Olorunfemi Victor
Sunshine Stars F.C winless run continued in the Nigeria Professional Football (NPFL) League as they were held to a one-all draw away by Nasarawa United on Sunday in matchday 12 of the NPFL 2021/22 season.
Leonard Ugochukwu put Sunshine Stars in the lead just four minutes into the encounter from Adebari’s well-worked-out assist. He didn’t celebrate the goal in honour of his former club.
Nasarawa United controlled the match after finding themselves behind early in the game and had multiple chances to restore the parity but weren’t clinical enough to get an equalizer.
However, the breakthrough came for the hosts in the 39th minute as Lawal Giwa brought Nasarawa United back into the game with a lowly strike as the first half ended with a 1:1 scoreline.
The visitors’ hope of securing the maximum points from the encounter was short-lived as Adebari chipped the ball into the back of the net but the goal was ruled out.
The centre referee decision ignited protest from Sunshine Stars players and officials.
Both teams failed to convert any other chances in the second 45 minutes as the match ended in a one-one draw after 90 minutes of intense actions at the City Stadium, Lafia.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Sunshine Stars’ coach, Deji Ayeni wasn’t satisfied with the decision of the referee to rule out what he called a ‘fantastic’ goal but sang the praises of his players for playing according to instructions.
“You can see that we almost got the three points because the second goal to me is fantastic but being that it was awarded, we leave as human error.
So that is that about it, we needed to approach the game early and get our goals so that we can put them into serious unbalancing and it worked, I’m thankful to the boys that they played according to instructions.”
Coach Ayeni didn’t shy any from admitting the quality of the Nasarawa United team.
“Nasarawa United have been a fantastic team, everybody knows them, their pedigree and their antecedents in Nigeria football and the present coach of the team is a very experienced manager which I really respect a lot so I expected this kind of football.
By and large, if the officiating in the league continues positively, I think Nigeria football will get better.”
Sunshine Stars have now failed to win any of their last three matches in the league and will hope to turn things around when they face Niger Tornadoes in their next league game.
Sunshine Stars F.C winless run continued in the Nigeria Professional Football (NPFL) League as they were held to a one-all draw away by Nasarawa United on Sunday in matchday 12 of the NPFL 2021/22 season.
Leonard Ugochukwu put Sunshine Stars in the lead just four minutes into the encounter from Adebari’s well-worked-out assist. He didn’t celebrate the goal in honour of his former club.
Nasarawa United controlled the match after finding themselves behind early in the game and had multiple chances to restore the parity but weren’t clinical enough to get an equalizer.
However, the breakthrough came for the hosts in the 39th minute as Lawal Giwa brought Nasarawa United back into the game with a lowly strike as the first half ended with a 1:1 scoreline.
The visitors’ hope of securing the maximum points from the encounter was short-lived as Adebari chipped the ball into the back of the net but the goal was ruled out.
The centre referee decision ignited protest from Sunshine Stars players and officials.
Both teams failed to convert any other chances in the second 45 minutes as the match ended in a one-one draw after 90 minutes of intense actions at the City Stadium, Lafia.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Sunshine Stars’ coach, Deji Ayeni wasn’t satisfied with the decision of the referee to rule out what he called a ‘fantastic’ goal but sang the praises of his players for playing according to instructions.
“You can see that we almost got the three points because the second goal to me is fantastic but being that it was awarded, we leave as human error.
So that is that about it, we needed to approach the game early and get our goals so that we can put them into serious unbalancing and it worked, I’m thankful to the boys that they played according to instructions.”
Coach Ayeni didn’t shy any from admitting the quality of the Nasarawa United team.
“Nasarawa United have been a fantastic team, everybody knows them, their pedigree and their antecedents in Nigeria football and the present coach of the team is a very experienced manager which I really respect a lot so I expected this kind of football.
By and large, if the officiating in the league continues positively, I think Nigeria football will get better.”
Sunshine Stars have now failed to win any of their last three matches in the league and will hope to turn things around when they face Niger Tornadoes in their next league game.
