NPFL: Salisu Yusuf praises Nasarawa United’s grit after comeback win over Lobi Stars

By Wale Mustapha

Nasarawa United head coach, Salisu Yusuf, has commended his players for their resilience after a hard-fought 2–1 comeback victory against Lobi Stars in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) encounter on Wednesday.

Playing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, the Solid Miners overcame an early deficit after Japhet Kundushima gave Lobi Stars the lead in the opening minutes.

Second-half goals from Shina Kumater and Anas Yusuf turned the tide in Nasarawa’s favor.

Speaking after the match, Yusuf admitted that fixture congestion and player fatigue nearly cost his team the game.

“It was a very difficult game,” he told the club’s media team.

“My boys were tired, especially in the first 20 minutes, and we got punished for it.”

Yusuf pointed to the toll of recent travel, including trips to Gombe and Benin City, before arriving in Enugu, as a key factor in the team’s sluggish start.

“But during halftime, we told the players to dig deep, knowing how crucial this stage of the season is,” he said.

“We asked them to show hunger and passion—and thankfully, we got the response we needed right after the break.”

The win boosts Nasarawa United’s survival hopes as the league campaign nears its climax.