NAN-S-12
NPFL
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, June 11, 2017 (NAN) Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Football Club of Ilorin on Sunday defeated visiting Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi 1-0 in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 24 fixture.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the match played at the Kwara Stadium Complex in Ilorin, the Makurdi side threatened the hosts in the game’s early stages.
But defender Ibrahim Omolayo was a handful for the Lobi Stars’ attackers.
Eight minutes into the game, Kingsley Eduwo should have scored for the visitors but was in an offside position when he touched an effort going inside the ABS FC net.
The hosts grew into the game and were struggling against the experienced Lobi Stars midfield anchored by Sunday Akeleche, a former player of ABS Ilorin FC.
Newly-signed Akinbo Oluwasegun who stood in for suspended Mohammed Mohammed scored on the dot of half time for the hosts to seal the victory.
Oluwasegun who joined from Ikorodu United connected an Adeshina Gata free-kick from outside the Lobi Stars defenceline to face John Lawrence and beat the former Kwara United goalkeeper to his right.
Both sides came out stronger in the second half but were wasteful in front of goal.
Six minutes into the second half, Anthony Agbaji almost levelled for Lobi Stars when he sent a long ball which goalkeeper Nurudeen Mudashir parried for a corner kick.,
Speaking after the game, the coach of ABS FC, Henry Makinwa, said his boys fought very hard to win against a well-structured and experienced team.
“It was not easy at all, the speed, experience and the ball sense, was all with them.
“The boys acted according to instructions and that helped us to achieve our target today,” Makinwa said.
Oluwasegun, on his part, told newsmen that he was delighted to score on his first start for his new team.
He said he hoped to continue to work hard to continue to help the team do well as the league progresses.(NAN)
OOH/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)