Niger Tornadoes, also known as the Ikon Allah Boys, claimed their second consecutive home victory, narrowly edging out a tenacious Akwa United 1-0. Although Akwa United sits at the bottom of the NPFL table, they proved to be a challenging opponent for Tornadoes, who had to fight hard to secure the win.

The game began slowly, with both teams struggling to find rhythm and create clear opportunities in the early exchanges. Akwa United held a firm defensive line, successfully repelling Tornadoes’ attempts while mounting a few counter-attacks of their own.

After a scoreless first half, Tornadoes came out for the second half with renewed energy. Just two minutes into the restart, Papa Daniel broke the deadlock, netting a spectacular free-kick that slipped past Akwa United’s goalkeeper, Darlington Ovunda, who was caught off guard by the strike.

Both teams made substitutions in hopes of shifting the game’s momentum, but neither side could alter the scoreline, allowing Tornadoes to secure a narrow 1-0 victory.

This result moves Niger Tornadoes up three spots to fourth place in the NPFL standings.

POST-MATCH REACTIONS

Coach Majin Mohammed acknowledged the difficulty of facing a team at the bottom of the table, emphasizing that teams in such positions are often hard to beat as they fight to avoid relegation. “We knew it wouldn’t be easy, as they’re struggling to climb up while we’re pushing for higher positions. Against El-Kanemi Warriors, we’ll aim for another positive result,” he noted.

Victor Okoro, named Fans’ Player of the Match, credited the win to the team’s determination and collective effort. “It was a tough game, but with our teamwork and determination, we came out on top,” he stated.