Lobi Stars maintain 3rd spot in spite of stalemate against Insurance

Posted : 22 April 2024

Lobi Stars maintained third spot in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL table despite playing a goalless draw on Matchday 31 against visiting Bendel Insurance on Sunday, April 21st, at the Lafia City Stadium.

Indeed, it was another match that produced so many missed chances by the 'Pride of Benue' who needed victory to close the gap on table-toppers, Enugu Rangers.

In the early proceedings, the left side of the goal post denied Adebayo Waheed's first attempt after the winger displaced Insurance goalkeeper Amas Obasogie with a one-time jab when he raced into the box to connect with John Lazarus' cross.

A few minutes later, Alao Danbani found himself in a decent position to break the deadlock but hastily shot the ball, which flew over the bar for a goal kick.

The duo of Liman Ahmadu and Stephen Eneji made concerted efforts to put the 'Yes Father boys' ahead before halftime, but the visitors' goalie, Obasogie, pulled some strings of saves to keep the scoreline 0-0 going into the break.

On resumption, Coach Eugene Agagbe made some tactical changes with Suur Kumaga replacing Edoh Ocheme as well as Victor John for Pine Washima. However, it was the visitors who missed a penalty kick through Sunday Anyanwu after the center referee adjudged Lobi Stars' goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel's contest with Ismael Saraki as a foul and pointed to the spot.

The 'Shoe Gets Size' boys stepped up the intensity of the game and made several attempts on goal in search of an opener with Stephen Eneji, Sunday Chinedu, and Suur Kumaga coming close but were denied by goalkeeper Obasogie who was at his best to keep the scoreline 0-0 at full time.

Despite sharing the spoils, the Makurdi-based side maintained 3rd spot on the table with 52 points, while Rangers International maintained the top spot with 54 points despite their defeat in Port Harcourt.

Coach Agagbe attributed his side's draw to missed chances and vowed to work on the lads to correct the errors before the next away game against the whipping team of the season Gombe United.

"It was a disappointing result for us, but I look at it as part of football because we've also won away from home.

"We will try our best as we have another game away from home to make sure we get a positive result to keep the title in sight.

"The lads did well by creating a lot of chances that would have won the match for us, but sometimes things won't go as desired," said the gaffer.

The "Pride of Benue" will take a long trip to the northeast to trade tackles with Gombe United on Matchday 32 at the Pantami Stadium.

Lobi Stars maintain 3rd spot in spite of stalemate against Insurance

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