Okechukwu hits brace as Abia Comets beat Ijele, secure second away win 

By Emmanuel Chinedu 

Abia Comets continued their impressive form in the 2024/25 Nigeria National League (NNL) season with a second road victory.

The Umuahia based side secured a crucial 2-1 win over Oriental rivals, Ijele FC on Saturday, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

The encounter, which was a Matchday 5 encounter, in the Southern Conference A, saw the Comets take the lead inside 14th minute. Okechukwu Chukwu scored what could be tagged the best goal of the week, with a powerful strike from outside the box to put the Comets 1-0 ahead through an assist from Ebuka Lazarus. 

The visitors continued its dominance with most of the ball possession, as Lazarus came close to double the lead but his strike was saved by the host goalkeeper.

In the second half, head coach, Okechukwu Ejeh made an early substitution, as Emeka Maduka was introduced in place of Olabode Oluwatosin in the Comets’ attacking line. 

However, it became a one-sided affair as soon as Okechukwu struck home a delightful finish to double the lead 2-0 in the 57th minute after Cyril Shedrack pressed hard on the Ijele’s defence line.

In the 87th minute, the host pulled a goal back, from the penalty spot to reduce the deficit to 2-1, but the defence led by Bright Ogbonna and Churchill Nnanna held on as Abia Comets secured an impressive 2-1 win in Enugu. 

With the victory, Abia Comets still maintain top spot in the Southern Conference A standings on 11 points after five games. 

Comets will be going back to Umuahia to prepare ahead of next weekend’s Matchday 6 encounter against Lagos-based club, Inter Lagos, on Saturday, January 18.