ABUJA – Sokoto United on Saturday in Abuja held Prisons Football Club of Abuja to a goalless draw in a Group A week 22 in the Nigeria National League (NNL).
The match played at the Area 10 Sports Complex saw Prisons FC dominate much of the game, while the visitors also had few chances of their own.
The home team created several openings, but failed to find target as Sokoto Utd held on for a goalless draw.
Prisons FC’s top striker Isaac Ejike was the worst culprit as he squandered a lot of goal scoring chances that would have seen the home team taking all three points.
However, it was Sokoto Utd who had the first real chance at goal in the 12th minute when Ghazali Abdullahi’s curled a lovely free kick from just outside the box.
It took a piece of brilliant goalkeeping by Prisons FC’s Suleiman Yusuf to deny the visitors from taking the lead.
It was a goalless first half, but Prisons FC enjoyed more of the ball possession and created more chances.
Their biggest opening came in the 16th minute when Ejike’s lovely volley from inside the six-yard smashed the cross bar.
Ejike also had another glorious chance to put his team ahead in the 44th minute, but Sokoto Utd goalkeeper Mutakar Musa stretched fully to parry his low shot from inside the box.
The visitors suffered a major blow following the incident as their first-choice goalkeeper could not continue due to a shoulder injury.
He was therefore substituted by reserve goalkeeper Salisu Ogbe for the resumption of the second half.
The second half saw the home team continue to control proceedings as Barthlomew Suku’s powerful shot from the left flank narrowly missed its target in the 49th minute.
Ejike also threw away a sitter in the 53rd minute and his header off a corner again missed target narrowly a minute later.
Sokoto Utd had a chance of their own in the 66th minute, but goalkeeper Yusuf ensured he kept a clean sheet when he made a big save to parry Yusha’u Garba’s powerful header.
Prisons FC would have grabbed a late winner after they rallied and initiated a quick counter-attack in the 90th minute, but Ejike’s goal-bound shot was again tipped for a corner by substitute goalkeeper Ogbe.
Coach Zibiri Brown of Prisons FC told the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the match that his team was unlucky not having won the game.
“We created a lot of opportunities, but were unlucky not to have taken all three points today (Saturday).
“We have to be more clinical in front of goal after the numerous chances we created.
“At this level, we cannot afford to throw away begging chances,’’ he said.
Coach Aminu Happy of Sokoto United expressed joy at the result, adding that an away draw was a very good result for his team.
“I am happy to have gotten a point from this game.
“Our goal is to get as many points as we can so as to remain in the league.
“We currently have amassed a total of 32 points and are 9th on the NNL Group A 16 team table which is very impressive,’’ he said.
Prisons FC are currently languishing at the bottom of the league with 17 points. (NAN)
