This morning, so many people in Lafia feel like logs of wood. They loathe to go out and it is not because of the sit-at-home. Their team, Nasarawa United lost the final of the Aiteo-sponsored Federation Cup against Bayelsa United in Benin City Sunday.
Bayelsa United is not a premier league side and Nasarawa United is a top-four side, so the latter were favourites to win. Plus they have the joint-top scorer in the league, Silas Nwankwo and the midfield powerhouse, Victor Okoro, on their side. But they needed to be wary of Bayelsa United who had knocked out giant premier league sides including Enugu Rangers and Rivers United.
The first goal was scored by United’s Inikurogha Okardi in the 19th minute and Nasarawa United equalized immediately the game was restarted. Chinedu Ohanachomwas the scorer. The Solid Miners of Lafia took the lead through an Aliyu Abdullahi in the 26th minute, but they couldn’t hold it forever. 10 minutes later, Emo James rose highest in the box to head home a powerful header for the oil-rich boys.
The second half produced no goals.
The match went to penalties. ‘
How Akwa United won the NPL title
Nasarawa United are no strangers to penalties. They defeated Sunshine Stars 6-5 on penalties after the 90 minutes ended 2-2. They were expected to reenact the magic but they failed short. They lost 4-3.
Nasarawa United’s loss is doubly painful. They had been in the top two throughout the last leg of the league. But on the last day, they lost to Abia Warriors and finished fourth. Only the first, second, and third qualify for the CAF competition.
Winning the Aiteo Cup would have given the team a slot in Africa. They lost.
This loss also extends the draught for Nasarawa United. They have never won silverware since their founding in the late 1990s. The closest they came to breaking this jinx was in 2016 in the same competition. They lost to FC Ifeanyi Ubah in the final. The wait continues.
Bayelsa State is the double champions of this year’s AIteo competitions as their female counterparts, the Bayelsa Queen, won the Women’s Aiteo Cup final, defeating FC Robo of Lagos in a six-goal thriller in the final match 4–2 to lift the 2021 trophy.
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