By Aderonke Ojo
…Police Clash With DSS, Road Safety Tackle NAYEA, As Correctional Service Square Up Against Civil Defence On Tuesday….
Nasarawa State Youth Empowerment Agency, NAYEA, began the 4th edition of the Governor Abdullahi Sule Inter-Security Agencies’ Unity Cup Football Tournament on a winning note, beating debutants, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, by 4-0 on Monday in the curtain raiser of the tournament holding at the Lafia City Stadium.
Musa Tsara and Ismail Galadima scored in the 23rd and 62nd minutes respectively, before a brace from substitute, Bilyaminu Usman, in the 78th and 90th minutes respectively condemned the the new entrants to a humiliating defeat in Group A’s first game.
In Group B, new comers, Nigerian Air Force, shocked 3rd edition runners-up side, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps by 4-2, in the game decided in the afternoon.
Abiason Junior made history in the tournament by becoming the first player to score four goals in a single game.
The boy-wonder netted in the 8th, 61st, 86th and 88th minutes to earn his side their maiden win at the tournament.
Imrana Ibrahim and Bello Alhassan scored the Civil Defence’s consolation goals in the 27th and 47th minutes respectively, in the game that saw the NSCDC reduced to ten men after Yusuf Adamu received his second booking of the game following dissent against the match official.
In the last game of day-one, 3rd edition 4th-place finishers, the Nigerian Army, came from a goal down to pummel the Nigerian Immigration Service 4-1 in Group C.
Yahaya Hashim opened scoring for the Immigration team in the 11th minute, before the Nigerian Army changed the rhythm of the game, putting the ball behind the net four times.
Usman Abdulrahman drew his side level on 28th minute, before Aminu Lawal increased the tally to 2-1 in the 49th minute.
Muhammad Ali compounded the woes of the Immigration Service with a clinical finish in the 55th minute before Bernard Bonaventure brought matters to rest with a superb finish in the 60th minute.
On Tuesday, 7th October, the Nigerian Police Force will trade tackles with the Department of State Services in Group D, by 10 o’clock in the morning; defending champions, the Federal Road Safety Corps, will square up against the tournament’s first edition winners, NAYEA, in Group A, by 2pm, before the Nigerian Correctional Service will lock horns against NSCDC in Group B, by 4pm.
Only two teams will qualify from each Group of three teams to the quarter-finals stage of the competition.