By Wale Mustapha
Nasarawa United Technical Adviser, Mbwas Mangut, has attributed his team’s 1–1 draw with Kwara United to fatigue caused by a congested fixture schedule.
The Solid Miners were held by their North Central rivals in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 12 clash at the Lafia Township Stadium on Sunday.
Last season’s top scorer, Anas Yusuf, put Nasarawa United ahead just two minutes into the game, but Aule Johnmark equalised for Kwara United in the 36th minute to secure a share of the spoils.
Speaking after the match, Mangut expressed disappointment with the result, insisting his players had done enough to earn victory.
“This really is not the result we wanted. It’s painful to drop points in front of our supporters, especially considering our performances so far and the expectations of everyone,” Mangut told the club’s media.
He cited fatigue as a key factor behind the team’s reduced energy levels.
“The players were exhausted due to the cluster of games within a short period — away in Port Harcourt, Thursday in Lafia, and again today.
“It has taken its toll on the team because we didn’t have the same level of energy and intensity we’ve shown in previous matches,” he added.
Despite the draw, Nasarawa United remain at the top of the NPFL table.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.
