Samuel Areo’s brace led Team SWAN to a thrilling 2-2 draw against Team NNL in a novelty game that served as a curtain-raiser for the 2024 NNL Super 8 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.
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Areo opened the scoring for the media side in the 32nd minute, dribbling past the defense and placing the ball in the top right corner of the goalpost.
However, Team NNL quickly equalized with a controversial penalty kick after Mike Obi was brought down in the red zone by former Nigeria national team player now a board member of the NNL. Sani Muhammad converted the penalty kick, resulting in a 1-1 halftime score.
The second half was even more intense, with Areo’s solo move exposing Team NNL’s defense before he slotted the ball into the lower right side of the net. Nevertheless, Obi-Mike was again brought down in the box, but Sani Mohammed failed to convert the penalty kick as the goalpost intervened.
In a surprising turn of events, CEO of Topsportsafrik Ogo Clarkson, who moved from defense to upfront, intercepted a back pass and dispossessed goalkeeper Adams Jessy, then laid the ball off the attacker to score an empty goal, concluding the game at 2-2.”
However, Beyond Limit the overall champion, Nasarawa United, El-Kanemi, and Ikorodu United were eventual winners that got promotion to the Apex League of Nigeria professional football.
