NPFL Wk35: Nasarawa United Wallop Sunshine Stars

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 NPFL Wk35: Nasarawa United Wallop Sunshine Stars 




NPFL Wk35: Nasarawa United Wallop Sunshine Stars

The Solid Miners, on Sunday, at the Lafia City Stadium, compounded the woes of relegation-threatened Sunshine Stars of Akure, drowning the Owena Whales by 4-0.


Weapon of mass destruction, Silas Nwankwo, began the offensive against his former team as early as in the 11th minute when he was laid through by Chigozie Obasi with the energetic striker lashing the ball into the back of the net.


Not done yet, the goal-machine increased the tally to two five minutes later after a goalkeeping blunder by Saliu Suleiman, his 18th goal of the current campaign.


Silas turned from a brace scorer to an assist provider, beautifully controlling an aerial ball before finding the advancing Aliyu Abdullahi who struck it spectacularly beyond the containment of the goalkeeper for United's third goal of the afternoon.


With the weather favoring proceedings, Sunshine Stars conceded a freekick at 35 yards from the goalmouth following a foul on Silas Nwankwo.


Right full-back and another former Sunshine Stars player, Chigozie Obasi stepped up to bring matters to rest before the end of the first-half as he released a cracker that left the substitute Goalkeeper, Henry Ayodele, neutralized, and score at 4-0, his 5th goal from dead-ball situations in United colors since he joined the club in the second stanza of the ongoing league season.


Silas Nwankwo was voted the Infinix Mobiles' Man-of-the-Match for his brace and double assists.


Nasarawa United will be on the road for a date with Dakkada FC in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, on Wednesday, before meeting again with Sunshine Stars on Friday on neutral ground in Asaba, Delta State, in an Aiteo Federation Cup Semi-Final tie.


Today's result sees the Solid Miners still maintaining their second spot on the league table, six points lower than table-topping Akwa United who have 67 points after 35 rounds of matches.


Post Match Reaction:


Coach Bala Nikyu(NAS): "Football isn't what you can predict.


"Before the game, if anyone told you this would be the result, I think you would argue it.


"As far as this league is concerned, it has gotten to a crucial stage that even if it's just a goal you score, it's as important as gold.


"Four goals is a good one for us. But we would have scored more if we had utilized other chances that we had.


"We had expected a good match from Sunshine Stars because the reversed fixture ended goalless in Akure.


"We now have to go and represent ourselves in our next game against Dakkada in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State during the midweek."


Coach Deji Ayeni(SUN): "That's football. Sometimes you get it right, and sometimes you get it wrong - you can't rule that out.


"I see a lot of fatigue in my boys. The programs of the NFF have affected so many teams, and I think it's high time you journalists went the extra mile to urge the handlers of the league to do the right things at the right time.


"We are burning these players out and we are playing on astroturf which is medically not good for the players, unfortunately, this is our job and we can't do anything about it.


"Nasarawa United played in front of their fans and that alone is a motivational factor.


"Congratulations to them because they deserved to win. We will go back home and re-strategize ahead of our Aiteo Federation Cup Semi-Final with them in Asaba, and I think it's going to be a different ball game entirely."


Silas Nwankwo(NAS/MVP): "Playing against my former team? Very very good, and scoring against them? Good!


"But it's very bad that I am one of the persons who will be sending them to relegation, even though it's my prayer they don't get demoted to the lower league.


"It wasn't a revenge mission against Sunshine Stars. I was recruited by Nasarawa United to do what I am doing now and I'm aiming for the golden boot."


Caution (Yellow 🟨 Card):


Alaba Adeniyi(SUN) 5'


Dauda Maigishiri(NAS)21'


Michael Tochukwu(NAS)80'


Nasarawa United Line Up Galadima Mohammed(Gk), Chigozie obasi(Abubakar Abdullahi 55'),  Emeka Onyema, Evans Ifeatu, Ini Edem, Aliyu Abdullahi(Bashiru Usman 70'), Dauda Maigishiri(Martins Owolijah 81'), Ikenna Ofor, Michael Tochukwu, Adamu Hassan(Chinedu Ohanachom 70'), Silas Nwankwo(Anas Yusuf 81')


Unused Substitute: Danlami Umar(Gk), Austin Uzochukwu, Shammasu Mohammed,  Ewuga Philip.

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