By Ahmed Usman
Substitutes Nnanna Stanley and Sadiq Lawan combined beautifully to help Adamawa United record their first win in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2020/2021 season. The match was played on Thursday at the Pantami Stadium Gombe, the adopted home of the Yola based club.
Zakka Bello, the Manager of Adamawa United made four changes to the side that lost 2-0 in Lagos against MFM FC. Goalkeeper Victor Philemon, Mbai Aminu, Henry Ochuba and forward Stanley Nnanna didn’t make the list of the starters that had Achimugu Friday, Abba Haruna, Muhammed Jiya and Ibekwe Emmanuel.
For Lobi Stars, Coach Kabiru Dogo started Chigozie Chilekwe and Carlos Geleya ahead of Ebube Duru and Zenke Tersoo as alterations from his side that won 1-0 at home against Kano Pillars.
It was the visitors who would at kickoff go on an impressive run to the final third ending with Ogunye Austin seeing his goal bound effort brilliantly blocked by Abba Haruna in the box.
The hosts reacted with a swift raid that beat goal keeper Emmanuel Daniel when he rushed to make a save leaving Emmanuel Ibekwe to head powerfully into an empty net. Lobi were saved blushes by defender Arikpo Victor who headed away from the line.
Moments after, what was thought to be an Adamawa United goal was rightly adjudged as offside.
Defender Emmanuel Oguagu was once again in action as he halted an attacking run by Ogunye who found himself in one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Friday Achimugu. Ogunye was put through by Douglas Achiv from the center, but Oguagu was swift to ward off the Lobi Stars man for his goal keeper to make a save.
Lobi Stars would rue their several missed opportunists to score especially in the second half with Ossy Martins and Carlos Geleye, the culprits.
The came the brightest moment for Adamawa United this season as the duo of Nnanna Stanley and Sadiq Lawan combined perfectly to produce the only goal of the day and their side’s much needed first victory of the season.
It came off a counter attacking run initiated by captain, Idris Abubakar from the center to Sadiq in the left flank who did well with a diagonal pass to the path of on-rushing Nnanna. The forward made no mistake in beaten former Gombe United goalie to his left before tapping home to an empty net to the joy of his team mates 12 minutes from time.
Unlike last season when the visitors went away with the maximum points from the same fixture, Lobi stars will wait yet again in search of their first win on the road this season. They face Katsina United in Makurdi on Sunday while Adamawa United will travel to play Akure-based Sunshine Stars in some of the MatchDay 13 fixtures.
TEAMS
ADAMAWA UNITED
Achimugu Friday 25
Uwem Charles 36
Etete Okon 14
Abba Haruna 6
Emmanuel Oguagu 15
Nanushi Daniel 5
Muhammed Jiya 34 (Sale Muhammed 46′)
Idris Abubakar 32
Isa James 17 (Michael Burate 62′)
Ibekwe Emmanuel 41 (Nnanna Stanley 72′)
Micah Ojodomo 33 (Sadiq Lawan 62′)
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
Victor Philemon 16
Hussain Garba 35
Yunusa Lawan 9
LOBI STARS
Emmanuel Daniel 24
Chigozie Chilekwe 32
Lazarus John 2
Alex Aghahowa 6
Moses Tsehuan 17
Arikpo Victor 14 (Osimaga Duke 90+2′)
Douglas Achiv 10
Mejoubi Nnamdi 18 (Mathias Samuel 46′)
Carlos Geleya 4 (Mumini Abdulkareem 82′)
Ogunye Austin 12 (Thomas Zenke 57′)
Ossy Martins 9 (Chinonso Okonkwo 82′)
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
James Faith 31
Anthony Ogwuche 34
Mutuei Ogundimi 33
Segun Alebiosu 27
CAUTION
Moses Tsehuan (61′)
Mathias Samuel (72′)
STATISTICS
Shot 4-5
On Target 3-5
Save 5-2
Corner 2-5
Foul 11-9
Offside 5-9
Yellow 0-2
Red 0-0
