We finally did the double over a football club in the top flight after defeating Lobi Stars 0-1 away from home in Enugu on matchday 28 of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League.

We had earlier defeated Lobi Stars 4-2 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arean earlier in the season and with fight for point becoming intense, this was a game that needed us to win.

LINEUP: Aina Oluwadamilare; Waliu Ojetoye, Leonard Ngenge, Freedom Marvelous, Harrison Austin; Olatunji Abdulmalik, Onwe Kelechi, Tosin Oyedokun; Shola Adelani, Ayomide Cole, & Okechukwu Nwanna.

It was a drab opening ten minutes with both teams trying to settle into the game, however, we drew first block immediately after as Tosin put Cole through on goal but the strikers finished was saved by the goalkeeper.

Lobi Stars pressed for an opener to boost their chances of staying safe this season and failed to beat Aina in goal after creating a great chance. Soon after, Shola’s back post header from a cross from Austin was inches wide as the first half was went by goalless.

Chineme Chinonso replaced Okechukwu Nwanna up front at the start of the second half as we looked to find the opening goal. Later on, Malik Musa and Salau Yusuf joined the frey to shaken things up a little as we got closer to a goal. Chineme beat a defender and then the goalkeeper but his shot was cleared off the line by a defender. Later on, Chineme was caught in the shooting line and Shola’s goal bound strike came off him on the goal line.

The breakthrough came in the 81st minute and defender Leonard Ngenge intercepted a pass deep in our half and made a darting run forward, getting past three opposing defenders and going all the way to face the keeper before laying it on a plate for Shola Adelani who made no mistake.

Victor Ejukah came on as a defensive substitution as we looked to defend our lead which we did and picked up our second win on the road this season, taking us to third on the log.

UP NEXT

The People’s Elephant of Aba, Enyimba visit this Sunday 16th March, 2025 for a MD29 fixture as we look to keep the winning streak up in March.

SUBSTITUTIONS 

OUT: Okechukwu Nwanna IN: Chineme Chinonso 46’

OUT: Ayomide Cole IN: Musa Malik 65’

OUT: Olatunji Abdulmalik IN: Salau Yusuf 65’

OUT: Tosin Oyedokun IN: Victor Ejukah 90’

BOOKINGS

YELLOW- Leonard Ngenge (68’), Kelechi Onwe (86’)