Nasarawa United strengthened their fight against relegation with a commanding 2-0 victory over North Central rivals Niger Tornadoes in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 22 encounter at the Lafia City Stadium on Sunday evening.
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League top scorer, Anas Yusuf, delivered a standout performance, netting twice to secure the Solid Miners’ second consecutive home win in the second half of the season. The match was played behind closed doors.
Yusuf opened the scoring as early as the 3rd minute, confidently converting a penalty he earned after being set up by Abubakar Aliyu. He doubled his tally in the 71st minute, capitalizing on a poorly cleared free-kick from Kabir Balogun. Controlling the ball masterfully, he fired past Niger Tornadoes’ goalkeeper, Joshua Enaholo, bringing his season tally to 14 goals, including three penalty conversions.
Nasarawa United’s goalkeeper, Detan Ogundare, was in top form, denying the visitors with crucial saves from Daniel Akanbek, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, and Sunday Akinmoladun.
With this vital victory, Nasarawa United now sit 18th on the league table with 22 points from 22 games, while Tornadoes drop to 8th place with 30 points. The Solid Miners’ fate regarding their deducted three points and goals remains undecided.
Next, Nasarawa United will travel to Maiduguri for a Matchday 23 showdown against El-Kanemi Warriors on Sunday, February 9, 2025.
Reacting to his brace, Anas Yusuf expressed his delight:
“I’m really excited to be back on the scoresheet, helping my team secure another crucial win. This is my 14th goal of the season, and I’ll continue working hard with my teammates to push us into a better position in the league.”
