Club skipper Muri Dagbo, who captained Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC, to a 2-0 win over visiting DMD FC of Maiduguri, said the victory is dedicated to the club’s Chairman, Seni Saraki as their birthday gift to him.
The matchday 2 abridged 2020/2021 Nigeria National League (NNL), the encounter was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
Dagbo while reacting to the match said the victory was their own birthday gift even though the win came 24 hours after the chairman’s celebration.
ABS Ilorin FC were the better side for the most part of the first half but they wasted so many scoring opportunities.
Samuel Bamigboye in the 12th minute failed to complete a perfect team play by ABS as his final touch went inches away from the goal when he should have scored.
Maurice John broke the deadlock for the hosts with a powerful header after meeting Noah Ogidi’s cross from the right flank.
David Clackson in the 35th minute was close to leveling the scores for the visitors but his effort went inches wide.
The visitors were close again in the 43rd minute when Friday Ogwuche struck from outside the ABS box but Abdullahi Boje in goal for the hosts was in right place at the right time to deal with the effort.
ABS restarted the 2nd half better than they finished the first and they dedicate proceedings more fluently.
In the 47th minute, Charles Eguavon won possession in the midfield, found an incoming Shola Oketade in the DMD box but the striker shot went straight into the hands of the visiting goalkeeper.
One minute later, Bamigboye gained the advantage, drove into the DMD’s box but finished the move very poorly.
One minute later, Oketade would have doubled the lead for ABS when he lobbed the ball over the DMD’s goalkeeper but one of the defenders trackback to turn the ball away from goal.
Charles Eguavon doubled the lead for ABS in the 52nd minute in a spectacular fashion when he received the ball in front of the DMD’s box, deceived the goalkeeper before sending him to the wrong side for the goal with his left foot.
The introduction of Mubarak Gata, Saad Abdulraheem, and Emmanuel Kemka in the 71st minute increased pressure on the visitors but they sat back for most of the 2nd half to reduce the chances of conceding more goals.
The Ilorin-based side now have four points from two matches.
ABS will travel to Katsina to lock horns with Malumfashi for Matchday 3.
