Abia Comets FC kicked off their 2024/25 Nigeria National League (NNL) campaign in dramatic fashion, defeating Edel FC 2-1 in a thrilling Southern Conference A Matchday 1 encounter at the Awka Township Stadium on Sunday.
Edel FC struck early, with Tuoyo Pippah’s 11th-minute opener putting the hosts in control.
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Abia Comets struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, with missed opportunities and defensive lapses keeping them behind at the break.
However, a rejuvenated Comets side emerged in the second half, driven by determination and tactical adjustments. Chinaza Miracle leveled the score in the 60th minute, displaying exceptional skill as he dribbled past two defenders to fire home an equalizer, assisted by Okechukwu Chukwu.
The turning point came in the 75th minute when substitute Emeka Maduka capitalized on a pinpoint cross from Ikenna Ogbonna to deliver a spectacular close-range finish.
His decisive goal not only secured the three points but also thrilled the crowd and earned praise as one of the standout goals of the matchday.
Abia Comets’ head coach, Okechukwu Ejeh, expressed his delight after the match.
“I’m happy with the performance of the team. It was a difficult game, but also a well-deserved three points because of how we played, especially in the second half,” Ejeh said. “We started slowly, but after we went behind, we brought in fresh legs and took control. We’ll keep working hard to improve as a team.”
Abia Comets now look ahead to their first home match of the season, hosting Lagos-based 1472 FC on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
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