s wards 12 minutes from time when he completed his brace through a well placed rebound after his strike-partner Godwin Obaje had been denied by the goalkeeper.
“The win was going to come at a point in time. Coming in the eighth week was difficult for all of us but we knew we wanted to play and we have been able to create chances but unable to take it,” Amapakabo told www.npfl.ng after the game.
Warriors had drawn each of the last three games, which ostensibly were given as ultimatum to the former Rangers coach to start winning games but the frankly speaking coach says now is the time for his side to build the momentum.
He continued:
“I told the players that let’s live one day at a time, we needed one win to be able to go to the next game, the win has come and we hope that we are going to build it from here.
“Prior to this win, we had three draws and we were close, every time to these goals and they were not coming. I think the reason was because we couldn’t convert the chances but fortunately today, the players came big,” Imama added.
Sunshine Stars mounted a spirited comeback into the game in the second period and could have even scored three minutes after the break but for Fuad Ekelojuoti’s header which came off the post.
They however could not sustain the momentum after Yusuf’s goal as they conceded the third goal five minutes later. Head coach Gbenga Ogunbote says his side must take the lessons in their strides.
“Sometimes you learn from mistakes and this one is a big one. I think the important thing is for us to go back and cross the Ts and dot the Is to make sure we make amends where we have erred,” a visibly subdued Ogunbote told www.npfl.ng after the game.
“It’s a learning process, you can see that the goals were goals they didn’t work for but sometimes you pay dearly for carelessness, so that’s it.
“We lost the game to loss of concentration. Sometimes at this level, there is limit to what dead balls can do to cause havoc but be it as it may, we were trying to come into the game before the third goal came and I think it demoralized my boys,” he added.
Both managers in unison admitted that this game was gone already and are now focused on the next one as the games come in thick and fast.
Abia Warriors have a trip to neighbouring Dakkada FC at the weekend while Sunshine Stars will return home to face in-form Kwara United at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure.
Abia Warriors XI
30. Olorunleke Ojo 13. Innocent Gabriel 23. Kabiru Muhammed 17. Daniel Wotlai 2. Ibukun Harrison 15. Adekunle Adeleke 19. Samuel Christian 4. Fatai Abdullahi 8. Utibe Arit Archibong 14. Ugwuka Emmanuel 26. Mustapha Jibreel.
Subs
1. Godsgift Elkanah 37. Chimezie Njoku 20. Markson Ojobo 21. Godwin Obaje 16. Austine Obaroakpo 6. Ozioma Goodluck 12. Hammed Yakub 24. Nzube Anaezemba 28. Bello Lukman
Coach: Imama Amapakabo
Sunshine Stars XI
1. David Ariyo 3. Isiaka Oladuntoye 4. Habib Yakub 5. Olawale Abisoye 6. Seun Olulayo 9. Sadeeq Yusuf 13. Kabiru Tijani 16. Ebuka Akobundu 19. Chinedu Udechukwu 32. Fuad Ekelojuoti 36. Ayo Adejubu
Subs
21. Saliu Suleiman 7. Tolu Oluwole 10. Sunday Abe 17. Waheed Adebayo
18. Quazeem Obanigba 24. Ayo Akinlose 25. Samuel Agba 29. Alaba Adeniyi 32. Tope Akande
Coach: Gbenga Ogunbote
