Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia faced a setback in their quest for league dominance as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Sporting Lagos in a thrilling Week 12 encounter of the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The match played at the Umuahia Township Stadium, saw the home team dropping points at home for the first time this season.
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Sporting Lagos took the lead in the 17th minute through Naibie Akpesiri, who skillfully broke through the Warriors’ defence line and placed the ball beyond the onrushing goalkeeper Nmecha Johnson for the opener.
Stunned by the early goal, Abia Warriors intensified their efforts to equalize, but Sporting Lagos goalkeeper Christian Nwoke proved resilient in denying the home team.
The second half saw Abia Warriors increasing the pressure on the visitors, determined to secure a comeback.
Despite Sporting Lagos employing time-wasting tactics, Abia Warriors continued their offensive play.
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The equalizing moment arrived in the 84th minute when a well-delivered corner kick by Adejoh Ojonugwa found Samson Obi, who set up substitute Paschal Nwabueze for the crucial goal.
In the 3rd minute of added time, Nwabueze appeared to have scored the winner for Abia Warriors, stabbing home Augustine Njoku’s excellent cross.
However, to the dismay of home spectators and the Warriors bench, the linesman raised his flag for offside, denying them the late victory.
Abia Warriors will now shift their focus to an upcoming oriental derby against reigning champions Enyimba International of Aba in what promises to be a highly anticipated clash.
The draw against Sporting Lagos serves as a reminder of the competitiveness of the Nigeria Premier Football League and the challenges teams face in maintaining consistency throughout the season.
