Kwara United suffer 1-0 slim loss to Katsina United in season opener

Kwara United Football Club on Saturday recorded a 1-0 slim defeat to Katsina United FC in their first match of the 2023-2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) played at the Mohammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina State this evening.

Kwara United showed early promises, especially creating chances through the trio of Samson Paul, Sadeeq Yusuf and Samuel Ayanrinde, but couldn’t find the back of the net, leaving the home team to grow gradually in confidence, as the game wears on.

Lukman Bello scored the only goal of the game in the 74th minute, and the home team equally created enough chances that they couldn’t convert.

Coach Tony Bulus of Katsina United, who expressed delight at winning his first match of the season, said his team couldn’t find their rhythm, especially in the first half, as they were under pressure to win their first match.

“It was a good game and good result for us, been the first match of the season. We planned for early goal, which we couldn’t get. We couldn’t find our rhythm, as we played under pressure, until in the second half when we effected some changes.

For Coach Kabir Sulaiman Dogo of Kwara United, he said that it was unfortunate losing the match to Katsina United, adding that it doesn’t justify the team’s strength.

“Its very unfortunate we lost the match against Katsina United this way. It doesn’t justify what we played. We lost many chances, and equally conceeded that goal through lost of concentration.

Kwara United will continue their campaign in the series with their first home match against Abia Warriors next week, in a match Coach Dogo described as a first real test.

“Abia Warriors is a good game to start with, especially at home. They will provide us the best test ahead of the season, as we head home to work on the lapses noticed in the team.

Earlier, Kwara United had protested against the use of an ineligible player, Daniel Akanbek, who was dressed to start the match, but was quickly removed, and substituted before the commencement of the game.