Daily Manna Bakery FC Defender Anaeriaku has questioned a controversial goal awarded against his team during their dramatic 2-2 draw with Zudachi Construction FC in the Island AllStars Sports Club PatrickLingo Super League Football Tournament at Lagos Business School, insisting that the ball never crossed the goal line before he cleared it.
Speaking exclusively to Sports247 after the encounter, Anaeriaku expressed frustration over the referee’s decision but praised his teammates for showing remarkable fighting spirit despite competing without substitutes.
The closely contested fixture saw Daily Manna recover from a 2-1 deficit to secure a valuable point through a last-minute penalty.
‘I Was Certain the Ball Had Not Crossed the Line’
One of the major talking points of the encounter was the controversial goal awarded to Zudachi Construction despite Anaeriaku’s attempt to clear the ball off the line.
The Daily Manna player maintained that his intervention prevented the ball from crossing into the net.
“I was watching the ball closely, and I was certain it had not crossed the goal line before I kicked it away,” Anaeriaku told Sports247.
“After clearing the ball, I expected the referee to award a corner kick because the ball was heading towards the corner.”
However, the referee awarded a goal, a decision Anaeriaku strongly disputed.
“He awarded a goal despite the VAR official reportedly indicating otherwise. He still insisted that the ball had crossed the line,” he explained.
The player’s account raised questions about the controversial decision, although his claim regarding the ball’s position and the reported intervention of a VAR official could not be independently established.
‘We Had No Substitutes, but Everyone Gave Their Best’
Despite the controversy, Anaeriaku was pleased with his team’s overall performance. He revealed that Daily Manna Bakery FC entered the encounter with a depleted squad after several important players travelled and were unavailable for selection.
“The team performed well despite having no substitutes available because some of our key players had travelled,” he said.
“Those of us who were available gave our best and performed to the best of our abilities.”
The situation meant the available players had to remain committed throughout the encounter without the benefit of fresh legs from the substitutes’ bench. Their determination eventually paid off when Daily Manna earned a late penalty and converted it to secure a 2-2 draw.
‘Team Spirit Is What Keeps Us Going’
With Daily Manna collecting just two points from their opening three matches, Anaeriaku acknowledged that the team faces challenges but insisted that unity remains its greatest strength.
“It is all about team spirit. Daily Manna FC is committed to giving its best in every match,” he explained.
“As I mentioned earlier, most of our key players are unavailable, but what has kept us going is our unity and cooperation.”
The player also highlighted the importance of discipline and following the coach’s instructions.
“We come together as a team, listen to the coach and follow his instructions on the pitch.”
His comments reflected a collective determination to remain competitive despite the difficulties surrounding squad availability.
The 2-2 draw leaves Daily Manna Bakery FC with two points from three matches in the PatrickLingo Super League Football Tournament. Although the team is still searching for its first victory, its ability to recover from a losing position against Zudachi Construction provides encouragement ahead of subsequent fixtures.
For Anaeriaku, the encounter demonstrated both the challenges and character within the Daily Manna squad. While the disputed goal-line decision remains a major talking point, the player’s assessment focused equally on the resilience of his teammates.
With no substitutes available, key players absent and a controversial goal awarded against them, Daily Manna Bakery FC still found the determination to fight back and rescue a point.
And for Anaeriaku, the explanation is simple: team spirit, unity and a commitment to following the coach’s instructions.
