Football fans in Ilorin were left devastated on Sunday, March 23, 2025, as 10-man Kwara United suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Akwa United in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 30 clash at the Rashidi Yekini Main-Bowl of the George Innih Stadium Complex.

Despite controlling possession in the opening stages and missing several clear-cut chances through Wasiu Alalade, Issa Gatta, and Junior Aimufua, relegation-threatened Akwa United capitalized on their opportunities to claim a vital away victory.

Turning Point: Red Card and Akwa’s Clinical Finish

The match took a dramatic turn when Segun Adekunle was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity. Akwa United quickly took advantage, scoring from the resulting free kick after Kabir Osoba netted on the rebound.

At halftime, Coach Tunde Sanni introduced Wasiu Jimoh to replace the injured Issa Gatta, hoping to spark a comeback. However, Kwara United’s efforts proved futile.

Akwa United sealed the win when Uche Sabastine pounced on a defensive error by Akanni Akeem, slotting home the second goal to secure all three points for the Promise Keepers.

Post-Match Reactions

Kwara United’s coach, Tunde Sanni, expressed frustration over his team’s wastefulness in front of goal:

“This is unbelievable, and we didn’t see it coming. We dominated the first 20 minutes and should have won convincingly, but we wasted chances and got punished.”

Despite the setback, he urged his team to bounce back quickly in their next game against Nasarawa United on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

Meanwhile, Akwa United’s coach, Kennedy Boboye, was delighted with his team’s performance, stating:

“It’s not a surprise to me that we won. We have been desperate for an away victory to help us move out of the relegation zone, and I’m glad we got it today.”

Kwara United’s Position and Next Fixture

Following the defeat, Kwara United remains 13th on the NPFL table with 39 points after 30 games. Their next fixture, a crucial encounter against Nasarawa United, has been moved to Wednesday, March 26, 2025, due to the upcoming Sallah celebrations.

With the pressure mounting, Kwara United must respond quickly to avoid slipping further down the table.