Ikorodu City FC recorded its biggest win in the top flight by hammering Katsina United 6-0 in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 31 fixture at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos State. It also was the biggest win margin in the NPFL since June 2024.

It was a brilliant start to the game as we took it to our visitors in just the 3rd minute. A fine piece of play from Tosin Oyedokun, who stole the ball in midfield, sparked a counterattack. He drove forward and squared it into the box for Nwanna Okechukwu, who was ready for a tap-in, but the Katsina United goalkeeper reacted quickly to make a fine save. Oga Boys kept up the pressure with a dominant display, and midfielder Salau Yusuf showed his intent by sprinting from midfield into the box, dribbling past his marker, and laying it off for Adelani Shola, whose shot unfortunately went off target.

LINEUP: Faith James; Waliu Ojetoye, Harrison Uzondu, Chibuike Oheagbulam, Leonard Ngenge; Onwe Kelechi, Salawu Yusuf, Emmanuel Solomon; Tosin Oyedokun, Adelani Shola, Okechukwu Nwanna. 

Our breakthrough came in the 13th minute with a beautifully worked goal. Waliu Ojetoye broke free down the right and whipped in a low cross that was met cleanly at the center by Emmanuel Solomon, who calmly slotted home to give us the lead.

With a good share of possession, our lads doubled their lead in the 36th minute through a well executed routine. This time, Solomon turned provider, delivering a perfect pass to Shola, who connected with a free header to register his 10th goal of the season—much to the joy of our amazing supporters. The visitors attempted a response in the 44th minute, but our defense held firm as we headed into the break with a two goal advantage.

In the second half, our gaffer Nurudeen Aweroro made a tactical substitution, bringing on Ayomide Cole for Okechukwu to sharpen our edge in front of goal. And as always, it paid off. In the 55th minute, Cole embarked on a solo run, drove into space, twisted his marker inside out, and squared the ball to Tosin, who made no mistake in registering his goal, with the substitute getting the assist.

In the 71st minute, another moment of brilliance saw super-sub Cole turn from provider to scorer. He found the bottom corner off a perfect cross from Waliu, sending our supporters into wild jubilation.

Katsina United tried to salvage something in the 75th minute after Leonard lost possession in our half, but James responded with a confident save to preserve our clean sheet.

With the tempo high and our players exploiting every space in the opposition’s half, the pressure continued to mount, urged on by our twelfth man, the fans. In the 81st minute, we got our fifth goal of the night through substitute Oladimeji Dada, who met a delightful cross from Waliu to net his first goal of the season, securing a hat-trick of assists for our ever reliable captain.

Just when the fans thought it couldn’t get any better, Cole bagged his brace with another solo run, capping it off with a thunderous shot into the net to seal the sixth goal and round off a scintillating night for our amazing supporters to savor.

The match ended 6-0 in favor of Ikorodu City FC, our biggest-ever win in the NPFL, also recording a league double over a Katsina United side that simply had no answers on the night. 

UP NEXT

Following this emphatic victory, the team now shifts focus to Matchday 33, where we host Niger Tornadoes at the Arena in a bid to stay on course and achieve our season’s target.

SUBSTITUTES

OUT: Okechukwu Nwanna IN: Ayomide Cole 46’

OUT: Emmanuel Solomon IN: Oladimeji Dada 65’

OUT: Salau Yusuf IN: Moses Shodeinde  75’

OUT: Harrison Uzondu IN: Gideon Manasseh 75’

BOOKING

Harrison Uzondu 52’

Salau Yusuf