By Daily Sports on August 15, 2017

El-Kanemi Warriors, on Monday morning, defeated FC Ifeanyiubah 2-0 in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) rescheduled match to keep alive hope for a continental ticket with four matches to end the season.

A Chibuzor Okonkwo volley from a short pass by Olawale Isiaka from an indirect free kick in the 31st minute and a 75th minute penalty scored by substitute Bello Kofarmata after Hussaini Bata was upended in the box, gave the home side a two-goal victory.

The Borno club dominated proceedings in the first half of the match, that was rescheduled from Sunday evening due to flight hitches by FC Ifeanyiubah in Abuja, but FC Ifeanyiubah took control of the match albeit briefly as the home side kicked off again after the hour mark and never looked back.

The teeming crowd, who defied the odds of working hour periods, to throng the stadium, urged their team on and asking for goal, a request which El-Kanemi's trio of Isiaka Olawale, Ibrahim Babangida and Bata did everything possible to score from the kickoff. They were briefly stopped by the visitors' defence especially goalkeeper Drissa Bamba who made two fingertip saves but he could not stop the goal when it came.

There was a foul near FC Ifeanyiubah's box and referee Ephraim Iyorhe awarded the home team their second indirect free kick, Olawale who was surrounded by two of his teammates laid a short pass to Chibuzor Okonkwo who blasted home the first goal.

Having been caught napping on few occasions by FC Ifeanyiubah's resurgence in the second half, El-Kanemi decided to defend more and hit on counterattack, one of which saw Hussaini Bata brought down inside the box and Kofarmata slotted the penalty home.

Despite both sides making maximum changes with Ekezie Chukwunwike, Alaekwe Chijioke and Kone Yaya brought in by the visitors for Bright Onyedikachi, Magbisa Wisdom and Nkrumah Douglas respectively, they could not breach their opponents.

El-Kanemi also brought in Kofarmata, Sunday Anthony and Tswanya Samuel for Ibrahim Babangida, Olawale and injured Aghahowa Otakho respectively.

Olawale was adjudged the man of the match for the way he harried the FC Ifeanyiubah defence amidst forcing saves from the goalkeeper.

Speaking after the match, El-Kanemi coach Ladan Bosso said the result has kept alive their hope for a continental ticket at the end of the season.

"With due respect to FC Ifeanyiubah we prepared hard for this game since last week and thank God we won."

The hope for a continental ticket is still much alive all we need to do is pick points from our away matches against Kano Pillars and Lobi Stars and win our two home matches," Bosso said.

El-Kanemi now have 52 points, just two less from top-three position that will guarantee continental football.

•Photo shows Ladan Bosso.

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 15, 2017

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