Head Coach of Nigeria National League, NNL side, Kogi United, Folabi Ojekunle has commended his team for their impressive performance in their 2-2 draw at Kebbi United in the Matchday 11 of the NNL Group A2 encounter on Saturday.

Kogi United who were held to 1-1 draw by FRSC FC in their last fixture needed a positive response against Kebbi United to atone for the dropped points at home.

But the Confluence State boys find themselves behind in the opening seven minutes when Owolabi Aremu break the deadlock.
One of the Mid season signings, Ahmed Mustapha Eneji even the score line for Kogi United before half time.

Jubril Abdulwahab put the visitors in front within four minutes of restart when he latched on a close range effort.

Kebbi United rallied and piled pressure on their guests which earned them a penalty on the stroke of the hour and Owolabi Aremu dispatched it past goalkeeper Shola Sheshere to level the score sheet.

After series of dominant display from the hosts which forced Sheshere to series of impressive goalkeeping, the big man in goal was called to action in the 75th minute when Kebbi won another spot kick but the experience keeper guessed right to make a brilliant save which would earn Kogi United an important point on the road.

An elated Ojekunle who would have been more impressed with a victory said the result and how it was achieved would count for good as the season go on just as he promised that the boys would soon make their chances count for goals.

“Its a positive steps and good response from the last home game, its also a massive point but would have been more massive had we secure the maximum points because we came here for a win, but we will take this and build on it.

“We are creating chances and that shows that its good side we just need to get those chances converted, like I said its a team in process and I believe we’ll get more better.”

The former Udala FC tactician singled out the new imports to the team who have made Kogi United more stronger as he expected more from them to make the club more better.

He reassured fans of the team that all needed work will be done to achieve maximum points in United’s next match against Doma FC in Lokoja on Saturday.

“We are happy to make fresh inputs to fill spaces of those that left in midseaon and its good they are settling down quickly into the team, Mustapha and Savior did well today even though I was expecting more from them but they compliment their experience we have in the team which is a positive sign, Sheshere was massive as always and I commend the whole team for their yeoman performance.

“I believe this will spur us to do better and get the maximum points against Doma next week, we won’t give them any space to hide and will give it all to get the victory.

The Search for a first victory of the ongoing 2021/2022 Nigeria National League season for Kogi United football Club of Lokoja will have to continue after posting a 5-Star performance against Nigeria Army Side, Green Beret Football Club of Zaria on Wednesday 9th March 2022 at the Dogarawa Township Stadium along Kano expressway in Zaria,a Performance that earned the Confluence state team a deserved point.

Coach Folabi Ojekunle made few changes to the squad that played out a 2-2 draw against DMD fc last weekend in Lokoja bringing in Salisu Ogbe to start in goal ahead of regular Mudasir Nurudeen.Femi Adewumi also started ahead of Omooloyi Opeyemi while Moses Opitoke was also favoured in the starting line up.

The Boys didn’t disappoint as they took the game to their host immediately the referee signalled the commencement of hostilities with Mohammed Mohammed and Umoru Omajagwu becoming tormentors-in-chief in the Green Beret defence.Omajagwu would have open score early enough but for some quick defensive intervention while he was trying to get balance before taking a shot,he was dispossessed and thereafter, Nothing serious took place.

The host who knew the importance of getting maximum points at home also surged deep into the Kogi United half but the combine defensive prowess of Moses Kayode and Atoe Emmanuel denied them entreaties towards Salisu Ogbe who himself was in another world with fine and fantastic saves consistently.

The visitors got some appreciable percentage of chances to make the difference through frontman Mohammed Mohammed who got a delivery from Abdulwahab Jibril in the 22nd minute and would have scored but his shot was directed into corner by Odoh Kingsley.

Kogi United had Salisu Ogbe to thank for doing a fantastic job keeping the likes of Ali Jandi Sani ,Abdulganiyu Adamu and Timothy Bello at bay especially towards the end of the first half.Captain Eghe Osas also came close in the 40th minute from a freekick he got at the edge of the opponent’s box after he was pulled down violently.

The second half saw both side struggling to outwit one another with the host getting a larger chunk of possession with occasional incursion into United’s danger zone but Adewumi Femi and Salihu Abdullahi Alfa made sure Moses Kayode and Atoe Emmanuel are well fortified on the defensive flanks with Salisu Ogbe Complementing his defenders effort with fantastic saves.

Haruna Isah and Captain Eghe Osas both held the centre pack solidly with flurry of long passes upfront.
Abdulwahab Jibril would have put Kogi United ahead in the 82nd minute after he was tipped off with a good pass from behind and just needed to take a blast which he did but fails to send the ball the right direction. Mohammed Mohammed also got similar opportunity in quick succession and would have scored a screamer but his effort went few metres off the bar.

Kogi United would have been gifted a goal from Haruna Isah’s right foot in the extra added minutes from a Mohammed Mohammed ‘s pass but his shot also went above the bar.

POST MATCH REACTION

Techical Adviser of Kogi United said he is satisfied with the performance of the boys and commended them for fighting to the end

” A point away from home is not a bad one especially in a difficult and competitive league like the Nigeria National League. All we need to do now is to make sure that we keep pushing for victory in our subsequent Matches starting with this weekend’s home game against Jigawa golden stars “

” We will give our best against Jigawa to cart home all maximum points come Saturday. This draw here this evening is a booster and an energizer for my boys ahead of the weekend clash at home “

Kogi United will look to pick its first 3 points of the Season when it welcomes Northern side Jigawa Golden Star to the confluence stadium on Saturday 12th March 2022.

CAUTION

Eghe Osas (38)
Agee Nasiru (89)

UNUSED SUB

Mudasir Nurudeen,Omooloyi Opeyemi,Abdulsalam Abdulhameed

GODWIN WAMBEBE
MEDIA OFFICER
KOGI UNITED FC

9TH MARCH 2022