News
NPFL: Ashifat Suleiman reflects on Kwara United’s defeat to Elkanemi Warriors
By Wale Mustapha
Kwara United Technical Adviser, Ashifat Suleiman, has offered an honest assessment of his team’s 2-0 loss to Elkanemi Warriors in Maiduguri on Sunday, which ended their five-match unbeaten run in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
The defeat in Matchday 13 saw the Harmony Boys fall to their first loss in nearly two months, with Elkanemi claiming their first win in four games. Ismail Mukhtar and Daddy Abdulrahman scored in each half, handing the Borno Army a vital victory in front of their home crowd.
Suleiman admitted that Kwara United’s slow start to the game ultimately cost them as the coach noted that the team was unable to recover from an early deficit, despite improving in the second half and creating several chances to level the score.
“We didn’t start well; we were on the back foot and that put us under pressure in the first half,” Suleiman told Kwara United’s official media team after the match.
“We came out stronger in the second half, created some good chances, and could have equalized. The belief was there right until the closing minutes, but we let our guard down, and the second goal sealed our fate.”
He continued, “There are a lot of positives we can take from the game, but we also know where we went wrong. We’ll work on those areas and ensure we improve moving forward.”
The defeat sees Kwara United drop to 12th in the NPFL standings with 17 points from 13 matches. The team will look to bounce back when they host Shooting Stars in their next fixture at the Ilorin Township Stadium on Sunday.
With several key fixtures ahead, Suleiman remains optimistic that his side can recover and continue to build on their earlier form.
