Abia Warriors Held To A Goalless Draw By Bendel Insurance
Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia failed to record a win in three consecutive games as they were held to a goalless draw by visiting Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin in a Matchday 14 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League, decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
Abia Warriors gaffer, Imama Amapakabo, made only one change to the side that lost to Bayelsa United in Yenagoa, Chukwuemeka Obioma returning to the starting eleven and Casmir Azubuike, the player who made way.
It was an underwhelming performance by the Warriors in the first half by their standards, as they rarely got going.
However, in the 6th minute, they thought they had an opportunity to open their account when the Centre Referee initially pointed to the spot as Chukwuemeka Obioma’s effort off Sunday Megwo’s pass inside the box appeared to be blocked by an Insurance player with his arm but put under intense pressure by the visitors who surrounded him, the referee inexplicably changed his mind and instead blew for an infringement against the hosts. The Warriors appeal fell on deaf ears as the arbiter stuck to his guns.
The Warriors came alive in the second half as they took the game to the visitors. They nearly took the lead in the 51st minute, but Megwo’s goal bound header was well handled by the Insurance defence. The introduction of Casmir Azubuike and Israel Joseph increased the tempo.
Casmir’s first sight of the ball nearly broke the deadlock as his left-footed shot, after driving into the vital area, hit the crossbar in the 63rd minute. His combination with Suraj Lawal became a handful for the defence line of Insurance for the remainder of the game.
The Warriors thought they had finally scored in the 70th minute when Suraj’s goal-bound shot was helped in by Kunle Adeleke, only for the first assistant referee to raise his flag for an offside.
Despite a flurry of chances that came the way of the hosts, they failed to nick one in, as the Benin Arsenal defended with their lives to secure a draw.
Up next for Abia Warriors is a trip to Lagos for a date with Ikorodu City at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
