Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia commenced its 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League Season campaign with a disappointing 0-2 loss to visiting Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne.
It was a match that could have turned out differently had the Warriors made the chances that came their way count, especially in the first 15 minutes of the game.
Coach Imama Amapakabo, who is on a second missionary journey to the Umu-Chineke team gave five new signings- Ogunjimi Samuel, Philip Ogwuche, Innocent Godwin, Ogbuagu Onyekachi and Olewunne Izuchukwu their Abia Warriors debut in the week one game.
Anthony Ijoma was preferred in attack ahead of injury returnee, Sunday Megwo, while Ali Ishaku was in goal. Captain Augustine Njoku retained his place at right back, Collins Nwoburuoke paired with Ogbuagu at the heart of defence. The other retained players who started the match were Adejoh Ojonugwa at midfield and Ayodele Ezekiel at right wing.
The Warriors took the game to the visitors right from the first blast of the referee’s whistle, and they would have opened the scoring inside the first minute.
Ayodele escaped his marker squared the ball to Izuchukwu to slam into the net, but the later fluffed his chance to the chagrin of the packed arena.
A minute later, a long pass from Ogbuagu located the unmarked Anthony but he failed to make it count.
In the 21st minutes of play, Remo Stars defence failed to clear a corner kick from the Warriors, and Ayodele pounced with a ferocious shot that came off the upright.
The first period was characterized by Abia Warriors dominance and a goal was the only thing that eluded them as both sides went into the break with scores at 0-0.
The Warriors would have taken the lead in the first minute of the second half but Ogunjimi failed to direct Izuchukwu’s cross at goal. It was the fourth time the home side came close to scoring.
The Warriors were made to pay dearly for those misses, when totally against the run of play, Remo Stars took the lead three minutes later, when a momentarily loss of concentration allowed Sodiq Ismail to volley home a lofty pass.
The visitors doubled the lead when Abia Warriors defence failed to clear a corner kick on the half hour mark and Jide Fatokun took full advantage to head into the net.
Despite a wholesale substitution by the Warriors bench, the home side could not get on the score sheet as the match ends 2-0 in favour of Remo Stars.