Plateau United returned to winning ways on Saturday, edging El-Kanemi Warriors 1-0 in a hard-fought NPFL Matchday 5 clash at the New Zaria Road Stadium.
The decisive moment came in the 32nd minute when Gideon Monday nodded home a pinpoint corner from Kazeem, sending the home fans into raptures. The goal not only sealed three precious points but also lifted the Peace Boys from 18th to 13th on the table, with their tally now at six.
Despite controlling much of the first half, Plateau United struggled to kill off the game. El-Kanemi almost punished that wastefulness after the restart, but goalkeeper Favour Bala pulled off a superb reflex save on the hour mark to preserve the lead.
Head coach Shola Adegun hailed his side’s mentality after the nervy finish.
“Firstly, we thank God because with Him everything is possible,” Adegun said. “We’ve been working hard and the team is beginning to come together. Confidence is growing and the competitive spirit is returning. The boys showed real desire to fight until the end.”
Adegun admitted El-Kanemi’s pressing caused problems in the second half but praised his side’s resilience. “We wanted to be more on the front foot, but they made it difficult. Still, the boys kept their focus and got the job done,” he added.
The coach also confirmed an early substitution was precautionary after one of his key players suffered an ankle knock.
While delighted with the win, Adegun highlighted the need for sharper finishing. “We created chances but weren’t clinical enough. That’s something we’ll keep working on in training,” he said.
The result marks Plateau United’s second victory of the campaign and a step forward as they look to build momentum. With belief slowly restored, Adegun is confident his side can continue climbing the NPFL table.
STORY CREDIT: GOLD MARKUS
PICTURE CREDIT @Plateau United Media