Kwara United begins its home game in the 2023-2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season with a one nil victory over visiting Abia Warriors today, Sunday October 8th, 2023, in a match decided at the Main Bowl of the Kwara State Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
Defender Ejeh Isaiah”s goal in the 44th minute settled the crucial game which Kwara United played at home since the 2021/2022 season. It would be recalled that the team played their home games in the 2022/2023 season away from home, which makes today’s game relatively important.
Equally, the team played with some level of pressure, after losing its first match of the season to Katsina United last week, in Katsina.
The trio of Samson Paul, Sadeeq Yusuf and Samuel Ayanrinde gave good account of themselves in the early part of the game, as they rattled the visitors defence with constant menacing moves, keeping goalkeeper Johnson Nmecha busy.
The first set of changes in the second half lowered the steam in Kwara United. Ayo Adejubu came in for Paul Samson, while Ifeanyi Odiannega replaced Samuel Ayanrinde.
But the introduction of Shola Abdulraheem and Godwin Oshagbemi in place of Kabir Balogun and Sadeeq Yusuf respectively, brought life into the team, as they pushed Abia Warriors, in search of second goal.
Abia Warriors handler, Coach Erasmus Onuh stated that his team lost because of fatigue, due to travelling challenges, stressing that the team journeyed for two days from Abia on account of bad roads.
“Bad roads will kill our league. I think it’s time we have an arrangemrnt with airlines for away games,” he said.
On his part, Coach Kabir Sulaiman Dogo of Kwara United commended his players for the victory, despite the challenges. He added that the team will continue to improve as the league wears on.
Kwara United will play away to Rivers United in the Matchday Three encounter next week at the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, in continuation of the season.
Meanwhile, Kwara State government has pledged contineous support to the team on all front, as they aspire to win a continental ticket at the end of the season.
The Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who spoke to sports journalists after the match through his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye said his administration is ever committed to the cause of the club.
