Nasarawa United were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Atlantic Integral FC of Suleja in their second Group ‘A’ match at the ongoing 3rd edition of the Abuja Unity Pre-season Tournament.
The Wednesday morning match at the Area 3 Football Field in Abuja saw an early lead for the Solid Miners, but their advantage was quickly neutralized.
Nasarawa United took charge early, with Anas Yusuf finding the back of the net just two minutes into the first half. His swift strike gave the NPFL returnees an ideal start, and they carried the 1-0 lead into halftime. However, their opponents from Suleja refused to be discouraged by the early setback.
Atlantic Integral FC responded with determination in the second half, leveling the score in the 54th minute. Mohammed Cheche’s long-range effort caught Nasarawa United’s goalkeeper, Jerry Isaac, off guard, bringing the match to a 1-1 deadlock.
Despite continued efforts from both sides to find a winning goal, the scoreline remained unchanged at the final whistle.
Nasarawa United coach expressed mixed feelings after the match, saying, “We started strong but lost focus in the second half. We need to maintain our concentration if we want to achieve our goals in this tournament.”
The draw leaves Nasarawa United with four points from two games, keeping them at the top of their group. The Solid Miners will be looking to secure their place in the knockout stages when they face Like Minds FC on Thursday, 15th August. They will conclude their group-stage campaign with a clash against CKD FC on Friday, 16th August.
With only two teams progressing to the quarterfinals, Nasarawa United will be eager to bounce back and solidify their chances of advancing as they continue their quest for pre-season glory.
