In a disheartening match-day 28 encounter, Nasarawa United suffered a 2-0 loss on the road to former Nigeria Premier League Champions, Rangers International FC, at ‘The Cathedral’ Stadium, Enugu on Sunday evening, yet remarkably retained their 4th position in the ongoing 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League campaign’s standings with 44 points.
Godwin Obaje and Chidiebere Nwobodo each scored in the 18th and 26th minutes of the first-half to hand the Flying Antelopes a 2-0 cushion against the run of play, and subsequently moved them to the top of the league’s standings with 47 points.
Despite Sunday’s setback, the Solid Miners’ campaign to finish strong this season remains intact with their next home match against fellow title contenders, Ikorodu City, who lost 4-0 on the road against Bendel Insurance.
Coach Mangut Mbwas believes the result against the 8-time former league champions is a temporary infringement that would be overcome before the end of the current campaign.
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow today.
“We did our best, but it was not enough to earn us any decent outcome.
“Yes, we expected a very difficult match today because both teams were on the same points and chasing the same race.
“We tried to press high so they could be disoriented, however, we were unable to utilize our chances, whereas they took advantage of theirs, even though we played better. I give credit to them, nonetheless.
“The league is getting tougher as we approach the end of the season. Every point earned matters a lot at this closing stages of the league.
“We will keep fighting till the end of the season to reap our goals for the campaign.”
Nasarawa United will welcome 3rd-place Ikorodu City who have 45 points on match-day 28 at the Lafia City Stadium on Sunday, 8th March, 2026, by 4pm.
CAUTION(YELLOW CARD):
Bright Amadi(NAS)44′
Okechukwu Mgbemena (RAN)76′
NASARAWA UNITED LINE-UP: Olughu Chinemerem, Abubakar Abdullahi, Mubarak Hussaini, Bright Amadi, Adekunle Oluwasegun, Utake Emmanuel, Victor John (Ugochukwu Leonard 65′), Jofrank Istifanus(Dauda Suleiman 79′), Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Umar Ada, Chimezie Victor.
UNUSED SUBS: Darlintin Ovunda, Anthony Nwadioha, Habibu Alakija, Ngei Oluka-Efor, Chidera Nduka, John Joshua, Prince Ikemdinachi.
CREDIT: Eche Amos(Fellow, CBS), Director of Media, Nasarawa United FC.