Matchday thirty-two of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) 2024/25 saw us take a short trip to Ibadan to face Shooting Stars as they continue to fight for a place on the continent. The game ended in a stalemate which meant we had taken 4 points from the Ibadan club in two meetings this season.
LINEUP: Oluwadamilare Aina; Waliu Ojetoye, Harrison Uzondu, Chibuike Oheagbulam, Leonard Ngenge; Onwe Kelechi, Salawu Yusuf, Tosin Oyedokun; Emmanuel Solomon, Okechukwu Nwanna & Shola Adelani.
With both teams settling in quickly, we dominated the opening half hour, controlling the pace of the game and creating a few half chances. Waliu made way on the right sending a couple of crosses into the box that wasn’t diverted in. Okechukwu Nwanna had an effort off target before Waliu forced the keeper into a save from the far right hand side.
Shooting Stars then came into the game and created a goal scoring chance which was cleared off the line by Harrison Austin to ensure that the game went into the break without a goal.
Ten minutes into the restart, Ayomide Cole replace Okechukwu Nwanna up front and the striker almost found the net immediately. Cole was put through on goal but lost his balance after being crowded out by the defenders, he let fly but it was off target.
Shooting Stars kept knocking on the door with Austin making another goal line clearance before Waliu did the same from an Anthony Okachi effort, our former striker.
Rivio, Moses and Victor all came in to steady the ship in the closing stages and we saw out a goalless scoreline to ensure we took a point away off Shooting Stars who we defeated in the first leg at the Arena.
UP NEXT
We return home for a rescheduled NPFL 25 MD31 fixture against Katsina United this midweek before facing Niger Tornadoes at the weekend.
SUBSTITUTIONS
OUT: Okechukwu Nwanna IN: Ayomide Cole 54’
OUT: Emmanuel Solomon IN: Rivio Ayemwenre 68’
OUT: Tosin Oyedokun IN: Moses Shodeinde 68’
OUT: Salau Yusuf IN: Victor Ejukah 90+3’