Captain of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, Augustine Njoku, played a crucial role as Umu Chineke came from behind to beat Plateau United Football Club of Jos 3-1 and improve their standing on the league table.
The former Nigeria national Under-20 right back, made his leadership quality to bear on the team as the Pride of Abia secured all the three points at stake in the Matchday 8 fixture of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League season played at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
Abia Warriors gaffer, Imama Amapakabo made three changes to the side that lost to Nasarawa United in Lafia, midweek with Paul Samson, Ojonugwa Adejoh and Philip Ogwuche replacing Emmanuel Onu, Nicholas Jonathan and Isaac Afolabi respectively.
The Warriors took the game to the visitors right from the blast of the referee’s whistle, and they would have been a goal up inside two minutes when a dangerous cross from Paul Samson was met by Daniel Ekpo inside six yards but his shot from a tight angle went narrowly wide.
Twelve minutes later, Philip Ewuga failed to keep his shot down inside the vital area off Sunday Megwo’s cross, and the chance went begging.
From there, it was chance after chance for the Warriors but they failed to convert any. Unfortunately, against the run of play, the visitors took the lead in the 39th minute when a defensive mix-up allowed Adamu Abubakar to score for the visitors.
Instead of feeling downcast, the goal brought out the beast in the Warriors with Njoku at the centre stage for the fightback as he led by example by initiating the Warriors attack from defence. And on the dot of forty-five minutes, the Warriors were level.
Njoku received a pass from Ekpo and the Skipper wasted no time in squaring the ball to Ojonugwa Adejoh who gave a teasing pass to Sunday Megwo to acrobatically shoot and score the equalizer.
Four minutes later, Umu Chineke were 2-1 up with Njoku in the mix yet again.
The Skipper went on a marauding run, evaded some tackles and squared the ball to Ojonugwa whose shot went beyond the Plateau United goalkeeper to end the first half with a deserved lead.
The visitors made three changes at the beginning of the second half which motivated them to fight for the equalizer.
However, it was the Warriors who got the consolidating goal in the 56th minute, as Paul Samson sent their supporters on a delirium.
Ojonugwa laid a pass to the experienced winger, and the former Kwara United hitman cut inside the box before unleashing a bullet of a shot to score the third goal as the Warriors defended stoutly to see off the game.
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