The final match day of the Nigeria Premier Football League 2024/25 season, we play in front of our fans and host CAF Confederations Cup bound side, Abia Warriors.
On the back of two disappointing results in both league and cup, the players, management and fans turned up in huge spirits to see out a successful season that went beyond plan.
LINEUP: Faith James; Nasiru Suleiman, Harrison Uzondu, Chibuike Oheagbulam, Freedom Marvelous; Onwe Kelechi, Salawu Yusuf, Tosin Oyedokun; Emmanuel Solomon, Joseph George & Ayomide Cole.
The skipper was not available for the game due to a senior national team call up and Nasiru got the nod. Super-sub Ayomide Cole started a game for the first time in 10 league games.
It was a shaky start to the game as the lack of anything to fight for made the game a little slow. We however broke free and tried to draw first blood when Salau hit one from range, forcing the keeper into a strong save on the 30th minute mark.
Seven minutes later, we broke the deadlock. Ayomide Cole showed why he could start when he received a forward pass from Emmanuel Solomon and put it past the goalkeeper to give us the lead.
Abia Warriors however leveled in first half added time when Paul Samson was allowed free to head past James as we went into the break level.
Moses Shodeinde and Wisdom Ubani were half time changes and after so much pressure, Tosin Oyedokun scored our second two minutes before the hour mark.
Young academy forward, Musa Malik came off the bench to extend our lead with a well taken and calm finish, rounding the goalkeeper before scoring his first senior career goal. Ayomide Cole with fine movement, vision and pass to pick him out.
Abia Warriors reduced the deficit with a quarter of the game left but that was all it was to it. We finished the season with a win and partied the remained of the night in celebration of our season achievements as we hit 60 goals for the season, the highest from any team in the league.
SUBSTITUTION
OUT: Salau Yusuf IN: Moses Shodeinde 46’
OUT: Joseph George IN: Wisdom Ubani 46’
OUT: Emmanuel Solomon IN: Musa Malik 46’
OUT: Tosin Oyedokun IN: Rivio Ayemwenre 70’
OUT: Faith James IN: Chinemerem Olughu 83’