Kwara United came from behind to secure a shock 2-1 victory over El Kanemi Warriors in their Week 9 2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Wednesday.
It became the second win for the Ilorin club this season, following a difficult start that had seen them previously manage just a win, four defeats and three draws.
The victory also means that Kwara United – since the appointment of Kabiru Dogo earlier in February, have failed to lose any of their last two matches.
The Harmony Boys headed to the El Kanemi Stadium in Maiduguri, on a back of a draw in their previous match and were hoping to build on the performance.
Their chance immediately began to look bleak early in the game as David Nnaji gave the hosts a deserved lead in the 20th minute.
El Kanemi continued to press their visitors in search of a second but were unlucky in their quest as the minutes wound by.
A return from the break then saw the visitors take charge of the game and turn things on its head. In a space of eleven minutes, Kwara United found a breakthrough via Jide Fatokun who scored a minute past the hour mark, before Godwin Osagbemi made it two later on.
Dogo then pulled a couple of substitutions, changing the pattern of the game to ensure his side protected their lead at all costs. And so they did, securing a 2-1 victory at full-time.
With the win, Kwara United now exit the relegation places in Group A to go 8th while El Kanemi on their part, remain rooted to the bottom of the group after having only managed a win and two draws in nine matches.
Rivers United denied win in Bayelsa
Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, champions Rivers United on Wednesday suffered a late heartbreak after letting slip their lead twice against Bayelsa United in Yenagoa.
Rivers United was forced to share the spoils with Robert Mizo-inspired Bayelsa following a 2-2 draw in the Niger Delta derby.
Chiamaka Madu and Malachy Ohawume got the goals for the champions, while Daniel Ekpo and Mizo got the Restoration Boys’ goals in the rescheduled contest.
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 years ago
