Kwara United Football Club today, Wednesday March 13th, 2024, defeated highly mobile and resilient Bayelsa United by a lone goal, in the Matchday 25 of the ongoing 2023-2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), at the Main-Bowl of the Kwara State Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
The only goal of the highly explosive and tactical match was scored by Alao Mohammed, who is just returning from injury, in the 15th minute of the game.
And that seems to be what Bayelsa United were waiting for, as they swoop on the home team, dictating the pace of the game, especially in the middield, with Kwara United fighting hard to curtail their moves.
With the introduction of Shola Abdulraheem and Godwin Oshagbemi for Issa Gata and Dehinde Ibrahim respectively, Kwara United rose to the ocassion, and pushed Bayelsa United, forcing saves off goalkeeper Elkanah Godgift.
Abubakar Garba was also introduced to replace Alalade Wasiu, while Victor Olaoye was brought in for the goal scorer, Alao Mohammed, as Kwara United turned the pressure on Bayelsa United, created many chances, but couldn’t convert them.
Bayelsa United brought in Ori Elvis and Wisdom Magbisa, and those changes forced Kwara United to struggle to keep their lead, and to eventually earn the three points at stake.
Coach Meremu Okara, while praising his boys, said that they didn’t play up to expectation because of the pitch.
“Its not as if Kwara United were better. My players didn’t play up to expectation because the pitch affected us. We are condemned to win our next home game, to redeem our chances.
For Coach Tunde Sanni, he said that the three maximum points was important to the team at the moment, no matter how they played.
“We thank God for the victory. The three points are very important to us at this point, no matter how we played. The win will give us enough confidence ahead of other matches.
