2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 38: Ikorodu City revenges Aba loss in Lagos

Posted : 27 May 2025

Ikorodu City FC battled to a 3-2 victory on Sunday over the hard-fighting Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia in the final game of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Match Day 38, held in Lagos.

It was an end-to-end encounter as spectators sat on the edge of their seats at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, uncertain of where the pendulum of victory would swing.

Abia Warriors’ gaffer, Imama Amapakabo, made three changes to the side that defeated El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in their last match in Umuahia, introducing Nmecha Johnson, Augustine Njoku, and Isaac Afolabi in place of Sharp Uzoigwe, Andrew Abalogu, and Philip Ogwuche, respectively.

After early exchanges, the home side took the lead when Ayomide Cole was given space and time to squeeze the ball past Abia Warriors' goalkeeper, Nmecha Johnson, from close range in the 39th minute.

The goal sparked a response from the Warriors of Umu Chineke, who dominated and duly equalized with the final kick of first-half stoppage time. Sunday Megwo’s delicate header off Paul Samson's exquisite free kick was too much for Faith James, the home goalkeeper, to handle — sending both teams into the dressing room with the score level.

When play resumed, the Oga Boys came out blazing and got their second goal through Tosin Oyedokun, who reacted quickest after an earlier strike was punched out by Nmecha and fell kindly to him.

As the Warriors tried to regroup and restore parity, they left a gap at the back which the home team exploited, adding a third goal through substitute Malik Musa following a dangerous counterattack in the 65th minute.

But the Warriors were not going down easily. Paul Samson, who could easily be named Man of the Match, made the scoreline more respectable with a wonder strike, 15 minutes before the end of regulation time.

Despite the game’s intensity, Abia Warriors showed great determination and hunger. However, their inability to convert the numerous chances that came their way proved to be their undoing.

With some time-wasting tactics, the home team managed to see out the game, even as the Warriors kept knocking relentlessly.

Despite the narrow loss, the Umuahia warlords still finished third on the 20-team table and will represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup next season. Ikorodu City, making their debut in Nigeria’s top flight, finished fourth — just behind the Warriors.

2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 38: Ikorodu City revenges Aba loss in Lagos

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