Kwara United Football Club this evening scored their first goal, and equally recorded their first win in the ongoing 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), which is now at match day five.
Kwara United FC had been without a goal and a win in their previous four matches against Gombe United, Shooting Stars Sports Club and Bendel Insurance, all in Ibadan, and against Enyimba International FC of Aba, garnering just two points from four matches.
The team’s Technical Adviser, Abdulazeez Mohammed said that the win means a lot to the team, even as he commended the players for responding positively, despite conceding the equaliser at the 69th minute.
“The goals and the victory means a lot to me and to the entire team. I must salute the courage of the boys for fighting so hard to achieve this.
“Akwa United came here with a strong mentality, having garnered seven points from three consecutive matches. And for us, we did not score even a goal in four matches, and that tells on our level of confidence going into the game.
“The double jinx we have broken in this match will definitely awaken the winning mentality in the boys, as goal is the spirit of football. We will strive to build on the result.
While reacting to the two match ultimatum, Coach Mohammed that the job of coaching is all about results, and was ready for whatever the outcome would have yielded, even as he commended the management for approving the ultimatum, and not outrightly scaling the coaching crew.
“Its the right of the management to demand for positive results. Its a league. Sometimes you start well, and sometimes its the other way round.
Despite playing against a team that got seven points from three consecutive matches, Kwara United FC started well, with the combination of Owolabi Aremu and former U23 National team striker, Wasiu Alalade giving the Ilorin based team the lead in the 14th minute.
Owolabi, who was a thorn on the flesh of the Akwa United defence had paved a way for Alalade to take a shot from outside the box, to break the goal scoring jinx.
Akwa United fought back, created some chances, but the synergy between Muritala Dagbo and Adebayo in the heart of the Kwara United defence, as well as the side supports from Muritala Lawal in the left and Musa Abdulafeez in the right was too much for the visitors.
Kwara United also fought hard to increase the tally, with Owolabi, Alalade and Chisom Samuel coming close.
Akwa United came out after the interval more determined, putting the homers under pressure, especially in the midfield, as they broke the resilience of Kwara United defence to equalised at the 69th minute, through Cyril Olisema.
Determined not toose the game, Kwara United technical crew made some changes, bringing in Kabir Balogun for Musa Abdulafeez, and Taofeek Ahmed for Owolabi. They had earlier introduced Wasiu Mahmud for Chisom.
Kwara United also introduced Jimoh Ahmed for Junior Ayobami. Akwa United could however, not withhold the pressure, as Jimoh Ahmed got the winning goal in the 87th minute to hand his team the first win of the season.
Kwara United FC now have five points from five matches, and will play Plateau United at the new Jos Stadium on Sunday.
