By Emmanuel Chinedu in Umuahia, Reporting for Extrasportnigeria.com
Two first-half goals from Abia Warriors’ youngster, Casmir Azubike, secured a vital win for the hosts over visiting El-Kanemi Warriors in a Matchday 8 encounter of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium. Umuahia. The game was played on Sunday.
Abia Warriors’ gaffer, Imama Amapakabo, made only one change to the side that lost in Enugu, with Sunday Megwo returning to the starting lineup after missing the games against Kwara United in Ilorin and Rangers in Enugu.
Within three minutes of the game, dazzling winger, Suraj Lawal found his way into the opponents’ box, but his shot was met with a desperate block, and it was followed up five minutes later as Emeka Obioma’s shot was parried to safety.
The Umuahia Warlords orchestrated a string of passes, culminating in a simple pass to Megwo, who had roamed into the visitors’ box before backheeling a pass to Casmir Azubike to score the opener.
Azubuike completed his brace three minutes later as Jubrin Faiz’s delivery into El-Kanemi Warriors’ box caused a mix-up between Hakeem Otuyiga and his centre-back, Habila David, and Azubuike was quick to toe the ball and head into an empty net.
Suraj Lawal was unlucky as his goal in the 36th minute was ruled out for offside. It came on the heels of another enterprising play from the Abia team.
The second half saw the visitors come out in search of a goal as they began to find their rhythm. But it was the hosts who could have extended their lead as their penalty appeal was waved away by the Rivers State-based Centre Referee, Uchenna Enyadike, in the 51st minute.
Megwo appeared to reach a through ball in the visitors’ box, only to be hacked down by the goalkeeper, Hakeem Otuyiga, and the Referee awarded a freekick instead, to the chagrin of the home side’s bench and the spectators who voiced their disapproval.
Despite wholesale substitutions from both sides, Abia Warriors saw the match through and secured all the three points at stake and stay second on the 20-team table on 15 points from 8 games.
Up next for Abia Warriors will be a match day 9 away clash with Shooting Stars Sports Club in Ibadan next Monday
Extrasportnigeria 
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