Tiza Samuel’s Solitary Strike Breaks Stubborn El-Kanemi Warriors’ Resilience

Shooting Stars Sports Club. (3SC) of Ibadan, on Sunday at the Lekan Salami Stadium, fought their way to a 1-0 win over a stubborn El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri to grab their first victory of the season.

Substitute, Tiza Samuel emerged the hero of the game as he rose high to nod home a well floated cross by Bala Akintunde for the only goal of the tension soaked encounter

The slim goal margin was not a true reflection of the game as the Oluyole Warriors clearly dominated proceedings in both halves, creating numerous scoring chances in the process.

However, the resilience of the visitors’ defence, coupled with the inability of the 3SC forward to convert those chances, robbed the coach Gbenga Ogunbote tutored lads of more goals.

With Kelly Kester putting up a commanding performance in the midfield, alongside Abdallah Hussein, Opeoluwa Olufemi, Malomo Taofeek, Anthony Okachi and Joshua Akpan made spirited efforts to find the back of the net, all to no avail as the first 45 minutes ended goalless.

Having failed to find a leeway in the first half, coach Ogunbote and his crew had to make some changes in the second half, with the introduction of Tiza Samuel, Ayo Adejubu Uko Anietie and Samuel Stone, and the substitution added bite to the homer’s search for goal.

The breakthrough eventually came in the 79th minute when Akintunde sent a cross into the opponent’s goal area, leaving a lurking Tiza Samuel to head home, thus sending the stadium into frenzy.

While the host tried to increase the tally, the visitors also struggled to find the leveller, but the quartet of Alex Aghahowa, Evans Ifeatu, Gali Falke and Bala Akintunde stood their ground, ensuring that goalkeeper Johnson Okechukwu kept a clean sheet.

The Ibadan soccer lords, who now have five points from four matches, will next travel down to Gombe for a matchday five midweek cracker against Gombe United on Wednesday.