Niger Tornadoes needed a late equalizer from Bashir Usman to salvage a point in a dramatic 1-1 draw against Kwara United on Matchday 34 of the NPFL.
Usman, the Ikon Allah Boys' top scorer with 10 goals, came off the bench to snatch a crucial point with a late strike, sparing his team from defeat, Nigeriasoccernet.com report.
The first half was a slow burner with neither side creating many chances. Niger Tornadoes were forced into an early substitution due to an injury to Ikenna Offor, disrupting their game plan and sending them into the break scoreless.
The second half saw the tempo increase with Kwara United taking the lead through Ibrahim Dehinde after capitalizing on a defensive error.
As the clock ticked down, Niger Tornadoes pushed for an equalizer, their efforts rewarded when Usman converted Adeyinka Najeem's long-range assist to secure a vital point.
The dramatic finish ensured the Ikon Allah Boys avoided defeat and maintained a slim cushion above the relegation zone.:
Niger Tornadoes Assistant Coach Isyaku Ilyasu expressed disappointment with the result:
"It's unfortunate. We worked hard and planned for all three points, which would have been a big boost at this stage of the season. We had a bad day, even the fans know that. This isn't the kind of football we've been playing, but these things happen in football. Thankfully, our resilience earned us a point."
By Olaleye Oluwadamilola