Nasarawa United head coach, Mangut Mbwas, has expressed optimism that his side will finish the season in a respectable position despite surrendering the top spot on the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table to Abia Warriors.
The Solid Miners slipped to second place following a 1-0 defeat to Rivers United in Port Harcourt on Sunday — a result that allowed Abia Warriors to move top of the standings with a hard-fought away win over Niger Tornadoes in Minna.
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Speaking after the match, Coach Mbwas admitted disappointment with the result but maintained confidence in his team’s potential to bounce back.
“It’s unfortunate that the game turned out this way, despite coming this strong after a series of games and confidence building,” Mbwas said.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy here against Rivers United, especially considering their home record. We did all we could to curtail their aggressiveness, but they took advantage of their chance. The wet turf affected our pattern of play, as we couldn’t circulate the ball the way we wanted.”
Despite the setback, the Nasarawa United boss lauded his players’ spirit and reiterated their determination to make a lasting impression this season.
“I commend my boys for their efforts, and I congratulate Rivers United for taking their chance from our defensive mistake,” he added.
“We are a young, self-motivated team with solid support from the Nasarawa State Government. Our focus is to make a name for ourselves and make the people of the state proud. We are doing everything possible to finish decently on the league table by the end of the season.”
The defeat leaves Nasarawa United with 19 points, two behind Abia Warriors, who now lead the standings. Rivers United climbed to eighth place with 16 points from nine matches, courtesy of Zachariah Timothy’s decisive strike on the stroke of halftime.
Nasarawa United will look to return to winning ways when they host Remo Stars in a rescheduled Matchday 10 fixture on Thursday, November 5, 2025, at the Lafia City Stadium, before welcoming Kwara United for their Matchday 12 encounter.
