A late minute solo effort by Olawale Emmanuel rescued Niger Tornadoes football club from a home defeat by Daniel Amokachi’s Lobi Stars of Makurdi, in game day six of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), played at the Bako Kontagora stadium, Minna on Sunday.
Niger Tornadoes dominated the first 45 minutes of the game with some couple of attacks, but failed to see the back of the net of the resilient visitors who played more of defensive tactics in the first half, leaving the scoreboard goalless at half time.
Ossy Martins finishes off perfectly from a brilliant pass supplied by Ahmadu Liman who came in as substitute in the second half of the game. This saw the visitors, Lobi Stars taken the lead in the 60th minute of the game from their only attack of the encounter.
Tornadoes came out like a wounded lion in search of salvation, making several efforts with attempts on goal. The efforts later paid off in the 89th minute of the match, through a solo move by Olawale Emmanuel who came in as substitute.
In his post match reaction with sports Journalists, Niger Tornadoes Technical Adviser, Coach Majin Mohammed expressed worried over his players inability to utilize scoring chances despite playing very well in the game.
“We played very well, especially in the first half. We had our chances but we couldn’t convert them. We train for goal scoring, but when it comes to match situation, that moment of calmness and put the ball on the back of the net is always the problem. We will continue to work until we get it right, especially at home,” said Coach Majin.
He observed that football is all about result and that you can play well but the end always justifies the means, appealing to the fans of the club to keep calm and not feel disappointed. He then promised to continue to work hard until they get it right.
On his part, the Technical Adviser of Lobi Stars, Daniel Amokachi (The Bull) who took over the team barely a week, appreciated the result of the game and commended his boys whom he said he had just only three days preparation with before the game.
He said his boys had given him about 80 percent of what he asked from them in the game, and that it is a work in progress, as he was brought in to bring sanity to the team and getting a point in his first game is a happy moment for him.
Amokachi also applauded the league board for bringing sanity into the league about three season now, saying it was the sanity that brought him back to coach in the league again.
“The league board had brought a lot of sanity in the last three seasons of the league. It is the sanity that made me to come back to coach again, because in the past you train Monday to Friday and on Saturday or Sunday somebody decides who wins,” he explained.
Niger Tornadoes have played three home matches since the return of the team to its traditional home, the Bako Kontagora stadium, Minna this season, but is yet to secure a home win. The team had played a goalless draw with Nassarawa United in match day two, a one all draw with Bendel Insurance, and Lobi Stars in match day four and six respectively.