Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club (ABS) Ilorin FC kicked off their Nigeria National U-19 Youth League Cup campaign with a one-all draw against AS Roma Academy at the Main-Bowl of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, today, Tuesday September 24 2024, in Abuja.
The Saraki Boys, determined and highly motivated, came into the game in search of a win but were also mindful not to concede as they defended solidly, cutting out all attacking threats from their hosts in the first half to keep scores goalless at halftime.
The second half resumed with the same intensity with both teams presented with several goal scoring opportunities.
Abdulrasheed Usman capitalised on a goalkeepers’ error to put ABS FC ahead in the game. However, Captain Odibu Greg took it upon himself as he equalised at stoppage time with a stunning 35-yard strike, beatingĀ goalkeeper Waheed Saheed who went at full stretch but unable to prevent the ball from going in.
Reacting after the game, Coach Babatunde Toafeeq expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, adding that it’s a good experience for his lads, pledging that they will build on the momentum in their subsequent games.
“I am okay with the results of the game because most of the players haven’t gone out of Ilorin to play anywhere and this is a league. For them to key into the pattern we played for the first time; 3:5:2 defensively which was what we came to do, to see them and study how they play and then hit them on the counter. But to me individually, the unit and the group play was okay for me.
“We go back to the drawing board and continue to work so that they can properly key into the pattern. We will be at home now and we will find another kind of way of playing” he said.
I am disappointed we didn’t get the win but I am satisfied with the results.
Goal scorer, Abdulwaheed Usman was also disappointed not to have ended the game with a win but was satisfied with the point, adding that it wasn’t an easy game.
He expressed excitement with his goal, adding that it was his job to score for the team and he’s happy to have gotten his first goal for the club.
“It is the striker’s duty to score and to help the team and I am happy to have gotten the goal. But sadly, we were unable to defend the goal. It happens sometimes. We will go back home with the point”, he added.