Ikorodu City football club battled to a 3-2 victory over hard fighting Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia in the last game of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League decided in Lagos.
It was a game that went end-to-end as spectators sat at the edges of their seats at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan unaware of where the pendulum of victory would swing.
Abia Warriors gaffer, Imama Amapakabo made three changes to the side that beat El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in their last game in Umuahia introducing Nmecha Johnson, Augustine Njoku and Isaac Afolabi, in places of Sharp Uzoigwe, Andrew Abalogu and Philip Ogwuche respectively.
After early exchanges of forays, the home team took the lead when Ayomide Cole was given space and time to squeeze the ball past Abia Warriors’ goalkeeper, Nmecha Johnson, from close range in the 39th minute.
The goal brought out the Warriors in Umu Chineke who dominated and duly equalized with the last kick of the first half injury time through Sunday Megwo, whose delicate header off Paul Samson’s exquisite free kick, was too hot for Faith James, in goal for the home side to handle as both teams retired to the dressing room with honours shared.
When play resumed, the Oga Boys came out smoking and got the second goal from Tosin Oyedokun after an earlier strike punched out by Nmecha, fell kindly to him.
As the Warriors tried to regroup and restore parity, they left a hole at the back which the home team capitalised on to slot in their third goal from substitute, Malik Musa following a dangerous counter attack in the 65th minute.
But the Warriors will not just allow a walloping as Paul Samson, who could easily be described as the Man-Of-The Match, made the score line more respectable with a wonder strike with 15 minutes of regular time remaining.
Despite the intensity of the game, Abia Warriors showed determination and hunger but the inability of their front men to take the numerous chances that came their way, proved to be their albatross.
With the old tactics of time wasting, the home team closed up the game as the Warriors knocked constantly on their door.
Despite the narrow loss, the Umuahia warlords still finished third on the 20-team table and will represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederations Cup next season while Ikorodu City, making their debut in Nigeria’s top flight, finished fourth, behind the Warriors.