Adewale's Own Goal Hands Warriors Win against El-Kanemi

Promise Etim

A late own goal from Kabiru Adewale helped Abia Warriors see off visiting El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in a scintillating matchday 23 fixture played at the Umuahia township stadium at the weekend.

Host coach, Ladan Bosso, made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 away to Dolphins on matchday 22, with Mohammed Garba replacing Ogbonnaya Okemiri. Michael Okoro was preferred to Bolaji Sakin upfront, while Emmanuel Egbom was drafted in for Ifeanyi Onyeali, who could not recover on time from flu.

The visitors had Kelechi Emeteole on the bench as head coach for the first time, after securing the services of the former Heartland manager on Friday. The ex-Rangers handler had barely 24 hours to put a formidable squad in place for the match day.

The home side came close to drawing first blood on the 7th minute, when Ndifreke Effiong, struck a 25 yards free kick against the wood work. Richard Ocheayi forced a stunning save off Chisom Chikatara  on the 10th minute to keep the hosts at bay.

Chukwuebuka Okpara's last ditch clearance on the 21st minute kept Okoro's header off the line to keep proceeding barren, before Richard denied Chikatara in quick succession on the 38th minute.

Francis wasted a glorious opportunity that would have given the away side a surprise advantage, four minutes before the interval, after Anozie's mistimed kick got to his path. The forward struck high above the woodwork from twelve yards out.

The host intensified their quest for a breakthrough, with the introduction of Emeka Nwanna, who combined with Chikatara to set up Kalu Nweke on the 52nd minute, but the midfielder would only toe above the woodwork.

Anozie needed to stretch at full length within the six yards area, to deny Ibrahim Mustapha from shocking the home fans on the 70th minute.

The pressure from the home side paid off on the 82nd minute, when Kabiru, headed Nwanna's cross into his own net, to hand the Umuahia side their seventh consecutive home win and all three points.

In a post match chat, Emeteole said that he will rebuild the team by ensuring they assume a leading position in the Glo Premier League.
He said his team had many flaws, but gave an assurance that he would reposition the team to become strong and resilient.

The coach described the own goal scored at the 87th minute by Adewale Kabiru as ‘’regrettable’’, saying that it was sad that the team played better but lost.

He blamed his team’s goalkeeper, Ocheayi,  for the goal, stressing that he could have saved the header from Kabiru, who he said was out of his goal line.

``I do not know what happened that the goalkeeper left his goal line, he could have stopped the ball,” he further observed while also admitting that his team created three good chances but failed to utilise them.
Bosso, said: “there is an element of luck in football’’.

Bosso said his team also had chances but could not utilise them, pointing out that the team could have beaten El-Kanemi with as many as four goals, if  his players had converted their chances

LINE UP
ABIA WARRIORS: Anozie, Okemiri, Garba, Ochuba, ThankGod! Obaroakpo, Nweke, Effiong, Egbom, Okoro, Chikatara
El-Kanemi: Richard, Okpara, Emmanuel, Babakura, Kabiru, Peter, Mustapha, Turba, Francis, Matthew, Abraham


MATCH DAY 23
(Results)
SATURDAY
Bayelsa United 1-1 Enyimba
Abia Warriors 1-0 El-Kanemi
SUNDAY
Nasarawa  2-0 Heartland
Kano Pillars 4-1 Shooting
Warri Wolves 1-0 Dolphins
Akwa United 3-1 Sharks
Rangers 2-3 FC IfeanyiUbah
Sunshine Stars 4-0 Giwa FC
Lobi Stars 2-1 FC Taraba
Kwara United 0-1 Wikki