City FC Abuja made a bold statement in their quest for promotion with an emphatic 3-1 win over VET Rovers FC as the New Year Mega Lottery Nationwide League One (NLO) playoffs kicked off in Kaduna.
Despite conceding early through a 7th-minute strike by Adamu Abdullahi for VET Rovers, City FC showed resilience and composure.
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The turning point came late in the first half when Maren Ezra leveled for the Abuja-based side in the 39th minute. That momentum carried into halftime, where Oyeyemi Abiola struck what proved to be the go-ahead goal.
Just six minutes into the second half, Ozor Franklin added a third for City FC, sealing a comfortable victory and sending a strong message to other playoff contenders.
Speaking after the match, Head Coach Richard Yemoah commended his squad’s fighting spirit and tactical discipline.
While noting areas for improvement, particularly in finishing and decision-making, Yemoah emphasized the importance of the result in their playoff campaign.
> “It’s a good win to start with,” he said. “We’re not there yet, but this is the kind of performance we need to push for promotion. I believe in these boys, and with the fans behind us, we’ll keep getting better.”
City FC Abuja now turn their focus to their next fixture as they aim to build momentum and edge closer to a return to the upper tiers of Nigerian football.
Full Time: City FC Abuja 3–1 VET Rovers FC
Scorers:
VET Rovers FC: Adamu Abdullahi (7’)
City FC Abuja: Maren Ezra (39’), Oyeyemi Abiola (HT), Ozor Franklin (51’)
City FC’s next match will be pivotal in maintaining their early lead in the playoff group standings.
