Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia boosted their continental aspirations with a deserved 1-1 draw against hosts, Niger Tornadoes of Minna in the Matchday 36 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League decided at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
After a scoreless first half, the Tornadoes took the lead from nowhere when Mohammed Hussaini’s free kick sailed into the Warriors net, five minutes after the restart.
Abia Warriors talisman and CHAN Eagles invitee, Sunday Megwo thought he had brought Umu Chineke on level teams with 13 minutes of normal time remaining but his goal was disallowed for offside to the consternation of the Abia Warriors bench.
The Warriors equalized in the last second of the three minutes injury time, with a hand of fortune. Goalscorer, Hussaini turned from victor to villain when he failed to clear the ball inside his box and his goalkeeper, Emmanuel Iwu could only but help the ball into his own net when he attempted to punch it away as Abia Warriors bench celebrated.
Actually, it was a game of two halves as the hosts dominated the first half while Umu Chineke were the better side in the second stanza.
Abia Warriors gaffer, Imama Amapakabo, made two changes to the side that defeated Shooting Stars of Ibadan in the last league fixture with Samuel Atavti and David Emmanuel getting the gaffer’s nod ahead of Andrew Abalaogu and Ayodele Ezekiel respectively while David Emmanuel made his first start of the campaign.
With the Tornadoes taking the lead early in the second half, Amapakabo effected a wholesale substitution in search of an equalizer with Ayodele Ezekiel, Sheddy Kenneth, Izuchukwu Christian and Maxwell Kangeshima replacing David Emmanuel, Anthony Ijoma, Paul Samson and Adejoh Ojonugwa respectively.
It was not surprising when the equalizer came through consistent pressing from the Warriors which put the Ikon Allah defence under intense pressure.
Up next for Abia Warriors is a home tie against El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maidugiri.