NPFL: Ikorodu United Held To 1-1 Draw By Abia Warriors

Newly promoted Nigeria Professional Football League side, Ikorodu United kicked off their 2016 league campaign on a good note, playing a 1-1 draw against Abia Warriors at the Onikan Stadium on Sunday. 

Ndifreke Effiong gave the visitors the lead in the 31st minute of

the game while Ikorodu United levelled up 10 minutes into the second half, through Candi Augustine Agbane, who came in as a substitute in the second half to share the points.

The coach Benson Edema-led team was unsettled in the first half as coach Kennedy Boboye's men took advantage of Ikorodu boys, but that did not last as the home side came back with a bang in the second half, telling their next opponent they didn't come to the NPFL to play.

Super Eagles B forward, Chisom Chikatara, who many believed had left the shores of Nigeria was unable to do much in the game as the Ikorodu defence kept him out of action all through 90 minutes of the encounter.

Meanwhile, Abia Warriors head coach, Kennedy Boboye said his side lost concentration after taking the lead in the game, but believed an away draw was good for his side, saying the league is a long way to go.

"Definitely I should say I'm satisfied with the result because with all due respect to Ikorodu United, though they are a young team that just came into the premiership, they have a really sound coach who is an ex-international, and with that you could see the good work of the coach on the team because the team gave us a good fight, so I give kudos to them as well."

"For me, getting an away draw wasn't a bad result but at the same time we lost concentration because we could have got the three points away from home, but we will have to return to the drawing boards and correct our mistakes, work hard ahead of our next game." Boboye said after the game

On the other hand, Ikorodu United coach, Benson Edema said his team did well, though he spotted some lapses which he has vowed to work on before the next game Akwa United in Uyo.

 "I'm satisfied because we have some players we didn't use but our next game we'll get it right. It is not easy to come from behind and also considering the fact tat Abia Warriors have been in the league for some time now and we are new comers but if we get it right on our own, going back to Akwa United, we'll pick all three points."

"For me, I told my players you can play, because I believe, if you are able to train and listen to instructions, given by the coach, just like the example I gave this morning when I was addressing the team that Sunday MBA was an home-based players when he won the nations cup for Nigeria, nothing was special about him and I believe with the crop of players we have, we will do well in our next game."

"We've seen our lapses today, we'll put things right and in our next game I'm assuring you of nothing short of three points."

"Yes, as you said he's an experienced player and that was why I gave him the captaincy band and also instructed him to check Chisom Chikatara, because coming from CHAN in Rwanda, I believe the boy is still very hot that no striker comes near him as of now, so they were able to cage him because they played to instruction."

"Every team had their game plan, I know it's our first time of playing in the premiership, and also against Abia, so, we don't have to use all our players and I told you, we have some players that will play our next match, and I know what my players can do, the only player that disappointed me today was our number 28, who I presume had a bad day, because during our friendly game against Enyimba, he played well and tat was why I signed him, but the league has started and he really needs to meet expectations."