By Dayo Awoniyi
Plateau United secured a vital 1-0 win over Bayelsa United in a thrilling Match Day 26 encounter of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Ahmed Umar Farouq netted the decisive goal in the 72nd minute with a stunning shot from over 25 yards, sending the Plateau United fans into celebration.
The match was a closely contested one, with Bayelsa United creating multiple scoring chances but being thwarted by Plateau United’s goalkeeper and the woodwork.
Bayelsa United’s Chief Coach, Meremu Okara, blamed his team’s defeat on their failure to capitalize on clear-cut opportunities, while Plateau United’s Technical Adviser, Mbwas Mangut, praised his team’s resilience and focus on avoiding relegation.
This victory propels Plateau United closer to safety, though they face a tough challenge against league leaders Remo Stars in their next fixture on Match Day 27.
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.
