Former Nasarawa United’s employees, Abubakar Aliyu and Anas Yusuf both scored a goal each to propel Wikki Tourists to a 2-0 victory over visiting Nasarawa United at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi, on Sunday evening.
United had to endure some early anxious moments as the home side threatened.
Abubakar, however, opened scoring for the Bauchi Elephants slightly after the half-hour mark after pouncing on a poorly cleared corner kick, a scoreline the home side held going into the break.
The Solid Miners’ first chance came a minute into the restart, Uche Ihuarulam’s through ball found Abubakar Abdullahi in the Wikki danger territory, but the latter’s final cross to the onrushing Aliyu Abdullahi went inches past him.
Wikki Tourists stepped up their game. Goalkeeper, Ameh Godwin, made back-to-back crucial saves to deny Solomon Chigoziem from increasing the home sides’ goal tally in the hour mark before his defenders scrambled to clear the danger.
But another former Nasarawa United’s player, Anas Yusuf, who came in as a substitute, breached the visitors’ defence again after he met a pass from Idris Guda off a corner kick, nodding home the second goal for the home side in the 69th minute.
Substitute, Lawal Shehu, nearly put United on the scoreboard toward the closing stages of the game as he snapped a golden opportunity in the box but his left-footed shot went inches over the crossbar.
Wikki held out firmly for a nervy few minutes, scooping the three points at the expense of last year’s Aiteo Federation Cup losing finalists.
United, who have now dropped to the 11th position on the league table, will return home to rebounce in the week ten fixture against visiting Enyimba(4th placed) during the midweek.
CAUTION
(Yellow Card).
Michael Tochukwu(NAS)28′
Mustapha Abdullahi(WIK)37′
Chidera Nduka(NAS)51′
Manga Mohammed(NAS)74′
NASARAWA UNITED LINE-UP: Ameh Godwin, Abubakar Abdullahi, Manga Mohammed, Ugochukwu Gabriel, Chris Madaki(Paul Odeh 74′), Aliyu Abdullahi, Chidera Nduka, Dauda Maigishiri(Ikenna Offor 57′)Michael Tochukwu, Chijioke Alaekwe(Shammasu Mohammed 57′), Uche Ihuarulam(Lawal Shehu 57′).
UNUSED SUBS: Danlami Umar, Afeez Bankole, Victor Collins, Moyi Hassan, King Osanga.
