NPFL: Kwara United hold Heartland to goalless draw, climb to 12th

By Dayo Awoniyi

Kwara United earned a valuable point on the road with a goalless draw against Heartland FC in a cagey Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 34 encounter at the Dan Anyiam Stadium on Sunday.

The Ilorin-based side followed up their recent 3-0 Federation Cup triumph over Solution FC with another disciplined performance, showcasing defensive solidity and tactical awareness.

Heartland dominated early proceedings and had two clear chances in the first half, but Kwara United’s defence held firm. Goalkeeper Suraju Ayeleso was particularly impressive, making several key saves in the second half to preserve the clean sheet.

Speaking after the match, Kwara United head coach Tunde Sanni commended his players for their resilience and character.

“I’m happy with this point. We lost at home last weekend, so this away draw means a lot to us,” Sanni said. “We won’t underrate Lobi Stars in our next match. We need to win convincingly next weekend.”

With the result, Kwara United move up to 12th on the NPFL table, now sitting on 44 points from 34 matches.

They will next face bottom-placed and already relegated Lobi Stars in Ilorin, with hopes of securing maximum points to further strengthen their mid-table position.