Controversy Erupts as Doma United Fall to Yobe Desert Stars in Heated NNL Super 8 Clash

Posted : 07 July 2025

Tempers flared and controversy took center stage at the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 playoffs, as Doma United FC’s aspirations of reaching the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) were dealt a major blow following a heated 2-1 defeat to Yobe Desert Stars on Matchday 2. However, the real drama unfolded after the final whistle.

The match, played with intensity and passion, featured a flurry of goals and several contentious officiating calls. Doma United struck first in the 17th minute through the in-form John Zouaka, who latched onto a defence-splitting pass to fire home the opener. The Savannah Tigers maintained control for much of the first half, dictating the tempo and keeping Yobe at bay.

The second half, however, turned the momentum completely in Yobe Desert Stars’ favour.

They came out with renewed energy and equalised in the 55th minute through Yakubu Abdullahi, who capitalised on a loose ball in the box. The goal sparked belief in the Yobe camp, who then pushed forward relentlessly, putting Doma on the defensive.

The match's turning point came in the final minutes when the referee awarded a controversial free-kick to Yobe Desert Stars. Idris Umar rose above the defenders to head in the winner, sending the Yobe bench into celebration — and the Doma camp into outrage.

Doma United's Technical Adviser, Coach Akinade Onigbinde, did not hold back in his post-match remarks, launching a scathing critique of the officiating, particularly targeting the assistant referee.

“You saw what happened here — the AR1 was clearly biased, and due to pressure from Yobe Desert Stars' bench, he fell for it,” Onigbinde said angrily.

“It’s very painful. Go back and watch the clip. The incident that led to the second goal was never a foul — let’s be honest. If we continue like this in this country, football will never grow.”

The veteran coach’s comments reflected the frustration of a team that felt hard done by the officials. Onigbinde strongly implied that the outcome may have been influenced by factors beyond the players' performances on the pitch.

As the NNL Super 8 continues, the fallout from this encounter is likely to remain a hot topic, with promotion hopes and reputations on the line.

Controversy Erupts as Doma United Fall to Yobe Desert Stars in Heated NNL Super 8 Clash

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