2023/2024 NNL Match Day 16: Okere's strike secures Abia Comets' vital point in Lagos

Posted : 03 April 2024

Abia Comets' Daniel Okere scored his third league goal of the season to help his team secure a vital away point after a 1-1 draw with 1472 FC on Tuesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.

The encounter, which was a Matchday 16 NNL mid-week clash, saw the Umuahia-based club take an early lead inside six minutes when left wing-back Salisu Haruna, who made his first league appearance of the season, produced a brilliant corner kick for Okere to head home.

The visitors, who had more ball possession throughout the first half of the game, went into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead.

However, before the resumption for the second half, it became dramatic as the host, 1472 FC, failed to show up for the restart after 30 minutes in protest against the club's management.

According to close sources, the players were owed salary arrears of over six months, hence they used the halftime period to press home their demand.

When their team management had no answer to their demand, the players decided to abandon the match halfway, removing their boots and jerseys.

The spectators, most of whom were aware of the players' plight, gave support to the players' action, contending that the players should not be subjected to such inhuman treatment by 1472 FC management and called on the match officials to intervene.

While this was happening, both the match officials and the away team were all on the pitch waiting.

After about 30 minutes of delay, 1472 players ambled onto the pitch, and to the chagrin of everybody at the Mobalaji Johnson Stadium that evening, the Central Referee, Akintoye Ayodeji, not only restarted the match but allowed 45 minutes of play with 6 minutes of added time, disregarding the fact that it was already dark and players were having difficulty seeing the ball.

Though Abia Comets FC and lovers of the game are not against the players fighting for their rights, as a worker deserves his wage, the question yearning for answers is why the Central Referee took the decision.

The referee's decision is final, no doubt, but people want to know why so they can learn.

If the air is not cleared on the why, and of course something serious done about this ugly development, it means now the team management determines when the second half of a football match will restart and not match officials. This portends danger for Nigerian football.

The crowd at the Stadium, thought to have seen enough by the match officials, walked out in their numbers, describing the day as the worst officiating in a long while.

However, with 15 minutes left on the clock, the hosts got the equalizer as both sides shared the spoils.

Speaking shortly after the game, Abia Comets' head coach, Okechukwu Ejeh, praised the team's performance while expressing displeasure that poor officiating caused his side the victory.

"I'm proud of the team's performance because they showed a lot of character and team spirit throughout the game.

"I don't like complaining about officiating in a game, but today's clash showed that the officiating was poor and it cost us from gaining the maximum points.

"However, we need to stay focused and prepare for our next home game against Abeokuta Stormers. So, hopefully, we are going to give our best to secure the maximum points at home on Saturday," he concluded.

With the draw in Lagos, Comets extended its historic unbeaten streak to eleven games and still maintained the fourth position in the Southern Conference Group A log with 24 points from 16 games.

2023/2024 NNL Match Day 16: Okere's strike secures Abia Comets' vital point in Lagos

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