Two late goals from Omaka Anthony and Samad Kadri ensured Kwara United Football Club silenced stubborn El-kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in the Matchday 10 of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) decided at the Akure Township Stadium today, Sunday March 26, 2023.
Omaka put Kwara United ahead in the 79th minute from a rebound, while Kadri doubled the scores in the 89th minute, with an assist from Omaka, to help seal the team’s third victory in the ongoing season so far. Omaka had earlier replaced Yahaya Ibrahim in the 53rd minute.
Kwara United had earlier recorded a 1-2 win against the Northern team in the Matchday Nine three weeks ago in Maiduguri, but the visitors came out more organised and highly determined to stop the Ilorin-based side today, though not resilient enough till the 90th minutes.
The two sides put up a scintillating performance in the first half, with the two goalkeepers called to duty on several ocassions.
The Harmony Boys weren’t in the game in the first 27 minutes of play, as the visitors took advantage of their sluggishness to mount pressure on their defense. Aiyenugba was able to however, deploy his wealth of experience to coordinate the defense and made a number of saves.
Paul Samson was injured in the 47th minute, and was substituted for Godwin Osagbemi, who scored the winning goal against El-kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri. Abayomi Junior was also substituted for Muhammed Ibrahim, while Oginni Olatunbosun was introduced for Samad Kadir in the added time.
With the victory, Kwara United now has 12 points and minus three goals from 10 matches, ahead of their Mid-week clash with Gombe United at the Pantami Stadium on March 29th, 2023.
Coach Kabir Sulaiman Dogo, while praising his players for rising up to the ocassion when it mattered most, said that he expected a fight back from the visitors, who are now more coordinated, under a new management and new coach.
He reminded the players that there are more stiffer challengesies ahead of the team in the remaining fixtures, even as he commended the Supporters and Fans of Kwara United for standing firm behind the team.
RESULTS
NPFL MATCHDAY 10
GROUP A
Enyinba FC 1-1 Insurance
Remo Stars 1-0 Nasarawa
Kwara United 2-0 El-kanemi
Plateau Utd 2-0 Gombe Utd
Akwa United 2-0 3SC
GROUP B
Rivers United 1-1 Abia Warriors
Rangers 2-1Bayelsa United
Doma United 2-0 Lobi Stars
Wikki 1-1 Sunshine Stars
Dakkada 1-2 Tornadoes