BY SAB OSUJI, in Owerri

Obinna 'Nwa Aba' Achebe, head coach of St Nwadinso Football Academy, was left to run his team's 1-0 defeat by Ikukuoma FC in Monday's Match Day two clash in the ongoing NLO Playoff at OISA Stadium, Okpala, near Owerri.

Achebe cried out loud over claims his midfielder Chidiogor Muoegbunam, was 'unjustly' sent off in the second period.

"Beyond the red card, which reduced our numerical strenght to 10 men, the match official went ahead to give an 'unwaranted' penalty against us", Achebe explained bitterly.

"That's too bad for a tournament of this nature. And worse still, the second half of the match did not run its full 45 minutes course".

The St Nwadinso gaffer who has been shuttling the match venue from his Umuoji, Anambra State home, following the burial of his mother on Friday, 19 April, 2024, reckons that the tournament is still wide open and that his team has all it takes to come back into full contention in the coming games.

"This is a nine-match tournament. Its still early to call and I must say we can still achieve our pre tournament expectation", Achebe said.