By Aderonke Ojo
Ugochukwu Leonard scored Nasarawa United’s first goal and ultimately gave the Solid Miners their first win of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League campaign following his 10th minute jaw-dropping strike just an inch outside the box against CAF Confederation Cup-bound Abia Warriors on match-day two at the Lafia City Stadium on Sunday evening.
Adah Umar had found the freestanding attacking sensation with the ball in the opponents’ danger zone, and he wasted no time to strike a missile that beat Sharp Uzoigwe in goal for the Umuahia-based side.
With series of attempts on goal by either sides, it was the Solid Miners who proved superior, scooping all three points, as they made a swift recovery from last Wednesday’s defeat to Niger Tornadoes on the road.
Sunday’s result places United on 9th position with three points, with Abia Warriors on 10th position with same number of points.
The Solid Miners will next be on the road to Aba, Abia State, to face 6th-placed Enyimba FC, on Sunday, 7th September, 2025.
POST-MATCH REACTIONS:
MANGUT MBWAS(TA/NAS): “I am so happy with the three points.
“My players came out smoking from the first half, creating a lot of opportunities, even though our opponents also had their playing time, but I think we deserved the maximum points.
“However, I give respect to the opponents because they played as a compact, from the defence to upfront.
“We are still building our team because I am still new at the Club, but with time, we will get everything right.”
IMAMA AMAPAKABO(TA/ABI):
“We lost, you know, but we have to go back to do a whole lot in terms of what we were able to do today.
“The game was ours to win or lose, but we were not clinical in front of goal, but I think we lost the game ourselves.
“In all, it was not a bad game, except for the scoreline.”
UGOCHUKWU LEONARD(STRIKER/NAS):
“I am very happy today. This is my first goal of this season, and it eventually determined the scoreline and three points for my team.
“I promise to give my best at every given opportunity to make the team succeed this season.”
CAUTION(YELLOW CARD):
Emmanuel Ogbuagu(ABI)32′
Chidera Nduka (NAS)49′
NASARAWA UNITED LINE-UP: Ameh Godwin, Abubakar Abdullahi, Mubarak Hussaini, Chidera Nduka(Moses Tsetuan 76′), Utake Emmanuel, Victor John, Jofrank Istifanus, Ugochukwu Leonard(John Joshua 70′), Ekeson Okorie(Salomon Chigoziem 70′), Anas Yusuf(Akanni Lawal 61′), Adah Umar(Paul Itim 45′).
UNUSED SUBS: Darlintin Ovunda, Gozie Umeh, Prince Ikemdinachi, King Osanga.