Fuad Ekelojuoti’s strike earned Sunshine Stars a 1-0 win over Abia Warriors on NPFL match day 23 blighted by the death of Nasarawa United defender, Chineme Martins.
Ekelojuoti made up for some spurned chances in the opening half by bundling home from goalmouth in the 50′ to ensure the homers emerged with all points at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Sunday.
The hosts had not lost to Abia Warriors in the last eight meetings between the sides but were kept on the back foot by the visitors in the early exchanges.
Nonetheless the Akure landlords could have gone up inside the first quarter of an hour of the game when Waheed Adebayo brilliantly released Ogunniyi Omo Jesu against the run of play but the gifted youngster had his effort kept out by Uche Okafor.
Wasiu Jimoh had a goalmouth effort blocked out in the 18′ then three minutes later he set up Anthony Omaka who blasted high from just inside the area.
Ekelojuoti had two big misses in succession: firstly his effort clattered off the keeper during a one-on-one situation inside the area in the 40′ and secondly his lob over on rushing Okafor ended above the target at the stroke of half time.
Ekelojuoti broke the deadlock five minutes into the restart by tapping home from a goal mouth scarmble to send a wave of excitement and jubilation across the stands.
In the 63′ Olorunleke Ojo spared the blushes of Sunshine Stars with a timely intervention from point blank to thwart Warriors’ attempt at equaliser and two minutes later the big-framed goalkeeper saved again from a glancing header.
Sadeeq Yusuf and Omaka could not find a way past Okafor from begging chances late on, however Ekelojuoti fifth goal of the season was enough to move the Owena Whales back into the top four with 34 points from 23 matches.
Coach Kabiru Dogo in his post match chat with Sunshine Stars Media was in no mood to celebrate the win following the shocking death of his former player at Nasarawa United, Martins.
“This is no time to celebrate, what happened in Nasarawa is devastating to me; I brought the late player to the Club while in charge and it’s very sad lose him this way.
“I am so pained and sorry for my people in Nasarawa and the Chineme’s family. We can only accept fate: Allah gives and take” Dogo submitted sobbingly.
Sunshine Stars visit Enyimba on match day 24.
Sunshine XI Ojo; Akobundu, Akpojubweuvwo, Akande, Olulayo; Fatokun, Omaka, Ekelojuoti (Silas 86′), Omo Jesu; Adebayo, Jimoh (Sadeeq 53′)
Unused Subs Ayodele; Adeniyi, Mali, Obanigba, Adejubu
Cautions Akande 25′ Omaka 30′ Ekelojuoti 51′
Goal Ekelojuoti 50′
