NPFL:Anas Yusuf's Lone Strike Gives Nasarawa United Victory Heartland

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By Sportsgister

The Solid Miners secured a crucial 1-0 win in their Nigeria Premier Football League match-day 35 encounter against Owerri-based Heartland FC, on Sunday afternoon at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe, further brightening their survival hopes with three matches left to play before the curtains are drawn closed for the 2024/25 campaign.

The solitary goal was scored by the league’s leading goalscorer, Anas Yusuf, whose solo effort sailed past the Naze Millionaires’ goalkeeper, Kelvin Ogunga, after being found through by Ugochukwu Leonard, in the 44th minute of it first-half, his 16th goal of the current campaign.

Despite the challenges of playing away from their original home ground due to the ban by the League’s Organizers, Nasarawa United showed remarkable spirit and hunger for success, and got it against the five-time winners of the Premier League title who are now relegation-threatened.

United thought they had increased the goal tally in the 79th minute only for Anas Yusuf’s second goal of the afternoon to be disallowed, with the match officials claiming the attacker to be in offside position.

Unperturbed by the cancellation, the hosts held firm to secure a fourth straight home win, following previous victories against Akwa United, Plateau United and Rangers International FC respectively, in Lafia.

Today’s result catapults the Solid Miners to 13th position on the log with 46 points, while the Coach Emmanuel Amunike-led Heartland’s woes are further compounded, as they are locked on 17h position with 42 points.

Nasarawa United’s journey to survival continues as they prepare for the next challenge with renewed energy and determination when they travel to Enugu on Wednesday , 7th May, 2025, to take on already relegated Lobi Stars in the clash of next-door neighbours.

Before then, the Team will take a long road journey to Benin City, Edo State, where they will lock horns with Abakaliki United of Ebonyi State in the Quarter Final of the 2025 President Federation’s Cup slated for Saturday, 3rd May, 2025, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

In a related development, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, in his usual magnanimity and morale-boosting incentive to the team, rewarded Nasarawa United with the sum of One Hundred of Fifty Thousand Naira for their heroics against the Naze Millionaires in Gombe, the gesture being the Commissioner’s personal support per goal scored in any official game Nasarawa United are involved in since his assumption of office.

Kwanta led a high-profile delegation to Gombe to cheer the Solid Miners to victory.

He and his team were received by Chairman of Nasarawa United, Solomon Babanjah.