Sunshine Stars were denied the chance to close the gap on third place following a narrow loss away at Kwara United on NPFL matchday 34.
Junior Lokosa headed home from an in-swinger at close range after 28 minute, a reward for the Harmony Boys’ dominance in the opening half of an hour.
Moment after going down, the Owena Whales took control of the game and could have drew level in the 37th minute when Leo Ugochukwu threaded Ebonam Nwogbaga through, but the lanky forward’s tame effort from six yards was repelled.
Sunshine Stars kept up the pressure in the second half, however a case of near-miss and desperate defending from Kwara United meant the hosts will run away with a 1-0 win.
The Akure landlords remain seventh with 48 points on log, five points off the top three as the race for continental places finish heats up with four matches remaining.
In his post match assessments, Sunshine Stars’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Deutcsh hinged the decisive moment of match on lapses in concentration, before describing the contest as a game of two halves.
“Kwara United scored a very good goal; it was lack of concentration during the pull out after a corner kick. Bit I want you (Journalists) to analyze what you see because I can’t complain about the man in black (referee) not because I lost the match. It was a very good game and Kwara United played well; they did the pressing in the first half, scored and maintained their goal and I congratulate them.
“I came in the second stanza and I am happy with the team. They play 90 minutes without getting tired; you know we controlled the game in the end, they had the first half and we had the second half, but that’s football. You know these are brothers; Yoruba teams and they know themselves very well.”
Sunshine Stars welcome basement boys, MFM to Akure on matchday 35.