Plateau United Football Club of Jos on Sunday beat visiting Akwa United of Uyo 1-0 in a 2022/2023 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match at the New Zaria Road Stadium.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was nothing to separate the two sides in the Match Day 14 encounter until the lone goal.
Plateau United player Mustapha Ibrahim scored the goal from a penalty kick in the 39th minute of the match.
Akwa United’s Chief Coach, Ayodeji Ayeni, in his post-match reaction said his team played according to plans even though it did not end the way they wanted.
“A penalty kick was awarded to the hosts and they made good use of it. But we will go back home and re-strategise.
“After the first half, we realised that their strength was in the midfield and I told the players to cut their attack through the midfield.
“I told them we can get our goals through the counter-attack. They tried that, but it didn’t work out.
“We are going to work ahead of our next home game, which is crucial for us so that we can get the three maximum points to sustain our position on the table,” he added.
Plateau United’s Chief Coach, Maurice Longmiap, on his part told newsmen his players were full of anxiety while they played the match.
Longmiap said it was difficult to display good football when a player was anxious and his players could therefore not convert their goal scoring chances.
“They were told that we needed the three points with many goals and I think that made them to be anxious.
“Akwa United are a good team that cannot be written off by anyone and they gave a good account of themselves,” he added.
