By Dayo Awoniyi
Nasarawa United have secured their place in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for next season following a dramatic 3–2 victory over Enyimba on Sunday.
The Solid Miners took a 2–0 lead through goals from Shina Kumater and Anas Yusuf, but Enyimba fought back to level the scoreline. Idris Ajiya struck the decisive goal in the 65th minute, sealing a crucial win for the Lafia-based side.
Speaking after the match, head coach Salisu Yusuf praised his team’s resilience and tactical discipline.
“This is a great result for us, especially against a big team like Enyimba who were chasing a continental ticket,” Yusuf said.
“We knew this was the game that would determine our stay in the league, and the players rose to the occasion.”
Yusuf acknowledged the challenge posed by Enyimba and emphasized the importance of securing survival ahead of a difficult final away fixture against Rivers United.
“We scored two early goals, but Enyimba pushed back. It was a tough contest, but we stayed focused and got the third goal that made the difference. For now, the job is done — mission accomplished,” he added.
With the win, Nasarawa United move out of relegation danger ahead of the final round of matches, ending a tense battle for survival in the NPFL.
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.
