NPFL side Adamawa United’s little ray of hope for relegation survival in the Nigeria Professional Football League was dealt another setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Mountain of Fire and Miracles Football Club MFM FC of Lagos. It was one of the MatchDay 31 fixtures played on Sunday, July 4 at Pantami Stadium Gombe, the adopted home of the Yola based club.
Adamawa United have struggled all season and we’re beaten 3-0 by FC IfeanyiUbah midweek.
Coach Justine Madugu made two changes from the team that started in Nnewi with Abubakar Babaji and Felix Kenan favoured ahead of Etete Okon and John Paul respectively.
Coach Gabriel Olalekan of MFM FC made three alterations from the team that started in their victory against former champions Kano Pillars in Lagos, Adeyinka Najeem, Akanni Elijah and Ebenezer Odeyemi were not listed and in their places were Zachariah Justice, Mumuni Amoo, Muyiwa Balogun respectively.
Adamawa United came in to the game looking to make up for the horrible lost in Nnewi and started well by surging to the lead with goal by midfielder, Bolaji Micheal early in the first half. But any hopes of grabbing the full points was dashed when Izuchukwu Chimizie sloted home from close range in the second half.
Both teams started brighter though with limited actions in the final third of both sides except the real chance that lead to the host breakthrough in 4th minute. Bolaji Micheal received a pass from Idris Abubakar, the former drove in before bending an unstoppable low shot to a score a perfect right angle goal that beat MFM goalkeeper the Oshayi Kingdom in his near post.
The visitors took a larger share of possession after the break courtesy of a few changes by Coach Olalekan who introduced Temim Adebayo and Muyiwa Balogun. The former did well to produce a pin point delivery to the path of Izuchukwu Chimizie who wasted no time in smashing the ball from close range past Achimugu Friday for the equaliser deep into the second half.
It was the rocky backline of the hosts that defended firmly to contain threats from the Olukoya boys who dominated for most of the second half.
Adamawa United will travel to Markudi for a date with Lobi Stars while MFM will welcome Katsina United to the Soccer Temple in Agege for MatchDay 32.
TEAMS ADAMAWA UNITED Friday Achimugu 25 Jimmy Abdul 18 Abubakar Babaji 17 Henry Achuba 29 Nanushi Daniel 5 Emma Ogbuagu 15 Surajo Hassan 21 (John Paul 88?) Idris Abubakar 32 Annayo Ogbonna 8 Bolaji Micheal 28 Felix Kenan 19 (Yahuza Bala 63?)
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES Jonah Usman 44 Mbai Aminu 26 Lukman Surajo 4 Isaac Ali 35 Danjuma Jamilu 27 Etete Okon 14
MFM FC Oshayi Kingdom 33 Barry Legbara 4 Tosin Olubobola 12 (Akanni Ramon 85) Izuchukwu Chimezie 17 Zacharia Justice 19 Oladayo Alabi 21 (Muyiwa Balogun 68?) Roland Precious 22 Adikwu Moses 34 Ifeanyi Onyebuchi 32 Tunde Azeez 24 (Temim Adebayo 60?) Mumuni Amoo 26
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES Isaac Jerry 25 Oshomo Olalekan 2 Kelechi Ogoh 5 Aminu Azeez 20
CAUTION: Zacharia Justice (77?)