2025/2026 NNL Match Day 10 Review: Crown FC Apologises After Home Draw

Posted : 02 March 2026

The leadership of Crown Football Club has publicly appealed for calm and continued support following the team’s disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Gateway FC.

In a joint show of responsibility and reassurance, Crown FC General Manager, Olamide Ilupeju, and Technical Adviser, Fatai Osho, addressed concerns raised by supporters after the setback at Soun Stadium.

The result marked a troubling run for the Ajilete Warriors on home soil, with the team managing just two points from their last three home matches.

Prior to the Gateway defeat, Crown FC were held to a 1-1 draw by Inter Lagos and a goalless stalemate against Sunshine Stars, outcomes that have seen the club slip to an uncomfortable position on the Nigeria National League Conference A table.

The General Manager, Olamide Ilupeju, popularly known as “Ortega,” offered a heartfelt apology to the club’s teeming supporters, particularly the illustrious sons and daughters of Ogbomoso who turned out in large numbers despite the ongoing Ramadan period.

“We deeply apologise to our fans and supporters,” Ilupeju said. “The players and technical crew gave everything on the pitch. We never planned to lose. Unfortunately, football can be cruel at times.”

The GM acknowledged that the team had a golden opportunity to restore parity after conceding but failed to convert from the penalty spot, a moment he described as pivotal.

He assured supporters that the club’s management and technical crew would convene an emergency strategic meeting to critically review recent performances, identify underlying issues, and implement corrective measures without delay.

Technical Adviser Fatai Osho also shared his frustration from a tactical standpoint. The experienced gaffer, formerly of Enyimba and Akwa United, maintained that performance standards must go beyond possession statistics and dominance.

“Even if we had won 3-0, I would still have had concerns,” Osho stated, emphasising his demand for clinical execution and sharper decision-making in decisive moments.

He noted that the disallowed first-half goal could have shifted the momentum in Crown FC’s favour, adding that the missed penalty compounded what he described as “a bad day at the office.”

Osho, however, drew positives from the team’s recent 1-1 away draw in Lagos, suggesting it had boosted squad confidence before the unfortunate stumble against Gateway FC.

He urged supporters not to lose faith, assuring them that the team remains determined to correct its course.

Both officials reaffirmed their commitment to restoring Crown FC’s competitive edge as attention now turns to next weekend’s crucial fixture against Edel FC.

2025/2026 NNL Match Day 10 Review: Crown FC Apologises After Home Draw

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