Two first-half goals from Amodu Liman and Danbani Alao condemned the Abia Warriors of Umuahia to their second defeat in the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League.
It was a game the Warriors paid dearly for their profligacy in front of goal.
The game itself was moved for 24 hours by the organizers following the deadly armed robbery attack that claimed lives in Oturkpo, the local government area of the chairman of the Benue State Football Association, Barrister Paul Edeh, and the Deputy Governor of the State, His Excellency Barrister Sam Ode.
A minute silence was also observed prior to kick-off at the Lafia City Stadium, the adopted home of the Benue State-based outfit and the State Deputy Governor was on hand to cheer the Stars as he performed the customary match kick-off.
The Warriors started brightly dominating possession, with Onu Emmanuel orchestrating the rhythm of the game.
Against the run of play, however, Amodu Liman put Lobi Stars ahead in the 12th minute after the Warriors’ defense failed to clear their lines. As the Warriors were still trying to reorganize themselves, Danbani Alao doubled the lead for the home side just 13 minutes after the first goal, and again, the Warriors’ defense was culpable as it failed to stop the cross from the same left wing.
The goals came after the Warriors attack had failed to take the lead in the 8th minute of play and agonizingly failed to convert at least two other clear-cut chances in the first half.
The second period saw a more balanced game, as the Warriors still created numerous other chances that they failed to convert.
Ugwunna Chidera, arguably the Warriors’ most enterprising player of the day, was a constant nuisance for the defense of Lobi Stars and could have reduced the deficit, but for the heroics of the Lobi Stars keeper who thwarted all his efforts.
It was a day that proved to belong to the home side after substitute Samson Obi found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat but missed, to the consternation of the Abia Warriors bench.
Next for the Warriors will be a battle with Oriental Brothers, Heartland of Owerri, in a matchday five encounter to be decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
