Nasarawa United Kick-start Return To Premier League With Win Over El-kanemi Warriors
A 25th minute long range free-kick goal by defensive midfielder, Moyi Hassan, after Musa Musa was fouled, was all Nasarawa United needed to scoop all three points off fellow Northern rivals, El-Kanemi Warriors FC in the curtain raiser of the 2023/24 Nigeria National League Super Eight Play-off game decided at the Cathedral Stadium, Enugu, on Saturday morning to reignite their ambition to return to the Nigeria Premier Football League next season.
In the fierce duel watched by a handful of top Government functionaries from Nasarawa State and spectators, the Solid Miners, as Nasarawa United are nicknamed, were more determined to change the rhythm following their unimpressive stint in the President Federation’s Cup where they were ousted by fellow 2nd tier side, Sokoto United in the round of 32 fixture.
Both Nasarawa United and El-Kanemi Warriors sized each other up for supremacy in Saturday’s clash with the expectations of headlining the Group’s standings, with the Maiduguri-based side losing an extra-time penalty kick awarded to them in what would have been a share of the spoils.
The Solid Miners who fancied the win would need one more win in the Group that contains four teams to guarantee qualification to the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier League.
Moyi Hassan’s spectacular performance for Nasarawa United saw him winning the Man-of-the-Match award, the first recipient of the gong in the Play-off tournament this term.
Eche Amos, Media Officer of Nasarawa United FC report that Sokoto United are the next opponents of the Solid Miners on Monday, 10th June, 2024, at the same venue by 1.30pm.
CAUTION(Yellow Card).
Saviour Chukwu(NAS)29′
Emeka Onyema(NAS)35′
Ameh Godwin (NAS)90+2′
Chinonso Okonkwo (NAS)90+3′
NASARAWA UNITED LINE-UP: Ameh Godwin, Aminu Abubakar, Mubarak Hussaini, Emeka Onyema, Saviour Chukwu, Moyi Hassan(Sabo Gambo 65′), Anas Yusuf(Peter Eneji 85′), Alakija Habibu(Chidera Nduka 65′), Chinonso Okonkwo, Ibrahim Umar Ada(Terdoo Shimmagande 65′), Musa Musa(King Osanga 80′).
UNUSED SUBS: Jerry Isaac, Abdullahi Abubakar and Ebuka Ekesi.
