Abia Warriors continued their impressive run of form in the Nigeria Professional Football League with a hard-earned 1–0 away victory over Plateau United, securing a vital three points and strengthening their push at the top end of the table.
The visitors showed early intent in a tightly contested encounter, while Plateau United looked to use home advantage to dictate the tempo.
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One of the game’s key moments in the first half came in the 31st minute, when Plateau United’s Gideon beat two defenders before going down inside the penalty area. Despite strong appeals from the home side, the referee waved play on, much to the frustration of the crowd.
Both teams went into the break level, but the intensity increased after the restart as Abia Warriors began to assert greater control in midfield.
Their persistence was rewarded in the 68th minute when Taheer Abubakar produced a moment of quality to break the deadlock. The forward skipped past his marker before delicately chipping the ball over the advancing goalkeeper, handing Abia Warriors a deserved lead.
With the advantage secured, Abia Warriors shifted focus to game management and defensive solidity. Plateau United pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but the visitors remained disciplined at the back, limiting clear-cut chances.
In the 85th minute, Abia Warriors head coach made a series of tactical substitutions to protect the lead, introducing Paul Samson, Fatai Abdullahi, Innocent Godwin, Emmanuel Ogbuagu, and Ogunjimi Samuel in place of Fred David, Innocent Gabriel, Taheer Abubakar, and Asiegbu Shedrack. The changes helped maintain structure and composure as the match entered its closing stages.
At full time, Abia Warriors celebrated a massive away victory, completing three consecutive wins despite making two trips in their last three matches — a testament to their consistency and growing confidence.
The result sees Abia Warriors rise to second place on the NPFL table after 19 matches, amassing 33 points. They now sit four points behind league leaders Rivers United, while maintaining a narrow one-point advantage over Ikorodu City and Nasarawa United, who occupy third and fourth positions respectively.
As the title race intensifies, Abia Warriors’ resilience on the road continues to underline their credentials as genuine contenders in the 2024/25 NPFL season
