From Abubakar Abdullahi, in Lafia
The Nasarawa United Football Club (FC) of Lafia has kicked off it’s pre-season campaign with a resounding 5-0 victory over SI 14 FC of Keffi in the opening match of the fourth edition of Gusau/Ahlan Pre-Season tournament.
The Pre-Season tournament was organised by Ibrahim Musa-Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation and Kano State Chairman of football association Alhaji Rabiu Inuwa-Ahlan.
Sixteen clubs are participating in the tournament which began on Friday at the Lafia township stadium.
Nasarawa United known as Solid Miners dominated the match from start to finish, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive solidity.
The team’s impressive performance was a testament to their rigorous training and preparation for the upcoming Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
This convincing win sets the tone for Nasarawa United’s campaign in the tournament, and fans are eagerly anticipating their next match.
Nduka Chidera scored from a free kick in the 21st minute of the game while Mubarak Hussaini increased the tally with a shot at 33 minutes.
Nasarawa continued from where they stopped in the second half when Abiodun Omolayo and Ada Umar scored in the 46th and 50th minutes to dash any hope of Si14 FC.
Tochuchwu Miracle of SI14 FC scored an own goal in the 81st minute of the game to round up the day for the solid Miners.
In a post-match interview with journalists, Inuwa-Ahlan said the tournament was aimed at discovering talents and promoting them to higher leagues to enable them to make careers in football.
He appreciated the Nasarawa State Government for agreeing to host the 2025 edition of the tournament and promised that the best team would emerge victorious at the end of the competition.
In his own speech, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, represented by Yakubu Kwanta, Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, welcomed all the clubs to the state.
The governor promised to make their stay in Lafia a memorable one and assured them of adequate security to ensure their safety.
