NPFL: Heartland’s tough win against Nasarawa United delights Emmanuel Amuneke

By Saheed Afolabi

Heartland head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, expressed his delight with his side’s hard-fought 3-2 victory over Nasarawa United in Owerri, noting the resilience and determination displayed by his players.

The Naze Millionaires showed great character, coming from behind in the final minutes of the match to stun their visitors.

Despite the challenging nature of the game, Amuneke remained focused on the broader picture and his team’s ongoing development.

“We want to win our games. Since I joined this team, I’ve worked to train the players to understand that ‘success is not a straight line’ and that nothing in life is achieved without hard work. That’s the path I follow,” Amuneke stated in the post-match press conference.

The former international praised Nasarawa United for their fluid play and excellent build-up, emphasizing that their current position on the table doesn’t reflect the quality they possess.

“When you look at Nasarawa United’s position, it’s deceptive compared to their quality. They play good, attractive football and have confident players who can build from the back and excel up front. Sometimes, football doesn’t favour you, and I think that’s what’s happening to them,” Amuneke noted.

The first half proved challenging for Heartland, with Amuneke admitting that emotions attached to the game had an impact on his team’s performance. However, they gradually found their rhythm as the match progressed.

“We struggled a lot in the first half, probably because we approached the game emotionally, wanting to win so badly that it affected our performance.

“As the game progressed, Nasarawa United grew in confidence, and we must respect what they demonstrated today,” he said.

Currently sitting in 10th place on the NPFL table with 20 points from 15 games, Heartland will look to build on this victory as they prepare for their next clash at the New Jos Stadium on Sunday, December 8.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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