Abia Warriors kept alive their hopes of surviving relegation from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with a 2-1 win against MFM in Okigwe.
Abia Warriors started the game with intent and scored very early in the third minute through Ikennna Stephen. It was a solo run from his defence line that took him close to the opponents’ box where his effort at goal beat MFM Goalkeeper Jerry Isaac.
The hosts doubled their lead in the fifth minute, when Kabiru Mohammed’s cross found an unmarked Valentine Odoh who headed in to score his 9th league goal of the season.
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Abia Warriors should have gone three up, before the 10th minute of the game, but Odoh failed to score off a pass from Ikenna Stephen in the 9th minute.
MFM however pushed for goal and scored in the 18th minute, through Alabi Adebayo’s headed effort from a goal kick by his Goalkeeper Jerry Isaac.
Abia Warriors were lucky not to have conceded on the 39th minute as Yeo Chacool failed to communicate with his defence partner Innocent Gabriel. His back pass to goalkeeper Pius Ibrahim was not read well but he was lucky to see the ball roll away inches from entering the net. The Umuahia based team went into half time with their 2-1 lead.
MFM would come close to leveling scores in the 58th minute when substitute Kenedium Nelson and Mayowa Balogun combined well in the midfield only to have Kenedium Nelson shot palmed away by Abia Warriors Goalkeeper Ibrahim.
MFM pushed further for an equalizer and came close in the 80th minute with Alimi Adebayor combining well with Barry Legbara close to Abia Warriors’ 18-yard box. But the latter’s shot at goal was again saved by Goalkeeper Ibrahim and Abia Warriors held on to their 2-1 win.
Abia Warriors will host Remo Stars, while MFM will be guests to Rivers United on MatchDay 27 this weekend.
Man of the match: Alabi Oladayo (MFM)
