Kwara United Football Club today, Sunday November 26th, 2023, defeated visiting Gombe United FC 2-0 in the Matchday 10 encounter of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) decided at the Main-Bowl of the Kwara State Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
Returnee Alao Mohammed, with a volley in the 37th minute, and Abubakar Garba’s low drive in the 85th minute was enough to earn the home team all points at stake, and that may have been easily achieved following a penalty miss by the visitors in the 53rd minute, through Sadiq Shuaibu.
Kwara United, on the backdrop of their impressive performance which guaranteed a point in their away game with Bendel Insurance in Matchday Nine, played for consolidation, but initially met a more determined, relatively experienced and resillient Gombe United, as the game gradually resulted in a ding dong affair.
However, Alao Mohammed, who missed the Bendel Insurance party due to injury burried what was the only clear chance created by Kwara United in the first half in the 37th minute, leaving the time-wasting far Northern team with more struggles to cope with.
Coming more into the game after conceeding the goal, Gombe United surged forward, but had nothing to prove for it, until early in the second half, when a foul counted against Kwara United in the box, and the resultant spot kick was stopped.by goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka, a feat that kept his team in the game, and which later earned him Man of the Match Award.
Shola AbdulRaheem, Issa Gata and Abubakar Garba were intriduced for Alao Mohammed, Sadeeq Yusuf and Bernard Ovoke, and much later.
Kwara Football Academy graduate, Abubakar Garba increased the tally for the home team in the 85th minute, when he spaced his marker at the far side, and slice home from the side with his weak left foot.
With the scores seemed settled, Ayanrinde Samuel was introduced in place of Ifeanyi Odinnega, while Bajibir Mohammed also came in for Godwin Oshagbemi, just to increase the pressure on Gombe United.
For Coach Kabir Sulaiman Dogo of Kwara United Football Club, the win against Gombe United was enough consolation, as he shifts attention to the Matchday 11th game against Akwa United in Eket, next Sunday.
“I will want to thank all the stakeholders, Supporters and Fans for believing in the team, despite the initial challenges we faced this season. With time, we would get there. After this great feat, our focus is now on Akwa United in Eket.
Coach Alhaji Kwairanga, obviously the longest serving former player of Gombe United, who is now the Assistant to Coach Mohammed Babaganaru who was absent said that his team lost due to fatigue, claiming that the team had challenges when coming to Ilorin for the match.
He said that his team will redeem its image against Kano Pillars in their next match at home in Gombe.
The Man of the Match Award, N20,000 cash prize, won by Adewale Adeyinka was sponsored by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Print Best, Are Musbau Olalekan Olaniyi, who is the Are Bobajiro of Offa.
