Nasarawa United returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Niger Tornadoes in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture, producing a spirited response to their Matchday 20 home defeat against Kano Pillars.
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Playing with renewed purpose, the Lafia-based side made a bright start and were rewarded in the 13th minute when Anas Yusuf confidently converted from the penalty spot after sustained early pressure forced an error in the Tornadoes’ defence.
The early breakthrough settled Nasarawa United, who continued to dictate the tempo and press high up the pitch.
Their dominance was further reflected in the 22nd minute when Adekunle Oluwasegun doubled the advantage with a composed finish, capping an impressive debut performance.
The forward, who recently joined Nasarawa United from Kwara United during the mid-season transfer window, made an immediate impact with intelligent movement and sharp attacking awareness, underlining why the club moved quickly to secure his services.
Niger Tornadoes, struggling to find rhythm in the first half, improved after the break and began to push numbers forward in search of a way back into the contest.
Nasarawa United, however, remained organised at the back, absorbing pressure and looking to exploit spaces on the counterattack.
As the match wore on, Tornadoes increased the intensity, and their persistence eventually paid off in the 85th minute when Ahmadu Liman pulled a goal back, setting up a tense finish.
Despite the late scare, Nasarawa United showed composure and game management in the closing stages, seeing out the encounter to claim all three points.
The victory represents a significant morale boost for Nasarawa United as they aim to regain consistency in the second stanza of the season.
It also highlighted the positive influence of their mid-season reinforcements, with Oluwasegun’s debut goal standing out as a key moment in the match.
For Niger Tornadoes, the late goal offered some consolation, but the defeat leaves them with questions to address as they continue their campaign.
Nasarawa United, meanwhile, will take confidence from the result as they look to build momentum and climb the NPFL standings in the weeks ahead.
